Frames need different care from glass
Glass is straightforward: it is non-porous, it does not corrode and it tolerates most cleaning. Frames are the opposite. They are made of very different materials, they carry seals, gaskets, drainage channels and moving parts, and they are where the majority of long-term problems with a window begin.
That is why frames repay a little routine attention. Grime on glass is obvious and easily dealt with. A blocked drainage hole or a hardening gasket is invisible until it causes a problem, and by then it usually needs a repair rather than a clean.
UPVC frames
UPVC is the most common and generally the easiest to look after. Warm water, a mild detergent and a soft cloth or sponge, followed by a rinse and a dry with a microfibre cloth, is all most frames need every couple of months.
What matters is what you do not use. Abrasive pads, scouring cream, wire wool, solvent-based cleaners and strong household chemicals can scratch or dull the surface permanently. A scuffed frame then holds dirt more readily, so the damage compounds.
It is also worth being clear about what cleaning can achieve. Frames that have weathered for many years develop a chalky, slightly yellowed surface. That is oxidisation of the plastic itself, not dirt sitting on it, and cleaning improves it rather than reverses it.
Aluminium, timber and composite frames
Powder-coated aluminium looks after itself reasonably well but does not enjoy abrasives or harsh chemistry, both of which can mark the coating. Warm soapy water and a soft cloth is the routine, with attention to any area where the coating has chipped, since that is where corrosion can begin.
Timber depends entirely on the condition of its coating. Clean gently, then look closely at the bottom rail and the joints: flaking paint, bare grey patches, open joints and any softness are the things worth spotting early. Once a coating has failed, more washing does nothing useful and a decorator or joiner is the right next step.
Composite frames vary by manufacturer. The safe default is mild detergent, soft cloth, and nothing abrasive or solvent-based.
Drainage holes, seals and moving parts
The small slots along the bottom of the outer frame are drainage holes, and they exist because some water always finds its way into the frame. When they silt up with dust, moss fragments, cobwebs and general debris, water collects instead of escaping.
Checking and clearing them takes a moment. A soft brush or a gentle rinse is usually enough, and nothing rigid should be forced into them. Doing this once or twice a year is worth more than any amount of polishing.
Gaskets and seals last longer when they are kept clean and are not dried out or degraded by solvent cleaners. Hinges, handles and locking mechanisms appreciate an occasional light lubrication with a suitable product. Where a seal has hardened, shrunk, split or pulled out of its channel, or where a window has become stiff to operate, that is a repair for a window specialist.
Routine, and what causes frames to soil quickly
A wipe-down every couple of months keeps most frames in good order, with a more thorough clean in spring and again in autumn. Sills and the underside of the frame collect the most and are the easiest to forget.
If frames on one elevation soil far faster than the rest, look at what is above them. Overflowing guttering, a blocked outlet, staining running down the render or moss coming off the roof will all keep frames and glass dirty no matter how often they are cleaned. Dealing with the cause is more effective than cleaning the symptom repeatedly.
Overhanging planting, permanent shade and a north-facing aspect have the same effect on frames as on paving: they stay damp longer, so organic film establishes faster.
When to ask for help
Upper-floor windows are the obvious case. Reaching them from a ladder to clean frames is not worth the risk, and pure water pole systems reach them safely from the ground while cleaning frames, sills and glass together.
It is also worth asking when routine cleaning stops making a difference, when there is heavy organic growth on frames and sills, or when you want an honest opinion on whether a tired-looking frame is dirty or simply weathered. We would rather tell you what can and cannot be improved before starting than promise a result the material cannot give.
Send photographs and your postcode, and mention how many storeys and roughly how many windows. We will come back with the method we would use and a written quotation, normally within one working day.