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How to clean PVC windows: step-by-step guide (and how to remove yellowing)

Cleaning a PVC window is easy, but it is also easy to ruin it with the wrong product. A scouring pad or a splash of bleach can leave the profile dull or scratched for good. Here is the right way to do it, with things you already have at home.

What you need

Warm water and mild soap (gentle washing-up liquid works).
Microfibre cloths and a soft sponge (the non-scratch side).
A soft-bristled brush or paintbrush for corners and tracks.
A vacuum cleaner with a narrow nozzle.
Ordinary glass cleaner for the panes.

What you should NEVER use on PVC

Green or metal scourers and abrasive creams: they scratch the surface and take away the shine.
Neat bleach and concentrated ammonia: they can stain and age the profile.
Acetone, solvents and nail varnish remover: they attack PVC and coloured finishes.
Blades or metal scrapers on the profile.

Step by step: cleaning a PVC window

Remove dust dry. Vacuum the tracks, corners and bottom of the frame. If you wet it first, the dust turns to mud and gets into the seals.
Wash the profiles. Warm water with mild soap and a soft sponge, without scrubbing hard. Start at the top and work down.
Rinse. Wipe with a cloth and clean water so no soap is left, as it attracts more dirt.
Dry. With microfibre, to avoid limescale marks, especially with Valencia's hard water.
Clean the glass last. That way you do not splash the panes with water from the frame.

Rubber seals: the most forgotten part

The seals are what make the window insulate. Clean them with a damp cloth and mild soap, without pulling on them. If you see black spots of mould, add a dash of vinegar to the water. Once a year you can treat them with a seal-care product or silicone spray so they do not dry out. We explain this in our PVC window maintenance guide.

Sliding window tracks and drainage holes

On sliding windows, the track collects sand, leaves and hair. Vacuum it well and run a brush along the corners. On the outside bottom of the frame there are small slots: these are the drainage holes that let rainwater out. If they get blocked, water builds up and can end up coming indoors. Clear them with a toothpick or a thin plastic wire.

How to clean yellowed PVC

First, you need to tell two cases apart:

Ingrained dirt (smoke, kitchen grease, pollution): this comes off with cleaning. It is the most common case.
Ageing of the material itself from the sun: this happens in low-quality profiles without good UV protection. Cleaning improves the look but will not bring back the original white.

For the first case, try these in order, always testing on a hidden spot first:

Hot water with mild soap and a splash of white vinegar.
A paste of bicarbonate of soda and a little water: apply, leave for 10 minutes and rub gently with a sponge.
A specific PVC cleaner from a hardware shop.

A melamine sponge ("magic eraser") works well but is slightly abrasive: use light pressure and avoid it on coloured or wood-effect finishes.

White PVC vs coloured or wood-effect PVC

White shows dirt sooner but handles a deep clean better. Coloured finishes have a foil that is more delicate: only water and mild soap, no bicarbonate or melamine.

Stickers, glue and building residue

Stickers and labels: warm with a hairdryer to soften the adhesive and peel off slowly with a plastic spatula. Leftover residue comes off with a little vegetable oil, then soapy water.
Factory protective film: remove it within the first few weeks after installation. If it spends a summer in the sun, the adhesive bonds to the profile and is much harder to remove.
Cement or plaster: do not scrape it dry. Moisten to soften and remove with a plastic spatula.
Paint or silicone drips: if fresh, soapy water. If dry, a plastic spatula, carefully.

How often should you clean your windows?

The glass, whenever it needs it. Profiles, seals and tracks: a thorough clean twice a year is enough, in spring and in autumn before the rains. If you live near the sea, add an extra clean or two to remove salt.

A well-kept window lasts for decades

If your windows are beyond saving, have yellowed or no longer close properly, it may be time to replace them. You can calculate the price of new windows online or visit our showroom at Calle Doctor Manuel Candela, 33 (Valencia).

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