As beautiful as they are, uPVC window frames need to be maintained properly. There are different colour variations depending on the film they have been coated with, but the most common ones are the white frames.

Needless to say, white uPVC window frames are often found hard to maintain because of their colour and different stains they can get. Cleaning this type of window frames has it’s own fine points which you must be aware of when attempting to clean the window frames.

Supplies you need

• A bucket;
• Lukewarm water;
• 2 x clean cloths;
• Brush;
• Vacuum cleaner;
• Creamy non-abrasive cleaner;
• uPVC cleaning solution.

Follow the steps below to achieve your desirable shiny look!

How to Clean uPVC Window Frames

1. Use a small brush to loosen up the dirt of the inside of the window frames. Then suck the dirt out with the vac.
2. Fill the bucket with lukewarm water.
3. Dip one of the cloths into the water and gently wipe out the window frame surface internally and externally.
4. Use the clean dry cloth do wipe away the moist left on the frames.
5. For marks and spots use the creamy cleaning solution.
6. For more stubborn marks use a special uPVC cleaner you can get from a respected PVC supplier.
7. Buff off the excess detergents with the cloth for a shiny look!

Apart from the cleaning steps, you should also have in mind these tips in order to achieve the perfect look for your uPVC frames. They are easy to remember and can save you potential damages.

Cleaning uPVC Window Frames Tips

• Do not use bright coloured cloths, as they may transfer paint onto the uPVC window frame.
• Make sure the cleaning solution is non-abrasive. Otherwise you can scratch the frame.
• Avoid applying the cleaner onto the glass surface as much as possible.
• Don’t use detergents that contain bleach, or you may end up with ruined window frames.

You’re very lucky if you have your own conservatory at your home. But, if you’re one of the lucky people who can enjoy a cup of coffee in your own conservatory, there are probably things that bother you.

One of them should be exactly how to remove that dusty and leafy stain out of your conservatory roof. It is incredibly difficult to clean, but you may still want to try to do it by yourself. This is why we are keen on sharing a simple procedure on cleaning the conservatory roof.

If done the right way you will achieve some great results!

Being safe should be your main priority. Before attempting any window cleaning job that involves heights, you should always have the proper equipment.

Equipment for Safety Measures

• Helmet;
• Working gloves;
• Never step on the roof or on fragile surfaces!

You may move on to the actual cleaning preparation. There are two ways you can attempt to clean your conservatory roof. One of them is including a fed pole and the other one is including a ladder.

Professional conservatory cleaners suggest you use a ladder only if there is a concrete wall to secure it on. Do not attempt using a ladder with only glass surfaces, as they are fragile and the situation may go terribly wrong.

Using the fed pole is the best option, as it is on the safer side! In most cases you are on the ground and there are no heights involved. So, in the section with the tools you are going to need we will include all of the tools you may need, both for the ladder-including way and for the non-ladder one.

Tools you need

• A ladder;
• A bucket;
• Conservatory roof cleaning fluid;
• Telescopic cleaner with squeegee;
• A brush to attach on the other side of the telescopic pole;
• PVC cleaner – for the framing.

Once you’ve gathered all the tools you may move on to the actual cleaning of the roof. We will go through the process by listing the main steps you should take.Remember safety should always come first, so if you are afraid you won’t be able to clean the conservatory roof by yourself, you better call us to take care of the task. If you’ve decided to dive in and show your cleaning skills – this easy-to-follow guide on how to clean conservatory roof is for you!

How to Clean Conservatory Roof Glass

1. Fill in your bucket with lukewarm water, but don’t overfill it. You want to minimize the chance of spilling, so fill it to the middle of the bucket.
2. Put some of the conservatory cleaning solutions into the water. On the box of the detergent you may find instructions what exactly amount to put in and how many litres of water you will need. Follow the instructions for best results! Have in mind that if you put too much or less of the detergent you probably won’t achieve the desired effect.
3. Set your telescopic pole. Attach both the squeegee and the brush on both of the sides of the telescopic pole.
4. Place the ladder at the appropriate side of the conservatory. (If you’re going to use one)
5. Put your helmet on.
6. Dip the brush side of the telescopic pole into the bucket.
7. Climb the ladder (or if you’re using long enough telescopic pole skip the ladder) and gently brush the window surface.
8. Switch into using the squeegee (After you’ve brushed the surface). Swipe away the foam starting from one side reaching the other side.
9. Repeat the 8th step until the surface is free of foam.
10. Repeat the step if there are stubborn spots.
11. Place the ladder on a suitable place and repeat the step (After you’re done with the first part of the surfaces).
12. Change the water in the bucket and re-fill with detergent after a few cleanses. Otherwise, if the soapy water gets dirty you will transfer the dirt onto the window surface.
13. Clean the frames. If you have purchased a PVC cleaner for the frames we suggest you clean them when you’re done with the windows.
14. Use either a cloth or a suitable cleaning tool depending on the type of PVC cleaning solution.
15. Let your windows air-dry for best results.

A Few Tips for Advanced Specialists

• Avoid cleaning the roof when the sun is very bright, because they will dry too quick and there may be some water drop marks left.
• Always make sure the tools and detergents you use are meant for windows.
• Do not use baking soda as it is abrasive and it will damage the window surface.
• Do not attempt cleaning the conservatory roof in rainy days.
• The best time to clean the conservatory roof is in the afternoon because the sun is not at it’s brightest but there is still natural light.

There is a statistic that says more than 25% of all falls from height are from ladders.This often leads to bruises and broken limbs, and sometimes even worse. The really sad thing is this can be easily avoided if standard safety procedures are followed, but only few actually know them.

We decided to share the Do’s and Dont’s our employees follow while cleaning windows in a hope to prevent injuries.

How to Put Up Ladders

Placing ladders in the wrong position is the most often made mistake that leads to injuries. Here is how to place the put up the ladder safely.

• Make sure you do not put the ladder on uneven ground.
• Place the ladder laying flat on the ground.
• Push one end of the ladder against a wall.
• Lift the other end of the ladder up and rest against the wall.
• Set the right angle, by using a 1:4 ratio. Divide the ladder by four. If the ladder i 4 meters long, the base should be 1 meter away from the wall.
• If the ladder is extra long, find a second person to help from the other end.

How to Climb a Ladder Safely

These are all tips only about extension ladders. For safety tips on step ladders, scroll down.

• Ensure that your ladder is fit and fully functional before using it. Check thoroughly for any loose steps or other defects.
• When you place the ladder, be sure it is on an even and not slippery surface. Remember that just one swing can be crucial. If the ground is uneven, do not put anything under the ladder, as it will only make it more unstable.
• Always climb with a two-hand grip, facing the ladder.
• Avoid holding a box of tools in one hand when climbing up.
• Take one step at a time and don’t rush it. If the angle is not right, you should be able to feel some shaking. Get back down to fix the angle in necessary.

How to Climb a Step Ladder Safely

• Ensure the ladder is fit and fully functional before using it.
• Never set up a stepladder on uneven, or slippery ground.
• Never sit or stand on the very top step of the step ladder.
• Only climb up the front of the ladder, never the back side.
• Do not allow a second person to climb from the other side. There are special two person ladders out there, but if this isn’t one, let the second person only hold the ladder in place if they want to help.
• Keep your hips within the two vertical rails.
• Remove all tools and materials from the ladder before moving it. You really want that hammer falling on your face?
• Never use a step ladder like an extension ladder by leaning it against a wall.

Never leave step ladders unattended, especially if there are children around. Remember your childhood and how fun it was to get on high places – the kids want to do it too. So, when you’re done working, put the ladder away, or at least lay it on the ground.

What Not to Do

The following basic precautions come in handy.

• Never use the top two steps of an extension ladder.
• Do not work near any electricity, especially if the ladder is made of metal.
• Do not lean a step ladder to a wall, the way you would do with an extension ladder. They don’t work the same way.
• Both step ladder feet should sit firmly on the ground. If the ground is uneven, dig some dirt out from beneath one foot.
• Never place an extension ladder on slippery surfaces.
• Always face the ladder when ascending and descending.
• Use both hands to grab the rungs, not the rails.
• Wear a tool belt or holster to carry tools and supplies in order to decrease your time going up and down.
• Keep your hips within the vertical side rails, otherwise the ladder will lose balance.

Gutters are often neglected when doing the house chores. But, if left unattended, they can become a serious problem and it’s important to keep them clean.

Else, they will get blocked with leaves and twigs from the near trees or with debris brought by the wind. Here are a few tips from our professional window and gutter cleaners.

Tools You Need

Before you start doing anything, bear in mind that gutter maintenance is dangerous. Professional gutter cleaners advice to simply call hired help. But, if you are certain in your own abilities, here are the tools you need.

• A ladder.
• Working gloves.
• Plastic scoop.
• Wire.
• A hose.
• A bucket.

How to Keep Gutters Clean

• Climb carefully on the ladder, with your working gloves on. For safety measures, make sure you read our guide on ladder safety.
• Scoop out loose debris by hand, starting at a drain outlet at the low end of a gutter. If most debris are solid stuff like leaves, you can remove them by hand. Put them all in the bucket, if you prefer to minimize the patio clean up after that. If the gutter is full of liquid debris, use the plastic scoop.
• Clear obstructions in drain pipes. Sometimes, the most problematic places are the drain pipes after they get clogged. To fix this, climb down the ladder and use the wire to scrub the inside of the drain pipe.
• Use an on-off high-pressure nozzle at the end of a water hose. Blast some high pressure water through the drain to clear everything left.

How to Keep Gutters from Freezing

This is the most challenging task of all, as ice will not only clog, but also damage your gutter. What you need for this is a good home insulation.

1. Inspect the attic for cracks. First, you need to check and repair any visible leaks.
2. Purchase insulation for the entire attic (if it doesn’t have any). This should include the ceiling and the floors. The best way to keep your gutters from freezing is to ensure a good above zero degrees temperature of the whole ceiling and attic.
3. Apply heat tapes along the roof, just above the gutters. Heat tapes include electric heating wires that help with melting the snow.
4. Remove snow from the gutters after a snowfall. Sadly, we can’t tell the sky not to snow over our house (and why would you? Snow is great!), so if there is snowfall, you’ll need to clean the gutter as soon as it ends.
5. Use rock salts on the gutters. Rock salts do wonders with snow and ice. They can prevent the ice to build and work as an additional precaution.

How to Keep Gutters from Clogging

Here, we are going to talk about preventative measures. If you wish not to climb a ladder and clean your gutters too often, you can install gutter protection that would keep most unpleasant debris out.

• What you need is called a gutter guard. It’s a type of barrier that goes on the horizontal open pipe. Now, it’s not something that would keep your gutters clean forever, as debris come in all forms and sized. But it will significantly decrease the amount of times you’ll have to get on a ladder.
• Clean if your gutter is clogged right now. You cannot start the installation, if it’s already full of garbage and debris.
• Attach the metal clip to the front of the gutter. In general this is the best way to keep gutters clear of leaves. Big leaves, that is.
• Snap the back slips underneath the shingles.
• Make sure to occasionally check the gutters for debris. Just in case the guard might not be working well enough, you’ll have to do a few seconds of inspection every month.

Glass is practically everywhere – from common glass doors and windows, to the small, yet adorable glass figurines on your grandma’s shelf, to artistic houses and hotels made of glass.  

How is Glass Made

1. Glass can be literally described as liquid sand. Extremely high temperatures (1700°C) melt the sand and all the minerals inside it and, after it cools down, we get glass.
2. Glass is not just manufactured, but can also exist in nature. It can be found inside volcanoes in the form of the natural stone Obsidian.
3. Today’s technology is able to control the glass making process and refine the end product to achieve different colours or maximum transparency.

History of Glass

1. Glass in the form of Obsidian has been documented to be used in prehistoric times when man started using spears.
2. Other evidence suggests that the first man-made glass piece was manufactured around 3000 BC. Syria, Egypt, and Mesopotamia were well-known glass-making hubs.
3. The first hollow glass container, on the other hand, was made in 1500 BC.
4. In the First Century, the Roman Empire developed the art of glassblowing. Of course, it wasn’t the refined transparent glass we have today and it was mostly in different colours.
5. Later, colourless glass became available not just to rich folk, but also to the common crowd. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the knowledge of the art spread across Europe and the Middle East.
6. In 1291, the glass furnaces in Venice were shifted to the island of Murano as it was feared that the furnaces would set the city on fire.
7. By the 17th century, ordinary people in Europe could afford to use glass for their windows. This resulted in an improvement in their quality of life as it allowed them to lead a more hygienic and disease-free existence.

Interesting Facts About Glass

1. The Portland vase is one of the most valuable art objects made of glass. It is believed to have been made in Rome around the start of the Christian era.
2. Glass is 100% recyclable. It can also be recycled many times over as it does not get worn out. When recycled glass is used, it helps to reduce air pollution by 20%.
3. New York’s Corning Museum of Glass has over 45,000 pieces of glass art and hosts the largest collection in the world.
4. The energy saved from recycling one glass bottle can provide power to a 100-watt bulb for close to one hour.
5. On average, approximately 330 glass jars and bottles are used by every family in the United Kingdom each year.
6. France’s King Charles VI, also known as Charles the Mad, regularly hallucinated that he was made of glass and often carried iron pieces in his clothing as he thought that they would protect him.
7. For almost 5 centuries, China did not produce any glass. Now, it controls 34% of the global market, making it the largest producer of glass in the world.
8. Brown glass is mostly used to contain food and drinks as ultra-violet rays are reflected by the amber tint, preventing foods and beverages from getting spoiled.
9. Around 30 BC, an important instrument still used in glass-making, the blowpipe, was invented.
10. It takes more than 1 million years for glass to decompose inside dumps and landfills.
11. The glass container industry is worth more than $5 billion.
12. When glass breaks, the cracks move at the speed of about 3000mph.
13. Glass can be dissolved with hydrofluoric acid.
14. When sound waves hit thin-glass goblets, they vibrate due to a phenomenon known as resonance.
15. September is the official ‘Recycle Glass Month’.