Washing a plastic window sill: 7 sure recipes

Cleanliness in the kitchen depends on many factors. Most housewives monitor the condition of the floor and work surfaces, wash dishes and wash textiles on time. How long ago have you assessed the appearance of your window sill?

In the kitchen, the window sill gets dirty many times faster.

A dirty window sill can radically ruin the appearance of the kitchen. However, its care may vary depending on the material chosen. In this article we will talk about how to wash dirt off a plastic window sill and keep it spotlessly clean without much effort.

Types of stains on windowsills

First of all, you need to figure out what stains may appear on a plastic window sill . By knowing what to watch out for, you are more likely to prevent them from occurring.

Different stains can be washed off using different methods.

• Do you have flowers growing on your window? You will likely have to spend a lot of time dealing with the yellow spots that inevitably appear after watering if the pots are not airtight.
• Have you recently replaced a window? You will have to deal with drops of primer, pieces of polyurethane foam and other traces of installation work.
• After the winter period, stains from glue and adhesive tape will probably appear.
• Sintepon crumbs can stick to fat, and it will be very difficult to wash such a formation.
• Dirt coming from the windows can leave marks on the surface of the window sill.
• Do you often place pots and plates on the windowsill? There will probably be greasy stains , which are not so easy to remove.
• Even on plastic, traces of rust can accumulate , which “crawl” there from metal elements.

In addition, if the kitchen is small, many housewives use the window sill as an additional work space. This also negatively affects its cleanliness, and it is almost impossible to predict what stains will appear there.

Now let’s take a closer look at how to deal with each type of window sill contamination.

Pollution prevention

To avoid the hassle of removing stains, you should properly care for your window sills:

• Do not place hot objects, such as pots that have just been removed from the heat, on plastic surfaces. It is very difficult to wash such marks;
• do not overwater the flowers that are on the windowsill, or place a special napkin under each pot;
• Thoroughly rinse off all detergents from surfaces. If this is not done, the plastic may change color over time.

For those cases when stubborn stains cannot be removed by any means and the window sill spoils the appearance of the entire interior, there is another radical remedy. In hardware stores you need to purchase a special self-adhesive film of a suitable color and stick it on top of a cleaned plastic surface. The method will not require large financial costs, but it will save you from the need to remove difficult stains.

Follow our advice, remove fresh stains in a timely manner, and then the window sills will be a decoration of the interior.

Caring for a plastic window sill at home

As we have already said, it is easier to prevent serious contamination than to try to remove it later using a variety of methods. To prevent window sill care from becoming an impossible task, we recommend that you read our tips .

Many stains are easier to prevent than to remove.

They will help you keep your window sill in order and prevent most troubles from occurring.:

• First of all, you need to find out what material your window sill is made of . For plastic ones, material of two structures can be used: smooth and porous. The first one is easier to care for, since it is enough to simply wipe it. Dirt and grease penetrate deeper into the porous structure, so you will need special detergents.
• A plastic window sill can be finished with either a thin PVC film or a wear-resistant laminate film. The second option is preferable for the kitchen: it is less susceptible to mechanical damage, which means that it can be washed with hard sponges and more effective means.
• Do not place hot pots and pans on the windowsill - they leave unsightly marks, and the surface may be damaged and you will have to repair the window sill.
• It is better to install special stands or place thin silicone mats under the flowers. This way, the pots will not leave scratches and less moisture will get onto the windowsill, which means you can avoid yellow stains on the surface of the window sill.
• Wipe the window sill with a dry cloth every day, even if it seems clean to you. This way you will remove the smallest particles of dust that eat into the coating and turn it from white to dirty gray.
• Once a week, wash the window sill with a soap solution and then wipe dry with a clean cloth . This will help wash away small particles of fat, which can soon turn into stubborn stains.
• Wash the glass and the spaces between them regularly - if they themselves are not very clean, they can become a serious source of dirt for the window sill. Therefore, do not forget to keep the entire window opening clean, and not just the part that faces your kitchen.
• Never scrub the window sill with abrasives too much! This way you can wear off the protective top layer of the coating and it will turn yellow or gray.
• Have you bought a new detergent ? Be sure to check it on an inconspicuous area of ​​the window sill: if it contains aggressive chemicals, the color of the coating may change in the most unexpected direction.

With our tips, keeping your window sill clean will be a snap. What to do if there are stubborn stains on the windowsill that cannot be washed off with water and soap? Here are some effective recommendations that will help remove any dirt from a plastic window sill.

Adviсe

A few tips will help you wash your windowsill quickly and efficiently:

1. Before you start cleaning the window sill, you need to remove the plugs from the sides. This will help avoid the accumulation of small particles of dirt at the junction of two surfaces.
2. Vegetable oil will help remove traces of tape from plastic. It is enough to thoroughly wipe the stain with a sponge soaked in oil and not a trace of dirt will remain.
3. Drops of polyurethane foam can be used to clean the Dimexide medical solution. The foam is first cut off with a sharp stationery knife, and the remaining traces are generously moistened with Dimekisdom. After five minutes, wipe the surface clean with a damp cloth or sponge.
4. Glossy surfaces of a plastic window sill should only be wiped with soft cloths. Rough matte window sills can be cleaned with a soft brush or sponge.
5. A toothbrush dipped in soapy water will help remove all dirt and dust from hard-to-reach places: in corners and under the windowsill.

To wash plastic, it is unacceptable to use hard metal scrapers or dry abrasive powders. Ignoring this rule will result in scratches appearing on the surface, which quickly become filled with grease, dust and dirt.

You will find a lot of important and useful information about fast and effective window cleaning in this section.

Method 1. Wash the window sill with laundry soap

If regular liquid soap or dishwashing detergent does not help, take the familiar brown bar of laundry soap. It contains more alkali, so it copes well even with greasy stains on a plastic window sill.

An old but effective way to clean a windowsill.

Grate the soap and dissolve in warm water. Then wash the window sill thoroughly. If old grease stains do not come off, moisten them with water and scrub well with soap. Leave it on for half an hour and then wash it off.

Not too old stains will come off. This method is one of the safest and most environmentally friendly.

Advice from the author : You should not use modern laundry soap in liquid form. It is much less concentrated, and therefore the effect will be weaker. And its cost is several times higher. It's better to buy a traditional bar, even if it doesn't smell very nice.

Washing tools

The market for devices and special rags for cleaning windows is impressive - it would seem that it’s high time to turn this routine work into easy fun.

But no, not all advertised “gadgets” can be useful to you - and don’t waste your money. For example, experienced housewives do not recommend buying a double-sided device that can supposedly wash glass inside and out - in most cases, it turns out to be useless, unable to cope with severe external dirt, water marks and stains. Keep in mind that the thickness of your glass units may differ from what is tested in the advertisement for this tool!

There is also absolutely no need to buy a whole arsenal of rags and sponges - for cleaning you will need much less, we assure you.

1. Foam sponge - any. Shape, size and color as you like. You can take a sponge for washing your body, or for dishes - it doesn’t matter. The main thing is that it sits comfortably in your hand and matches the front of the upcoming tasks.
2. A special mop for washing windows with a telescopic handle would be useful - you can use it to reach the farthest corners of the window, inside or outside, without the risk of falling out of it. As a rule, the washing surface of such mops is covered with a special fleecy cloth that cleans glass well without streaks.
3. To make your work easier when collecting water on glass, purchase a special window squeegee with a silicone or rubber squeegee , which allows you to “drive” all the moisture down in one motion. After its work, all you have to do is wipe the glass until it shines.
4. Cotton rags (for example, from old T-shirts, bed linen, etc.) are also useful for cleaning windows Cut them into rags of different sizes in advance.
5. microfiber cloths perform well , of which it is enough to have 2-4 pieces in use. Basically, they finish the job - they rub glass and frames until they shine.

Method 2: Wash the window sill with washing powder

Soap doesn't work? Use a more effective product - washing powder. It will not only remove stains, but also help whiten the surface a little.

Choose hand washing powder with bleaching properties.

Sprinkle a little powder on the surface, a little more directly on dirty areas. Use a wet, rough sponge to rub the stains first, and then the entire window sill. Rinse off the soap suds thoroughly with clean water. Then wipe dry.

This method is not suitable for window sills covered with PVC film - the hard side of the sponge can leave scratches on them.

Tip from the author: If you are using laundry detergent in the washing machine rather than hand washing, be sure to use gloves. Otherwise, you may get serious irritation, since the substances in such powders are quite aggressive.

What not to use when washing plastic

After installing plastic window sills, as a rule, you are given a memo that states which brushes and scrapers can damage the surface. It also lists chemical compounds that should not be part of the product chosen for cleaning. And also the rules for care:

• Do not clean the window sill with cleaning products containing abrasive particles. They can damage the protective layer, and it will become yellowish or grayish;
• Test new cleaning solutions in inconspicuous areas. The color of the coating may change greatly if the product contains aggressive chemicals;
• When cleaning a window sill covered with PVC film, do not use brushes or hard sponges. They may leave scratches on its surface.

Method 3: Wash the window sill with window cleaner

Most glass cleaners also work well on stains on the windowsill, excluding old greasy stains. Their ease of use can be considered a plus - most of these detergents are sold in convenient bottles with a spray bottle.

This product will clean not only the glass, but also the window sill.

Therefore, you just need to spray the product onto the stain, wipe the stain with a soft cloth, and then rinse the area with clean water. For stubborn stains, leave the detergent on for a few minutes before washing.

Advice from the author: The convenience of spraying is at the same time the main disadvantage of this method. Small particles of the spray enter the air and scatter throughout the room. Therefore, this method is not the best choice for the kitchen. Unless, of course, you want to season some dish with glass cleaner or enjoy Sea Fresh flavored salt.

Chlorine-containing products

Heavy contamination can be removed using chlorine-containing compounds. Regular “Whiteness” will do. It is necessary to prepare a solution from it: dilute 10 g of the product in 1 liter of clean water. Thoroughly moisten the window sill with this mixture, leave for 2-3 hours and rinse with clean water. When working with chlorine-containing products, you should be safe and work only with gloves.

Method 4. Clean the windowsill with vinegar

Oddly enough, vinegar is considered one of the most effective methods for cleaning window sills. It dissolves greasy stains quite well, helps get rid of rust and slightly brightens the window sill.

Vinegar removes even old stains.

Dilute vinegar in a one to one ratio and apply to the windowsill. Moisturize stains well, especially old ones. Leave the solution for 10-15 minutes. However, please note that in the case of PVC film, especially colored film, you need to act carefully - vinegar can change the color of the surface.

Carefully rinse off the solution and wipe the window sill dry. If necessary, the procedure can be repeated.

Advice from the author : Acetic acid has a negative effect on the skin of your hands, so do not forget to use gloves.

Method 5. Remove dirt from the windowsill with a melamine sponge

Several years ago, melamine sponges became a real hit among housewives. It is enough to simply run a moistened sponge over the stain - and it will dissolve almost before your eyes.

The melamine crystals that make up the sponge literally dissolve dirt.

Outwardly, they are similar to the usual foam sponges, but have a slightly more durable structure and seem a little damp to the touch. Melamine really does a good job of scrubbing off any dirt, but for old stains you will have to make a significant physical effort.

Advice from the author: Unlike foam rubber, melamine cannot be called a material safe for human health. Therefore, wash the window sill thoroughly with clean water after finishing cleaning. In addition, the sponge may crumble during use, so carefully remove any crumbs so that they do not get on your dishes or food.

How to remove rust and old stains

If you are interested in specialized compounds that remove rust and other difficult stains, you should give preference to special aerosols. Products such as Cillit Bang, as well as Mister Proper Universal in powder form, have proven themselves well. This type of household chemical does an excellent job of removing dirt without damaging the surface. All kinds of creams and gels also do a very good job for this purpose, for example “Pemolux”, as well as “Domestos” (it is more often used to remove rust).

The tools presented are quite simple to use. They must be applied either directly to the surface (if it is a spray or paste), or on a microfiber cloth, then the product must be left on the windowsill for 5-20 minutes (depending on the manufacturer’s recommendations). After this, the product will need to be thoroughly washed with water, otherwise stains may remain on the windowsill.

If you have a lot of old stains on the plastic, they may remain after the first wash. In this case, you should not despair - just repeat this procedure 2-3 times and you will achieve the desired result.

Important: remember that such products can damage your skin and cause allergies. To prevent this from happening, be sure to wear gloves while cleaning, as well as respirators, and be sure to ventilate the room immediately after cleaning. It is not recommended to use such cleaning compositions for people suffering from asthma or other chronic respiratory diseases - they can cause exacerbations of such ailments.

Sometimes it may be necessary to use additional tools to get rid of certain types of contamination:

Method 6. Making a PVC paste to clean the window sill

The name sounds mysterious, but in fact the mixture consists of only two components - toothpaste and chalk. Due to its abrasive properties, this composition cleans stains well, while at the same time brightening the window sill.

Time-tested method.

Mix the ingredients in equal proportions and do not forget to crush the chalk well: large grains easily leave scratches.

Apply the mixture with a damp soft sponge, lightly rubbing into the window sill. After all the dirt has been removed, rinse the surface with clean water and wipe dry. Repeat if necessary.

Advice from the author : The paste should be the most ordinary, plain. Otherwise, you may get a completely unpredictable effect.

Method 7: Mixture of vinegar and baking soda to remove old stains

If you need to remove an old, stubborn greasy stain, you can do without special detergents. Start by applying a thin layer of baking soda to the dirt using a damp sponge.

A mixture of baking soda and vinegar for the toughest stains.

Then add a little vinegar to the powder. Wait for the chemical reaction to complete. Carefully remove the mixture along with any loose dirt. Repeat if necessary.

Advice from the author: The mixture is quite aggressive, so try not to use it unless absolutely necessary.

How to prevent yellowness from appearing

So that you don’t have to rack your brains over how to remove an unwanted tint from household utensils and appliances, simply prevent it from appearing. Moreover, it is not so difficult to do this.

1. Periodically (at least once a week) wash all surfaces with water and soap or dish detergent.
2. It’s even better if you clean white items with special compounds: this way the problem of discoloration will not affect you for a long time.
3. Limit the amount of bright sunlight entering the room to protect objects from UV light coming from outside.
4. You should not smoke in the room.
5. Install a hood to remove excess grease and soot, as well as an air conditioner to regulate the temperature in the room.
6. Choose double-glazed windows from good manufacturers.

As you can see, the rules are very simple, and most of them do not require much effort or expense. The last two points, of course, are quite problematic to change in an already furnished apartment, but if you are at the stage of renovation or planning one, then take care of the quality of windows and installation of equipment in advance.

How to clean a window sill after renovation

All of the above recommendations are good if you need to remove stains that have arisen during the cooking process in the kitchen. But what if the problem is more serious than ordinary household pollution?

Repair work leaves a lot of stains on the windowsill.

For example, if you need to wash a plastic window sill after repair work. Proceed as follows :

• Remove all plugs , as a lot of different dust usually accumulates under them. To begin, thoroughly vacuum the window structure, then wipe the surfaces with a damp sponge, paying special attention to the dirty areas.
• If there is any primer, putty or plaster left on the window sill, remove the residue with abrasives . You can use a special cleaner from the hardware store or use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar - both methods will be quite effective if not much time has passed. But after a few days, only professional solvents will help you, which are not cheap - keep this in mind. Apply the selected product for half an hour, then remove with a rubber spatula or just a wooden spatula. Rinse off any remaining residue thoroughly with warm water.
• If there is foam left on the window sill, use a stiff brush - with its help you can easily remove dirt. Remains of construction dirt can be easily washed off with a solution of laundry soap.

Type of plastic

Everyone knows that there are expensive and cheap plastic windows. And almost no one wonders why they are so different. Whatever model the buyer chooses, it will in any case be made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride). The material from different manufacturers differs only in the amount of plasticizers - the lack of these components leads to the fact that the plastic becomes brittle and brittle. So expensive models are stronger.

If we talk directly about window sills, they differ in the surface film. And it can be divided into three categories - economy, standard and luxury. For the economical series, the window sills are covered with the same PVC. It's cheap and reliable as long as you don't scratch or stain the surface too much. For standard models, melamine film is used. It is more resistant to damage and detergents and can even withstand a smoldering cigarette without visible consequences. Luxury series window sills are coated with melamine resin - this is a durable and environmentally friendly material with high resistance to damage and aggressive environments.

How will this information be useful when you need to find out how to clean a plastic window sill? Everything is simple here - the higher the category, the wider the selection of funds you can use. In addition, this information is useful at the planning stage - on more expensive models, dirt practically does not linger and does not eat into the surface, they are easier to clean.

How to whiten a yellowed window sill

Under the influence of constant sunlight, changes in moisture and temperature, the window sill can lose its brilliant white color and take on a repulsive yellow tint.

Whitening a yellow window sill is quite possible.

Fixing the problem is not difficult if you use the following recommendations:

• First of all, make sure that the yellowness is a consequence of a change in color, and not of dust and dirt on the windowsill. In the second case, it is enough to wash it properly to get rid of the problem.
• If washing does not help, use rubbing alcohol. Apply it to a lint-free cloth and gently wipe the surface. Don't rub too hard as this can damage the plastic coating.
• Some people use acetone to lighten plastic window sills. The method cannot be called safe - this way, of course, you will remove the yellowness, but there is a high probability that it will happen along with the top layer of plastic.
• Try mixing soda ash with washing powder in a one to one ratio. Apply the mixture to the surface and leave for two to three hours, then rinse with warm water. The window sill should lighten.

What to do if none of the remedies helped?

If your window sill is not new for a long time, there are small scratches on it, and you still haven’t managed to cope with the yellowness, you will have to resort to more radical measures:

• One of the easiest and fastest ways to update a plastic window sill is to painting special enamel for PVC. The composition of the enamel ensures the resistance of the paint and varnish coating to mechanical stress, abrasion and cracking. The enamel will also fill scratches and level the surface;

• Another budget way is pasting surfaces PVC film. Its surface is very smooth, which will make it easier to clean in the future; the film can be selected in either a standard white color or a colored one that matches the overall interior. The disadvantage of this method is that the film is easy to scratch. Therefore, there is a possibility that you will have to re-glue it more than once;

• For those who don’t want to bother at all and try different cleaning methods, we advise you to contact special cleaning companies. They have a full arsenal of miracle products that allow you to both remove old dirt and polish a scratched surface.

If you can't remove stains

It happens that some stain is too ingrained or old yellowness cannot be removed. In this case, you can save the window sill only by updating it a little.

We do not encourage you to do repairs at all. It is enough to purchase a white PVC film and carefully cover the window sill. The advantage of this method is that you can choose any color - even with a pattern. However, this does not mean that you need to stop washing the window sill and just re-stick the film from time to time.

A wide palette will allow you to update the window sill and refresh the interior.

In addition, if you use our recommendations, then you will not need such drastic measures - the window sill will already look impeccable.

The most common types of pollution

The choice of cleaning method depends on the type of contamination and the structure of the material that will have to be cleaned. The fact is that window elements made of plastic are covered with various films: acrylic, melamine, PVC and others. Manufacturers claim that, for example, acrylic is resistant to fading and absorbs less dirt. In turn, if the surface is porous, it will be more difficult to remove stains.

When installing windows, be sure to find out what material the coating is made of and read the manufacturer's recommendations for caring for it.

Plastic window sills have the same base, but different coatings

The main types of pollution that housewives may encounter are the following:

• yellow streaks of water and marks from flower pots;
• dust and dirt that have become deeply embedded in the structure of the material;
• remnants of paint, polyurethane foam, primer or glue formed during repairs;
• greasy coating (if the window is located in the kitchen);
• traces of felt-tip pens, pencils, if there are children in the house;
• consequences of fading - yellowness on white material, discolored areas on colored material.

Next we will tell you what means will help in the fight against each of the problems, but we will start with the basic recommendations.