If you want your sunroom to look spectacular all year round, maintaining it, and getting it serviced regularly is essential.

Looking after your sunroom will help you avoid costly repair bills and you won’t have to worry about ordering a replacement any time soon.

Not many homeowners realize they have to maintain the windows, doors, roof panels or glass panels, weather seals, weep holes, and even the sunroom’s frame.

All of this helps keep your sunroom in perfect condition!

Today we'll go through some of the steps you'll need to do to keep your sunroom maintained, how to maintain it and when you'll need to call on a professional.

7 sunroom cleaning tips you need to know

Before we get into how you can keep your sunroom maintained and in perfect condition, we have a few sunroom cleaning tips and tricks for you to check out.

Take a look at these seven cleaning tips for sunrooms.

1. Consult with the manufacturer

When talking about pre-manufactured sunrooms you need to follow the manufacturer's care and maintenance instructions.

Some manufacturers are Four Seasons Sunrooms, Patio Enclosures, BetterLiving Sunrooms, Seaway Manufacturing, and more. If you don't know who made your sunroom then look at the lower corners of the glass or on a window or door handle.

Check with your Building Code Official - they may have paperwork that will tell you who makes the sunroom.

2. Clean gently

Vinyl gets scratched easily, so remember to avoid using abrasive cleaners when cleaning your sunroom. After checking with the manufacturer, try a "test" cleaning area that is not as visible. Start out with warm water and a good quality car wash soap and a clean cloth or a new non-abrasive sponge.

Using tools like power washers can also be incredibly damaging to sunroom vinyl and glass. If you do need to remove any tough stains, consider using a soft-bristled brush and a soft cleaning solution to get the job done.

If the sunroom roof is too high for you to get to easily, consider hiring a professional.

3. Avoid cleaning on sunny days

Don’t clean your sunroom on a sunny day! Wait till it’s cool and cloudy to break out the cleaning supplies. The sun will dry your cleaner too fast and leave streaks on your sunroom.

4. Maintain the surrounding landscaping

The best way to keep your sunroom looking shiny and new is to tidy the surrounding trees and bushes. Not only does this make your sunroom look neat, but it also prevents stray branches from scratching your sunroom’s roof and windows. Pollen can also stain your windows, and fallen leaves will clog your gutters, potentially leading to damage.

5. Stay off the glass roofs

Many sunrooms have glass ceilings and can’t be walked onto, but you should never walk onto a sunroom ceiling regardless of what material it’s made out of. Standing on your sunroom roof can damage your sunroom and cause a lot of expensive repair work.

6. Check your manufacturer’s recommendations

Depending on the manufacturer or the material, your sunroom might have special cleaning requirements, so be sure to check those before you start cleaning.

7. Keep an eye out for leaks

Leaks can be caused by condensation or water penetration. Condensation happens when water vapor in the air is cooled - appearing on the sunroom structure.

This does not mean your sunroom is leaking, just that you need to keep the air warmer in the sunroom so that condensation doesn't appear.

If you see water dripping through the roof panels (solid or glass) then either flashing has been compromised or a weep hole has been plugged (blocking water from getting out).

How to maintain the different parts of your sunroom

Now that you know a few simple tips for cleaning your sunroom, it’s time to get into the nitty-gritty details of maintaining the various parts of your sunroom.

The frame

When cleaning the frame of your sunroom, use a soft cloth or brush if it’s vinyl. You’ll want to avoid using steel wool or scrubbing sponges, as they can do a lot of damage to the vinyl.

You can remove any light debris like dust or dirt with a mild detergent and a bit of warm water. Don't use solvent-based or abrasive cleaners; they can damage vinyl.

If you run into stubborn stains, consider using these cleaning agents to get rid of them:

• Mr. Clean
• Soft Scrub
• Isopropyl alcohol
• Mineral spirits
• Naptha solvents
• Lanolin cleaners
• Lacquer thinner

Windows

Inside windows

Cleaning the inside windows of your sunroom is just like cleaning any other window in your home.

Use a window cleaner with a soft rag to clean the inside window of your sunroom. Condensation will cause streaking, but you can prevent condensation build-up by opening a few windows or skylights

Outside windows

Dirt builds on the outside windows a lot faster than the inside windows.

The best way to clean your outside windows is by removing as much of the debris build-up with a garden hose and then finishing them with some simple glass cleaner.

If there’s still dirt on your outside window after using the hose, consider applying a mild soap with a cloth or sponge.

Leave this solution to sit for a few minutes - but don’t let it dry! After it’s sat for a while, rinse the area with clean water. Then dry the glass with a lint-free cloth or squeegee.

Casement windows

Casement (or horizontal awning) windows are cleaned like any other window, however, you should use a grease-less lubricant like Silicone spray on all move parts or guides. First open the window as much as you can, wipe away any bugs or cobwebs, then spray the Silicone lubricant. Open and close several times, spraying the silicone liberally.

Screens

Window screens are pretty easy to clean. All you have to do is remove them by disengaging the side clips, removing the screens, and placing them on a level, clean surface. Then you can clean away any dirt with a soft brush. Rinse your window screens and dry them gently before putting them back in.

We recommend storing the screens in a safe place during the non-bug seasons. It's better for the longevity of the screens and gives you a better view out during the winter months.

If you have small children around we recommend a horizontal fall protection bar in each window for elevated sunrooms.

Door

The way you clean your sunroom door all depends on what type of material it’s made out of.

These doors are incredibly durable and don’t rot, split, warp, or rust. The finish can disintegrate over time, but you can extend their lifespan by regularly cleaning the doors and rinsing them with water and a mild detergent.

Fiberglass sunroom doors

These doors are incredibly durable and don’t rot, split, warp, or rust. The finish can disintegrate over time, but you can extend their lifespan by regularly cleaning the doors and rinsing them with water and a mild detergent.

Steel sunroom doors

If your steel door is painted, your paint might crack or split over time, so you should give it a fresh coat now and then to maintain it. When repainting it, clean the door, let it dry and lightly sand the surface. Then add some paint to give your entrance the look you’re after!

Roof panel

If your roof has aluminum roof panels, the best way to clean them is to wash them with warm water and use a brush to remove any grime.

Remember! Do not stand on the roof when washing your sunroom!

Weather seals and weep holes

When cleaning your sunroom, be careful not to dislodge any of the weather seals attached to the windows and doors. If you notice that a seal is out of place, slide it back into position right away, so it doesn’t get damaged. If a weather seal is damaged, get it replaced as soon as possible.

Be sure that all windows and door weep holes are clean, allowing water to weep out. Sometimes bugs/bees will try to build nests in the weep channel which backs up water, possibly causing a leak.

Handles, locks, and deadbolts

The only way to maintain your handles, locks, and deadbolts is to use light machine oil to lubricate the moving parts.

Why checking for damage is important for your sunroom maintenance

Cleaning your sunroom and maintaining it is incredibly important for longevity, but you should also check for damage.

Here are two of the most common types of damage to look out for in your sunroom.

1. Leaky Window Seals

Window seals help:

• Keep moisture out
• Keep air infiltration from happening
• Prevent mold

They’re an essential part of your sunroom, and if they do disintegrate over time because of old age and sun exposure, you need to get them fixed!

Repairing a leaky window seal is pretty easy if you catch it early. You have to add some silicone caulking around the area to protect it from further damage.

However, if you see condensation between the glass panels then the hermetic seal has failed and it will be time to replace the glass panel.

2. Damaged Frames

Framed windows and screens are an integral part of your sunroom’s walls, and they have to remain sealed to provide insulation and keep pests out.

Frames can bend and crack over time, leaving openings for air, moisture, and pests.

Repairing damaged frames is quite simple but differs depending on the type of material your frame is made out of. Wood frames need to be regularly stained and treated to keep them from splintering. If the wood does crack, then you’ll have to get it replaced.

Vinyl and aluminum frames don’t need to be regularly maintained, but if they bend or crack, you’ll have to replace the whole structure.

When should you get a professional to take a look?

Whether you need your glass replaced, a crack fixed, or structural damage repaired, contact us and our experienced technicians will happily assist you.

They come equipped with all the necessary tools and materials for sunroom repair and maintenance! We’ll fix the problem quickly with minimal intrusion too.

We’d love an opportunity to sit down and show you how we can turn your dream of a new sunroom, addition, deck, kitchen, bath, or basement remodeling, add skylights or replace your windows or doors into a reality.

Call us in Rochester at (585) 377-3330 or in Buffalo at (716) 919-3330.