Clean uPVC window frames: how to clean plastic and foiled frames properly
Grey film, adhesive from the protective film, plaster or paint splashes: this is how to clean uPVC window frames and frames wrapped with RENOLIT or Continental foil thoroughly without damaging the surface – and how to tell when cleaning no longer helps.
Updated: October 2026 · Guide by makopan GmbH
In short
- For routine cleaning of window frames, lukewarm water, a little washing-up liquid and a soft microfibre cloth are all you need.
- Clean at least twice a year, in spring and autumn.
- Never use: scouring agents, magic erasers, acetone, cellulose thinners, white spirit or metal blades.
- If the plastic itself has yellowed, cleaning will not make it white again. What helps then is a new surface, for example white window frame foil in Traffic White.
Clean uPVC window frames in 4 steps
Ideally on a cloudy day: in bright sunshine the water dries too quickly and leaves streaks.
Remove loose dirt
Use a brush or vacuum cleaner to get dust, sand and insects out of the rebates and drainage slots. Wiping dry just rubs the grit across the surface.
Soak and wipe
Soak the frame with lukewarm water and a little washing-up liquid, then wipe it with a soft cloth or a sponge without an abrasive side.
Rinse with clean water and dry
Wipe again with clean water so that no detergent residue attracts dirt, then rub dry with a microfibre cloth.
Seals and hardware
Wipe seals with water only. Do not flood the hardware with soapy water.
Toilet paper trick: lightly dampen toilet paper with a spray bottle, lay it on the frame – it sticks by itself – and spray it with soapy water. The paper keeps the moisture on the surface, so the dirt soaks for much longer. Keep re-spraying, then remove the paper and wipe clean.
How to get window frames white again
First work out whether it is dirt or yellowing. A grey film, soot or pollen sit on the surface. Yellow discolouration on old frames is in the plastic, usually caused by years of UV exposure.
It is dirt
Soak for longer and repeat several times instead of rubbing harder. For stubborn grey film, use a plastic cleaner without solvents or abrasive particles. Weathered uPVC windows with a rough, chalky surface get dirty again more quickly; clean them just as gently, but more often.
It is yellowing
Scouring cream or magic erasers wear the surface away. The frame looks brighter for a short while, but becomes rough and gets dirty faster afterwards. It will stay white for good with a new surface of self-adhesive foil in Traffic White – the guide how to wrap window frames shows you how.
White window frame foil Traffic White
Self-adhesive exterior foil by Continental (formerly Hornschuch) for white uPVC windows. It is applied directly to the cleaned frame – the window stays in place. Available in 100, 180, 200, 500 and 1000 mm widths.
- Tip: first order foil samples for €0.99 and compare the shade of white on your frame
- Free sample shipping
After installation: protective film, plaster and building dirt
Adhesive residue usually comes from the protective film on new windows. Light residue comes off with warm soapy water; warm up hard residue first with a hair dryer on its lowest setting. The guide remove adhesive residue from window frames shows how to deal with stubborn residue and baked-on protective film.
Do not use
Knives, utility knives or glass scrapers with metal blades, and solvents such as acetone or cellulose thinners. They leave permanent scratches or dull patches – on foiled frames these cannot be polished out. Small scratches can be touched up with a uPVC touch-up pen.
Heavily soiled frames
Patience matters here, not pressure: soak well – ideally with the toilet paper trick from step 2 – work with plenty of water and rinse loosened particles off thoroughly, otherwise they act like sandpaper. Clean woodgrain foils with a soft brush in the direction of the grain.
Paint, plaster and building dirt
Tile adhesive, paint and plaster splashes, rubber scuffs and crayon marks often come off with hot tap water and washing-up liquid. For dried-on residue, use the cleaner from the foil manufacturer.
What can you use on window frames?
| Product | White uPVC | Foiled frame | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water + washing-up liquid | suitable | suitable | Standard for routine cleaning |
| RENOLIT window frame cleaner | suitable | suitable | non-solvent, for adhesive residue, rubber scuffs, crayon marks, building dirt |
| Vinegar water | heavily diluted | heavily diluted | keep away from seals, rinse with clean water |
| Magic eraser | only after a test | do not use | acts like fine sandpaper, dulls the surface |
| Scouring cream, baking soda, toothpaste | do not use | do not use | abrade the surface |
| Acetone, cellulose thinners, white spirit | do not use | do not use | attack plastic and foil |
| WD-40 | not recommended | do not use | leaves an oily film that attracts new dirt |
Cleaners for uPVC and RENOLIT foil
Window frame cleaner for foiled surfaces
Developed by the foil manufacturer for RENOLIT EXOFOL: grease-dissolving, antistatic, non-solvent. For adhesive residue, rubber scuffs, crayon marks and building dirt.
uPVC window frame cleaner, non-solvent
For routine cleaning of white and foiled uPVC windows.
Video: removing building dirt from window frames
FAQ: how to clean uPVC window frames
How often should you clean window frames?
At least twice a year, in spring and autumn. More often near busy roads or close to the kitchen.
How do I get yellowed uPVC windows white again?
Genuine yellowing is in the material and cannot be cleaned off. With self-adhesive window frame foil in Traffic White, the frame gets a new surface without replacing the window. Match the shade of white beforehand with a foil sample for €0.99.
How do I clean heavily soiled window frames?
With patience rather than pressure: dampen toilet paper, lay it on the frame and keep spraying it with soapy water. This lets the dirt soak for a long time so it can then be wiped off without scrubbing. Remove stubborn residue with a non-solvent cleaner.
Can I use WD-40 on uPVC windows?
Not for cleaning. It leaves an oily film that quickly attracts new dust. It should not be used on foiled frames at all.
Can I use a magic eraser?
Not on foiled frames – it abrades the surface. On white uPVC only after a test on an inconspicuous spot – the area may look dull afterwards.
How do I clean foiled window frames and RENOLIT foil?
Like white uPVC, only more gently: water, washing-up liquid, a soft cloth, and a soft brush for woodgrain finishes. For stubborn dirt, use a non-solvent cleaner from the foil manufacturer. This applies to every decorative foil on window profiles, whether RENOLIT or Continental.
Can old uPVC windows be restored?
Yes, as long as the surface is only dirty: clean thoroughly with a non-solvent plastic cleaner. Do not use polish, scouring agents or solvent-based cleaners on foiled frames, as they attack the foil surface. If the plastic or foil has faded or yellowed, restoring will no longer help. Then the frame gets a new surface with foil – see repair foiled window frames and buy window frame foil.
How do I clean weathered uPVC windows?
Weathered frames are rough and chalky, and dirt settles into the surface. Soak for a long time, work with a non-solvent plastic cleaner and a soft cloth, and never scrub. If the frame stays grey or blotchy, the surface itself has weathered; then the only solution is a new surface of window frame foil.
A new surface instead of scrubbing
If the frame stays yellow despite cleaning or the old foil is damaged, self-adhesive foil from RENOLIT or Continental gives it a new surface – in over 250 decors, without replacing the windows. If only one spot is damaged, see the guide repair foiled window frames.