Salt and your windows..

 

Living by the coast is the ultimate dream. However, there is a downside to living so close to the water- sea salt. The salty atmosphere can do serious damage to your home’s exterior. Whether it’s the paintwork or the windows, the ocean spray can be a real menace for your home’s maintenance.

When condensation from the sea hits your windows, the water will eventually evaporate – however, the salt in the water will remain in place. Over time the salty residue will make the window appear dirty and milky looking. While appearance is a major issue, when left to build up, salt on windows can have much more harmful consequences.

Ocean spray hitting your house causes salt to build up on the windows. The long term effects of salt on windows can range from weakened structural integrity to visible scratches and even corroded frames. However, by engaging in regular cleaning, you can easily prevent the harmful effects of sea salt on windows.

Salt build up on exterior windows makes glass appear dirty, however it can also result in much more harmful consequences. Namely, when salt grows in crystalline form on the glass, the crystals soften the molecular structure of the glass and frame, weakening the structural integrity. Not noticeable short term…

The salt may then cause the window’s frame materials to corrode enough to allow water to leak through the windows. Vigilance and routine maintenance is the best pathway to prevent build up. The more often you can clean your windows, the less salt residue will build up. While you may not have time to do a regular deep clean of your windows, rinsing them more frequently is the next best option. This is because hosing the windows off every few weeks can go a long way towards keeping the amount of salt gathering on the windows reduced. But there is a downside – regular tap water can cause damage in the form of hard water marks.