Been thinking lately about the Simonton windows we put in around 12 years ago. At the time, everyone said vinyl was the way to go—low maintenance, energy efficient, all that jazz. And honestly, they've held up pretty well overall. But I did notice recently that a couple of them are getting a bit harder to open and close smoothly. Nothing major, just a little stiffness here and there. Also, the white vinyl frames aren't quite as bright as they used to be—kinda yellowed slightly over time (sun exposure maybe?).
Funny thing is, my neighbor has similar Simontons installed around the same time, and his look almost brand new still. He swears by cleaning them with some special cleaner every spring...I admit I'm not exactly diligent about window maintenance myself, haha.
Anyway, got me curious if anyone else has noticed quirks or interesting things about their older Simonton windows after 10+ years. Maybe there's some cool trivia or tips out there I don't know about?
We've had our Simonton windows for about 14 years now, and yeah, I've noticed some similar stuff. A couple of ours got a bit stiff too, but I found that cleaning out the tracks and applying a little silicone spray lubricant once or twice a year really helps. Makes them glide smoothly again without much fuss.
As for the yellowing, that's pretty common with vinyl, especially if they're getting direct sunlight most of the day. My brother-in-law swears by using a mild cleaner like Soft Scrub or even baking soda paste to brighten them up. I tried it last summer, and it actually made a noticeable difference—nothing dramatic, but definitely fresher looking.
Funny you mention your neighbor's "special cleaner"...I bet it's something similar. Honestly, I'm not super diligent either, but spending an afternoon every spring giving them a quick clean and lube has kept ours looking decent and working smoothly. Might be worth a shot if you have a free weekend coming up.