How to Clean Window Tracks
Dust first, water later. Get the order right and you clean every corner of the track without making mud.
What you need
Supplies
- A few drops of dish soap
- 500 ml (2 cups) water
Tools
- Vacuum crevice tool
- Paintbrush or detail brush
- Spray bottle
- Wooden chopstick
- Wet wipes or cloth
How to do it
- 01
Brush out dry dust
Before using water, sweep dust and sand in the track into one spot with a paintbrush or detail brush. Wet dust turns into mud and is much harder to clean, so this order matters most.
- 02
Vacuum it up
Vacuum the collected dust with the crevice tool, including the corners at each end and the groove the window rollers run along.
- 03
Spray and soak
Mix 500 ml of water with a few drops of dish soap in a spray bottle, spray the track and leave it for 5 minutes. Spray a little more on any black mold.
- 04
Wipe corners with a chopstick
Wrap a wet wipe or cloth around the end of a wooden chopstick and push it along the grooves. Press the tip into the corners to reach places your fingers cannot.
- 05
Check the weep holes
Make sure the small drainage holes at the bottom of the outer frame are not blocked with dust, and clear them with the chopstick. Blocked holes let rainwater pool in the track and grow mold.
- 06
Dry the track
Wipe the track completely dry with a dry cloth. Slide the window back and forth a few times to push out water near the rollers.
Be careful
- On upper floors, never lean out to clean the outer frame. The inner track is enough.
- Bleach can discolor aluminum frames. For heavy mold, wipe with diluted alcohol instead.
- Do not oil the window rollers with cooking oil; it attracts dust. Use a silicone spray lubricant if needed.
Malkkeum tips
- Clean the tracks on the same day as the window screens to catch the dust that falls from the screen.
- After cleaning, line the bottom of the track with masking tape. Next time, just peel it off.
- A piece of milk carton cut to the width of the track scrapes hardened dirt into a pile easily.
Order is everything
The most common mistake is spraying water first. Dust and sand in the track turn into mud that sticks to the grooves and smears as you wipe. Remove all the dust before using water, and a few wipes will finish the job.
If black mold has spread
Mold on window frames is usually caused by winter condensation. If it keeps coming back after cleaning, reducing condensation comes first: ventilate often, add condensation strips to the frame or place absorbent pads under the window. See how to prevent winter condensation and mold for more.
FAQ
Do I really need to do this in autumn? Autumn is the last chance before you close the windows for winter. Dust left in the track mixes with condensation over winter and mold spreads easily.
