[Cookie]

I had a local glazier around today to replace some misted up units on our house. On finding out that I was a window cleaner he asked whether I used washing up liquid (I do when using trad inside - which is not very often - other wise I use pure water).

He explained that washing up liquid could damage window seals and that he'd recently replaced a number of windows which he believes had been damaged through the use of washing up liquid. The customer was considering whether to get her window cleaner to pay for the replacement units...

This was news to me... However looking on the internet I found:

http://www.prestigedoubleglazing.co.uk/news/
Do not using washing up liquid or any other substance on uPVC frames as this damages the rubber gasket.

http://www.thewindowman.co.uk/misted-up.htm
Although there many reasons why a double glazed sealed unit may mist up inside when it has 'broken down' due to premature failure of the perimeter seal, the cause will either be down to how the sealed unit was made, how the framework it is fitted into was made, or how the double glazed sealed unit was fitted into the framework. On top of this environment conditions may play a part, such as wind or sonic loads, and possible exposure of the perimeter seal to aggressive chemicals such as those found in washing up liquid. This may all sound a bit complicated, but the cause of a premature failure of a double glazed sealed unit can usually be fairly easily traced once the sealed unit has been removed from it's frame.

http://www.wombourne-windows.co.uk/top-5-tips-for-maintaining-your-double-glazing/
washing up liquid can damage seals.

Have any of you found the above to be true? Would Ecover be OK or should I be using something like Squeegee Off?

[SeanK]

So what is the ingredient in washing up liquid that damages the seals ? that's the first question I would ask these so called
experts.

[Smudger]

Washing up liquid has salt in it, it was always supposed to be a bad idea to use it in your car screen washer bottle.

In this current world everyone is dead keen to pass the buck and blame someone or something else. The main cause of unit failure is there poor quality of build, followed by poor fitting where the unit is placed directly on the frame.

Darran

[M & C Window Cleaning]

My feeling is that it's more like the rubber seals breaking down over time. I've recently had to throw away a perfectly good pair of binoculars and a wine bottle opener as the rubberized coating on both did this. It was leaving a sticky black residue on my hands every time I used them that was very difficult to remove.
I have found that some rubber window seals become really sticky and messy after time as well. I have no idea whether this was because as a trad window cleaner for many years I had been using soap in my water or not.
Anyway, in my view it is utterly ridiculous to manufacture any part of a window frame, seals etc that cannot be cleaned with a gentle detergent as this is likely to be the most common way for a homeowner/window cleaner to clean them if they become very dirty.

[jk999]

What a load of bull ,the window company's do this all the time you will find that if you have windows that are under warranty the first thing most will ask when they turn up to a broken window is do you have a window cleaner and that's who they blame to try and get out of free repair

[Cookie]

What a load of bull ,the window company's do this all the time you will find that if you have windows that are under warranty the first thing most will ask when they turn up to a broken window is do you have a window cleaner and that's who they blame to try and get out of free repair

I tend to agree. And even if there is an element of truth in the claims of the above websites I think it would be very difficult to prove.

[paulben]

Outer seal/gasket don't do a lot see loads that don't meet in corners . The main seal is very hard and cannot see a bit of washing up liquid harming that . once squeeged water off and detailed there is no soap solution left so only been in contact with outer seal mater of seconds . More like bad windows / fitters even seen bodge jobs from Everest

[dazmond]

i also have my doubts about it causing damaged window seals although ive not used washing up liquid (like fairy) for years.its too sticky and you get a far better finish/less residue left behind on the glass with pro detergents like squeegee off/gg3 and even HG window cleaner from B&Q IMO.

[Edge Clean]

Window fitters propaganda    .... I have several squeegees with the thinner more flexible rubber handles, which must be more prone to degradation than window seals.... These have sat in my bucket full of soapy water for years (not the same water, I do change it several times a day  n the rubber hasn't degraded a single bit.

[Immaculate windows]

Rubber continues to vulcanise (harden) even after the factory curing process, hence it degrades naturally over time-as car tyres eventuelly perish-and the windows exposed to hot sun will degrade faster than those in the shade. I worked in the rubber industry for many years, and there are compounds that will be better suited to needs than those used by some of the glazing companys.

[andyM]

Rubber continues to vulcanise (harden) even after the factory curing process, hence it degrades naturally over time-as car tyres eventuelly perish-and the windows exposed to hot sun will degrade faster than those in the shade. I worked in the rubber industry for many years, and there are compounds that will be better suited to needs than those used by some of the glazing companys.

Yes I've heard tyres should be changed after 7 years (I think it is?) whether worn or not due to the material degrading.
So the points you make do seem to make sense.   

[slap bash]

The chemical in washing up soap is potassium or sodium but it will lake a very long time to create any damage and there is not proof that a specialized window cleaning  products will do any less. AS most cleaning product have this chemical in the base product. I would say  that the quality of the rubber seal will be more to blame for the deterioration and the effects of sun and weather  than any detergents. If this was true surely a rubber on the squeegee would suffer more than they do with this bad chemical substance. The reason we replace rubber on a squeegee is wear and tear on glass, that's  in  fact not smooth but have small shards on the surface.

[paulben]

To prove a point was walking past my motor nice egg sized lump on tyre wall not been kerbed since I have had it was ok couple of days ago.
If it was soap we used all windows on our rounds would need changing about the same time .

[windowswashed]

It's 6 years for car tyres

[paulben]

Prob 6 months on mine it says made in Korea

[Og]

Car tyres are styrene butadienne rubber innit.
Window seals are not likely to be made of the same polymer. Different stuff like.
Tear strength, irhd, modulus, volume swells etc all be different.

I was once a lab tech in a rubber factory. What joy.

[CleanClear]

Durex Play (around £6.50 for 200ml), washes off with water, gives a good smooth glide and importantly, will not degrade rubber no matter how thin. It is enriched with Ylang Ylang , has a nice fragrance and is described by the manufacturers as soft , silky and smooth, It also makes you feel good when using it.

What Vision is to WFP,     Durex Play is to traditional cleaning.