Routine Care & Maintenance Tips: Window & Door Hardware
Today’s finishes look great and are long lasting. Find out how to clean and care for Marvin window and door hardware.
General Guidelines
- Use a clean, soft, damp cloth to polish and remove finger prints and dirt from window and door hardware.
- Do not use household cleaners, window cleaning solutions, abrasive cleansers, bleaches, solvents, polishes or other chemical compounds to clean your window or door hardware unless specifically recommended by the hardware’s manufacturer. These products may remove protective coatings or scratch and remove finishes. Keys, rings or other sharp objects should be kept from striking the hardware.
Care and Maintenance of Solid Brass Hardware
If your window’s or door’s solid, bright-brass, laquered hardware does not have a PVD finish, please follow the directions below to care and maintain your bright-brass hardware. These instructions do not apply to antiqued brass, chrome-plated or nickel-plated brass finishes, oil-rubbed bronze hardware or PVD hardware finishes.
Solid brass hardware is typically factory-finished with clear lacquer. The durability of lacquer depends on the specific manufacturer involved and the circumstances of wear and environment. Lacquers are affected by pollutants, temperature extremes, ultraviolet light, marine salt air or spray, paint fumes, and household cleaning solutions which contain bleaches, abrasives, or solvents. Ordinary wear from frequent handling is also a factor. The harsh salt air environment of beach-front properties is perhaps the most severe condition frequently encountered, where lacquers can fail in a matter of weeks.
It is strongly recommended that ANY BRASS HARDWARE USED OUTDOORS BE COATED WITH WAX—either a nonabrasive paste furniture wax or a nonabrasive automotive wax. This waxing should be done immediately when the hardware is installed, and maintained frequently thereafter.
Painting or wallpapering can cause serious problem with brass lacquers. Although latex paints or wallpaper pastes dry within hours, their curing time is much longer, and they can remain chemically active for several days. Oil based paints and varnishes can take weeks to cure under high humidity conditions. Whenever painting, all brass hardware should be removed from the surfaces being painted, and not reinstalled until the paint is completely cured. Find more information on caring for brass hardware here.
Care and Maintenance of Marvin Architectural Hardware Finishes
Marvin Architectural Hardware features designer handle sets from leading hardware manufacturers that complement a wide variety of architectural and design styles. For care and maintenance recommendations, please consult the recommendations of the specific hardware manufacturer.