In last week's blog, we took a deep dive into the world of window glazing and glass insulation. We thought all about the different types of secondary glazing on offer and their benefits/drawbacks to help you choose the right glazing option for your home. Make sure to check that guide by clicking here, if you haven’t already. 
 
This week, we are sticking with the glazing theme and thinking all about how you can care for and repair your secondary glazing once you’ve installed the panels around your home. We’re going to cover everything from general day-to-day cleaning of glazing panels, as well as how to complete some minor repairs of scratches and other damage. 
 
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When should you clean secondary glazing?
 
On the whole, you do not need to clean your secondary glazing that often. The durability of the material means that secondary glazing panels tend to last for years and years without showing any general wear and tear. However, regular maintenance can help your plastic glazing panels last longer. 
 
When it comes to cleaning and maintaining your secondary glazing, the process is simple! You might choose to clean the panels whenever you clean the outside of your windows - every few months or so. Alternatively, you can only clean the glazing panels when they appear dirty or dull. 
 
Naturally, poor weather, pets, and children might all impact how regularly you opt to clean your glazing. Keep in mind that the longer you leave dirt and stains on the panels, the harder it is to remove. 
 
How to clean secondary glazing
 
If you are a regular reader of our blogs here at The Plastic People, you may have previously checked out our guides to cleaning and maintaining acrylic (perspex) plastic. As our MagnetGlaze kits are made with acrylic plastic glass, the process of cleaning secondary is very similar. 
 
The tools you need include:

 

The Process:
 

 

 

 

 
It’s really that simple! Now and then, you might opt for a more intensive cleaning regime. This would involve removing the secondary glazing panel from your window so that you can clean both sides of the plastic. Though time-consuming, it’s a free and easy way to make your secondary glazing last longer. 
 
Repairing secondary glazing 
 
If you ever notice some small scratches or chips during your cleaning process, do not fret! The majority of surface scratches are purely cosmetic and so do not cause any damage to the structure of your glazing panel. 
 
For glass window panes, you should be extremely careful whenever repairing scratches to avoid making them any worse. The easiest and most common method for removing scratches from glass involves a common household object: toothpaste! 
 
Clean the scratched area before starting a repair. Then, rub a small amount of toothpaste into the glass for around 30 seconds. Wipe clean any access, and the scratch should either disappear or be reduced in size. You can repeat this process several times for larger areas of damage. 
 
For repairing scratches on acrylic and plastic panels, we recommend using sandpaper to puff out the damage. This only works for surface-level scratches, and so anything deeper cracks may need to be professionally repaired, or the panel itself may need to be replaced. 
 
To find out more about removing scratches from plastic, make sure to check out our in-depth guide. Click here to read more. 
 
Further Help
 
Whatever your concerns or queries regarding secondary glazing, our team of plastic experts are here to help! Feel free to reach out to our customer services team any day of the week for advice, guidance, and more. Click here to contact us today, or simply email us at service@theplasticpeople.co.uk. LINK
 
If you are looking to purchase your own DIY secondary glazing kit today, make sure to check out our outline calculator for an instant quote! We will not be beaten on price! Click here to find out more now.