Salty Sea Spray and Your Windows

Few things are as satisfying as living next to the sea or ocean. A sea breeze and ocean view can make many of us feel at home and relaxed. However, all the moisture and saltiness in the same air you enjoy breathing in can cause damage to homes, vehicles, roads and other infrastructure including your windows. In this post, we look at how salty sea spray can affect your windows and how you can minimise the damage.

Can Salt Damage Your Windows?

Salty sea spray can damage your home windows in different ways.

Airborne salt deposits on the glass

Salt in coastal areas can become airborne due to heat and water movement. Water vapours are saturated with salt and surround the nearby homes, causing damage in time.

Salty air erodes the framing, causing leaks

Salty air affects not only the glass panels of your windows but also their framing. In time, the seals weaken, the wood can rots and crack and your windows can lose their insulating properties. Weak frames can then lead to water infiltration, condensation and other issues.

Salt deposits make the windows milky and murky

The windows of your home will get milky in time if you forget to maintain them regularly. Salty air is a year-round issue in the coastal area, so you should consider cleaning your windows every few months.

Signs of Damage to Look Out For

If you are unsure if your home windows are damaged from the salty air, there are some things to look for. Signs of salt damage include white streaks on your windows, rusty metal hardware or rotting wooden frames. 

When the frames or seals of your windows are affected, you will notice water infiltration. This may take the form of condensation between double-glazed windows, the formation of mould or mildew and the swelling and cracking of wood.

Maintaining Salt-Exposed Windows

Since so many of us love living next to the ocean, there must be solutions to the damage that the sea air causes to our windows. The secret to neutralising the damaging effects of seaside air is maintaining your windows regularly. Protect metal parts against corrosion with corrosion-resistant coatings.

It also helps to add a water-repellent coating to your windows. This can be an adhesive film or a solution you apply and then let cure. It will keep the salty rainwater away from the glass and framing. When it is raining a lot, rinse your windows with purified or softened water to prevent salt from building up on your windows.

Can You Clean Salt Stains from Windows?

To remove salt stains from your windows, use an acidic solution with citric acid or white vinegar. It will dissolve the salt on your windows and leave them streak-free. However, remember rinse your windows properly afterwards to prevent subsequent damage to your window frames from the acid.

Alternatively, you can also use specialised window cleaning solutions such as those that we offer here at Window Cleaning Online. We are a leading provider of high-quality, professional-grade window cleaning supplies in Australia. Browse our online store today or contact us to see how we can help you with your window cleaning equipment needs.