Right then, spring’s here! Time to throw open the windows (maybe!) and get the house looking a bit brighter after the dreary winter months. But hold on, a spring refresh doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg. Your windows and doors can make a massive difference to how your place feels, and you can get them looking smart again without raiding your savings.
Forget about shelling out for brand new ones just yet. Let’s focus on some savvy maintenance and easy cosmetic jobs that give you maximum results for minimum spends.
First things first, give everything a really good clean. Honestly, you’d be surprised what a difference it makes! Winter leaves behind layers of muck, maybe some green stuff starting to grow.
For the glass, a squirt of washing-up liquid in water or a vinegar solution often works fine. Get yourself a squeegee for a non-streaky finish. Remember the insides too! For uPVC frames, warm soapy water and a soft cloth are your best bet. Avoid harsh scourers that can scratch. Specialist uPVC cleaner can shift stubborn marks, but test it somewhere hidden first. If you’ve got wooden frames, a gentle wipe and a thorough dry is needed. Check for flaky paint while you’re there. Don’t forget the front and back doors – handles, letterboxes, the lot.
Feeling draughts? Even tiny gaps around windows and doors make rooms feel chilly and waste heating money. Luckily, fixing them is dead cheap. Self-adhesive foam or rubber strips cost pennies and are super easy to stick around frames to seal gaps. Pop a brush strip in your letterbox. Check the sealant around the outside edges of your window frames where they meet the wall. If it’s cracked or missing, grab a tube of exterior frame sealant and a cheap sealant gun. It’s an easy DIY fix that stops draughts and water getting in.
Fancy a bigger change? Paint! It’s the ultimate budget makeover for wooden windows and doors. The trick is good preparation. Sand down any loose bits, fill holes with wood filler, sand again until smooth, then clean it all off. Use a decent primer/undercoat for exterior wood – it makes the top coat stick better and last longer. Get proper exterior wood paint in a finish you like (gloss, satin?). Colour-wise, a bright front door looks brilliant. For windows, white is classic, but greens, greys or blues can look really smart. Take your time, use thin coats, and let it dry properly. Masking tape helps get nice sharp edges.
What about the handles and hinges? Don’t let grubby hardware spoil the look. Give metal bits a good buff with metal polish. If they’re really past it, you could try carefully removing them, cleaning, priming, and spray-painting them – black or brushed steel looks modern. Or if just one handle is broken, replacing only that one piece is fairly cheap.
Getting your existing windows and doors spruced up is a fantastic, thrifty way to make your home look and feel better this spring. A bit of elbow grease and maybe a tin of paint can work wonders. Proof that you don’t need a massive budget to feel properly chuffed with your home!
