The Gila Valley experiences a wide range of temperatures depending on the season, from scorching hot 100+ Fahrenheit temperatures during the summer months to lows of 30F come the winter.
These drastic weather changes, paired with the high levels of dust whipped about throughout the year, can cause serious damage to your car windows, from expansion cracks to degraded seals that reduce their efficiency and create potential safety risks.
Windshield care isn’t something that begins and ends with giving your windows the once-over with a wet cloth once in a while. If you’re serious about prolonging the lifespan of your windows in the Gila Valley, there are several techniques you can follow to ensure your windows last the course and stay looking as good as new, keeping you safe, your car looking pristine, and ensuring the resale value remains intact.
How Does The Arizona Weather Impact Your Windows?
The Gila Valley’s extreme temperature difference inevitably has an impact on your vehicle. While you might not immediately see the change over one or two seasons, the impact will eventually become clear, and in most cases, it will be irreversible.
While options like Clear View Glass & Tint offer a selection of services and products that can eliminate many of these risks, it’s a good idea to first understand how weather can affect them. Due to the extreme seasonal changes experienced in Gila Valley (and to a wider degree, Arizona), you may experience some or all of the following:
Thermal Expansion
Heat tends to cause materials like glass to expand slightly, and with temperatures often rising to over 100 F, this continual expansion can lead to significant issues.
Thermal expansion can cause a range of issues, from cracked seals caused by the heat drying out the sealant that keeps the glass in place to microcracks that may not be immediately visible but can turn into major cracks.
Even the drops in temperature from day to night can lead to significant deterioration if left unaddressed.
Monsoon Damage
From June to September, Gila Valley residents can expect monsoons that cause damage throughout the region. When it comes to your windows, hard water spotting and an accumulation of debris in your window tracks and seals can degrade them before their time.
The Dust Factor
Arizona can be delicately described as a dusty place, and the fine particulates that make up the Gila Valley can become abrasive when whipped up by a windstorm. Dust can come from several sources.
These include desert sand, fires created during the colder months, agricultural land management practices, and even from leaf blowers, which, according to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, is one of the top five off-road sources of particulate emissions in the Valley.
Once dust gets between your windows and the seals, it can spread into the delicate electronics that control the mechanism, leading to a costly mechanical bill.
What Are The Best Techniques For Cleaning Desert Windows?
As with all things in life, it’s often best to invest more in prevention than in the cure. Aside from using professional services, there are steps you can take to keep your windows clean and protected from dust buildup.
How Should You Prepare Windows Before Cleaning In Desert Environments?
Cleaning your windows in this sort of environment requires a little more care and attention than in other, more clement locations due to the presence of mineral-rich water and very fine dust.
Before applying any cleaning solutions, blow off any residual dust, then use a soft microfiber cloth to wipe away anything that remains. It’s also a good idea to invest in soft-bristle brushes to reach the nooks and crannies where dust can accumulate.
Which Cleaning Solutions Work Best for Desert Grime?
Once you’ve cleared and prepared the surface, you can begin using a solution to give your windows a proper clean. There is a debate about whether you should opt for chemical cleaning agents like those sold in all supermarkets, or choose something more delicate.
There are certainly pros and cons to each option, but for most desert dwellers, a milder solution of vinegar and distilled water is optimal for almost all cases.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, hard water, found in abundance throughout Arizona, contains elevated levels of calcium and magnesium, which leads to stubborn spotting if left alone. This is why distilled water is recommended over tap water and used alongside a soft squeegee to ensure a streak-free finish.
How Often Should You Clean Your Car Windows In The Gila Valley?
This depends on whether longevity or aesthetics are your main concerns. Regarding the former, it’s not necessary to clean your windows every week. A general cleaning after weather events should suffice in keeping them functional.
If you’re more interested in the latter, though, then setting up a regular cleaning schedule performed by either yourself or a professional window cleaner will keep them looking amazing.
For those seeking a more hands-off approach, purchasing and installing tinted window film will offer maximum protection against whatever the Arizona weather throws at them and allow you to replace it when it deteriorates (most come with a multi-year warranty, depending on the company and brands used).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Better To Clean Your Windows On A Sunny Or Cloudy Day?
Anyone who has experienced a sunny day in the Gila Valley will tell you that it’s impossible to work outdoors when the sun is beating down.
That’s why it is recommended to care for them when it’s a bit cloudier and cooler. Extreme heat can also cause your cleaning solutions to evaporate instantly before they’ve had any effect.
Does Vinegar Damage Window Frames?
Vinegar is a highly effective cleaning solution, but it can degrade seals made from certain types of rubber (natural rubber, neoprene, and some silicones), so it’s best to double-check. This is why you should always dilute it with water and then use unadulterated distilled water to wash the solution off once you’ve finished.
Does Protective Film Have Any Impact?
Protective film is highly recommended and can offer incredible results when installed correctly. From UV protection to keeping the desert elements from causing damage to the underlying glass as well as the interior materials, which are particularly vulnerable to UV damage, they can have a huge impact.
Protect Your Gila Valley Views
Maintaining your windows takes more than a mere wipe down with an old cloth. Desert climates can wreak havoc on your car and windows in particular by depositing fine, abrasive dust on and around them, causing them to expand and contract multiple times over the year, and just look plain ugly thanks to the hard water and monsoon rains during the mid-year monsoons.
Stay ahead of the heat and keep your vehicle in peak condition by exploring our latest post related to all things Gila Valley, including checking out our posts related to vehicles.
