Cleaning, Care and Maintenance Instructions Hardware installed on windows and doors is normally exposed to environmental attack due to atmospheric and other conditions. It is very important to clean visible surfaces in order to prevent degradation of finishes. All Ferco Hardware made of mild steel or Zamac (zinc alloy) is protected with our ferGUard coating. This finish has been tested and has achieved 576 hours in a salt air environment without showing red rust on the surface. Ferco aluminum products are either anodized or painted. Ferco is also using high grade stainless steel for door locks. GENERAL ENVIRONMENT To prevent build-up of surface contaminates possibly resulting in hardware surface deterioration and in some case appearance of rust; we recommend to wipe down with soft cloth all visible surfaces with warm water and mild soap. Then wipe the same surfaces with a clean cloth and warm water only and let surfaces dry completely. This procedure should be done a minimum of 2 times per year. AGGRESSIVE ENVIRONMENT Cleaning of hardware is even more important in severe environments such as coastal marine areas and some industrial areas. Also, stainless steel products will require maintenance to prevent contamination buildup and corrosion appearance on surfaces. With soft cloth wipe down all visible surfaces with warm water and mild soap, and then wipe the same surfaces with a clean cloth and warm water. Let surfaces dry completely. Once the surface is completely dry apply a thin film of light machine oil or other corrosion preservative and spray on all surfaces. Wipe off the excess of liquid with a clean soft cloth. For stainless steel products use a suitable lubricant in spray for stainless steel products only. Wipe off excess of liquid with a clean soft cloth. This procedure should be done a minimum of 4 times per year. CLEANERS TO AVOID The following cleaners should not be used to clean hardware : • VINEGAR BASED CLEANERS • CITRUS BASED CLEANERS • INDUSTRIAL CLEANERS • ABRASIVE CLEANERS These types of cleaners will remove the lubricants from the hardware and attack the protection finishes of hardware. WARNING: Glass cleaners and brick or siding washes must not come in contact with the hardware for the reasons listed above. FERCO ARCHITECTURAL HARDWARE WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER CORROSION LUBRICATION Ferco recommends that all hardware for windows and doors be lubricated periodically in accordance with the above guidelines. After the cleaning of the hardware surfaces it is recommended to lubricate all the moving parts to restore the smooth operation of the hardware. • For Tilt & Turn windows or doors, we recommend using lithium grease. • For latches on door gears use light oil “3 in 1” that you will spray in the cavity of the latch. • For rollers on sliding doors the use of light oil spray such as “3 in 1” is recommended. The cleaning of tracks to remove all the collected dust will insure a smooth operation of the moving panel. WARNING: Avoid use of silicone based sprays or lubricants. Silicone can cause some plastic parts to become brittle. WARNING: To prevent staining wood windows or doors, do not spray oil or grease on the wood. REGULAR MAINTENANCE IS REQUIRED TO ALL HARDWARE OTHERWISE MANUFACTURER’S WARRANTY MAY BE VOIDED.