Soap and water and elbow grease or a commercial aluminum cleaner should work on light soil and stains. Older stains require more effort. Use one of these methods to clean aluminum windows.
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Remove most of the soil by washing the frames with warm soapy water. Rinse and dry it with a soft cloth.
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Use a cleaner with solvent in it to remove grease spots. Test the cleaner on a hidden spot to make sure it won't damage or discolor the aluminum.
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Make a paste of ½ cup of lemon juice and ¼ cup of baking soda. Rub it onto the aluminum and let it sit for a minute. Use a damp sponge to remove the paste and dry it with a soft cloth.
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Clean aluminum window tracks by spraying on a solution of ½ cup of baking soda, ½ cup of vinegar and 2 cups of water. Rinse and dry the frame.
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Dampen an SOS pad (not Brillo) and gently rub it over the aluminum. Rinse and dry the frame.
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Spray WD-40 on hard-to-clean spots and wipe the frame dry with a soft cloth.
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Treat really tough stains by dipping a fine steel wool in paint thinner and scrubbing the aluminum. Or substitute aluminum jelly for the paint thinner. Use caution as this method might cause scratches.
