How To Clean Doors

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Door Cleaning Tips

A door is a door is a door ... not any more! Doors come in a lot of sizes and designs - plain solid wood, paneled wood, vinyl, aluminum, steel core, half doors, folding doors, decorated glass doors, security doors, storm doors, patio doors ... you name it, the list goes on. One thing they all have in common is that they must be "hung" - set in a frame, balanced and leveled. Some doors have a threshold, some have tracks. All need cleaned!

Be sure your entry way door is well maintained, including the area leading up to it and beyond. This is the "first impression" that many people have of your home and the way you live. Be sure that seasonal debris is picked up - leaves, accumulations of dirt - and disposed of.

Don't leave kids toys laying around. Keep door hardware in good repair; this includes oiling the hinges and making sure the door look works properly.

Regular maintenance of all doors includes:

1. Wipe the top of door frames to remove dust. A soft rag works better than a feather duster in that area.
2. Then, using either feather duster or a rag, wipe all around the frame of the door.
3. You may wipe the entire surface of a varnished wood door with oil soap using a soft rag. Be sure to wipe the door in the direction of the grain. Buff the door to remove excess and to dry the surface.
4. Use a sponge to apply an all-purpose cleaner to painted doors. Wipe it dry with a soft clean rag.
5. Use an all-purpose cleaner to the door knobs or handle. Wipe well to remove dirt and then dry.
6. If your door has brass fixtures, use a good brass cleaner - available in home improvement stores - and follow manufacturer's instructions.
7. If your door has a glass inset or window, use a glass cleaner to make it sparkle. Do inside and out.
8. Finish by spraying or wiping the door knob with a sanitizer (antibacterial product)

Clean Sliding Glass Doors

Gather Your Tools:

• Vacuum cleaner with nozzle attachment
• Soft, absorbent cleaning rags
• Multi-purpose cleaner
• Glass cleaner
• Small brush - whiskbroom
• Waterproof sliding track lubricant

Technique:

Vacuum the slider tracks regularly. All kinds of stuff gets into the tracks - including bugs. You may need to use a whiskbroom to get the ends of the tracks where the sliding action of the door actually pushes and compacts the dirt. Dig that all out and then vacuum it up and go on to the door frame. Using the all-purpose cleaner, spray the whole frame of the door, one section at a time. Rub to loosen soil and wipe it off as you go. Then clean the glass, inside and out. We have several tips for glass cleaning (from the professionals) at Window Washing Tips.

Now, it's back to the track! Spray a heavy coat of multi-purpose cleaner into the track and allow to set for a moment or two to let the dirt loosen. Really get in the groove with an old toothbrush or other stiff bristled small brush and run it up and down the track to dislodge dried on dirt. Wrap a cleaning rag around your fingers to get into the tight track and soak up the dirty solution and particles. You may have to stuff the rag into the track and run it back and forth a few times until it really looks clean. When you are satisfied, finish up with a quick spray of sliding track lubricant. Promise yourself you won't let this go so long the next time!

Sliding Glass Doors

The outside of sliding glass doors can really take a beating by the environment. After months of rain, the sun bakes the water spots onto the glass and it takes a huge amount of effort to remove the etch and get that glass really clean. First, you need to grab a sponge that has the scrubber on one side. Using your favorite window cleaner solution (we have a wonderful home made Glass Cleaning Recipe that helps to dissolve water spots and environmental grime. After the surface feels smooth to the touch, rinse well. Hand dry, using a soft absorbent towel, about an inch of glass along the top of the door. Then ... squeegee from the top down using bold strokes all the way to the bottom. Dry the blade of the squeegee and make another pass at the glass. Continue until the whole door is sparkling. Oh, a little reminder, it's better to pick a windless, cloudy day for this task because sunlight and warm breezes dries the solution too quickly and you'll wind up with a lot of streaks.

Painted Wood Doors

• With a rag dipped in soapy water, wipe all around the edges of the door beginning at the top
• Use a scrub brush dipped in your cleaning solution for especially tough spots
• Sponge off the cleaning solution with clean warm water
• Wipe door dry using a soft, clean, highly absorbent towel