When was the last time you took a good look at your exterior doors? Due to busy schedules or other reasons, you might not think too much about caring for your front door, right? You walk through it and lock it, so what is there to worry about? Well… exterior doors, like any other product in our homes, last longer and look their best when maintained properly. Since the front door is one of the first features in a home that guests see, it is important that homeowners take care of their front doors accordingly, making a great first impression.
On that note, here are some great guidelines you can follow for maintaining exterior doors:
CLEANING YOUR EXTERIOR DOORS
Several times a year, homeowners must take time to thoroughly clean exterior doors on both sides. Spring cleaning is one great opportunity to do it, but if you live an area where you notice that your exterior doors get dirty more often, then you might want to inspect and clean your doors every month. It matters how you remove the dirt from your door – here are some tips:
*For fiberglass, steel and wood doors, use a gentle cleanser such as baby shampoo or diluted dish soap.
*Wrought iron doors should be cleaned with a mixture of oil-based soap and water.
*Steer away from abrasive tools – they can scratch your exterior doors, leaving marks or peeling protective coatings. You may opt for lint-free cloths or sponges instead.
*Make sure to not scour the door.
*Use as little water as possible when cleaning your exterior doors. Make sure to prevent water from pooling anywhere, and absorb excess liquid with a cloth.
*Household glass cleaners or a mixed solution of water and vinegar can be used on glass panels. You may use paper coffee filters to wipe them off for a streak-free finish.
*Put water in a spray bottle and use it to clean your door if you want to reduce the liquid you will use.
These instructions can be best used for all your exterior doors at home – entryway, storm doors, or patio doors.
In addition to the regular cleaning that you will perform, make sure that you also clean up any spills right away in order to avoid staining your exterior doors. If there are any persistent stains, either on the body or the glass of the doors, you might need to use stronger cleaners such as mineral spirits. You may test a little on a part of your door that is hard to see to make sure that it does not discolour your door. Once you are sure that the cleaner is okay to use, blot the stains. You can also use a mixture of water and baking soda to take care of oil stains or grease marks.
