Maintenance Tips: How To Clean Your Garage Door
If you are like most common homeowners whose time is spent mostly in working or in the office, cleaning your garage door might not be on top of your priorities. It’s understandable, given that most people now work longer than before. But, just like any other parts of your home, your garage door requires proper care and maintenance. When you clean your garage door, you don’t only enhance or maintain its curb appeal, but you are also prolonging the life of the door you use often in a day.
Why Clean Your Garage Door
Generally, you have to wash your garage door at least twice a year, in spring and in autumn. But if you live in a coastal area, or in an area where it snows a lot, cleaning your garage door every quarter may be needed. It is because of the exposure to salt that can lead to corrosion of your garage door.
Cleaning your garage door may seem troublesome and you might need to spend an hour or more to do it. But, spending some time cleaning it can help you protect your investment and prevent any serious problems to occur. It is true that cleaning your door can enhance the beauty of your home. But, there is more to it. A clean garage door has more benefits to offer.
1. A Clean Garage Door Extends Your Door’s Finish.
On a daily basis, your garage door is exposed to different elements, like sun, wind, rain, and snow. They can all damage your door in no time. Accumulated dirt and grime can damage your door’s finish. However, if you keep your door clean, you are maintaining its integrity and prolonging its life.
2. It Helps Maintain Your Warranty.
Modern garage doors now require homeowners to clean their garage doors to keep their warranty terms. Failure to do it will result in invalidation of using your warranty in times you need it. Sticking to the terms and conditions of your warranty can give you peace of mind in case something happens.
3. It Allows You To Do A Quick Inspection Of Your Door.
Cleaning gives you some time to do a quick maintenance check of your door. Take this time as a chance to check the moving parts, like springs, tracks, photo-eye sensors, and others. Watch out for any signs of damage. A clean garage door allows you to easily notice potential problems or damages. The sooner you notice the problem, the sooner you can address it properly and prevent small problems to even get bigger
How To Clean Your Garage Door
Cleaning your garage door may look intimidating, especially if you have never done it before. But, this task is actually simple and may be done with just the things you can find at home. So, here are the steps that you can follow.
Step 1: Gather Your Supplies.
- Gentle soap
- A hose
- A soft rag or sponge
- A bucket with water
It may be also necessary to use gloves when washing your garage door with a bleach/water solution.
Step 2: Mix your detergent with water. Make sure to use a mild detergent or any detergent that has less than 0.5 phosphates.
Step 3: Wet the surface of your garage door using a hose. Do not use a pressure washer this can damage the surface of your garage door.
Step 4: Dip the sponge or rag to your cleaning solution and scrub the surfaces. Avoid using abrasive rag or cloth as they can also damage or cause scratches on the surfaces of your garage door.
Step 5: Rinse the surfaces thoroughly and allow them to dry. You can also use a soft cloth to wipe out water residues.
If you notice any stubborn stains, use bleach/water solution. But, DO NOT mix bleach with a detergent or a dishwashing soap.
What to Keep in Mind
Just like your car, the surface of your garage door may be delicate and cleaning it may require some attention. Don’t be afraid to exert more on cleaning. As long as you have the proper equipment there is nothing much to do. While working, remember these things;
- Remove tough stains with a mixture of bleach and water.
- Never be afraid to put force while cleaning your door. Scrub as hard using a soft cloth or use your hands to remove tough stains or accumulated dirt and debris on the door.
- Scrub the weather stripping and trim around the door. This can help extend the life of your weatherstripping and save your money from replacements.
- Don’t forget to also wash the interior of your door, especially the bottom area. Just like the exterior of your garage door, the interior can also be exposed to dirt and dust.
Note: The same basic procedures are applied in cleaning garage doors that are made of aluminum, wood, and fiberglass. But if you are cleaning a wood garage door, you may need to be extra careful. Proper cleaning of your wood garage may show some signs of erosion. Refinish your door if necessary, or apply some fresh finishing coat on top of the existing finish. On the other hand, if you have a steel garage door, wax it after cleaning it. Waxing your steel door protects it from the daily wear and tear your door may experience.
Need To Repair Your Garage Door? – Call Inland Overhead Door Company
Cleaning your garage door is the best way to keep it from working properly. But, if along the way, you notice problems with your garage door, contact Inland Overhead Door Company right away. Our staff is always ready and quick to act in case of an emergency. We, at Inland Overhead Door Company, are committed to provide the best and quality products and services in the entire Inland Empire. Let us help you get your garage door back to its functional condition. Contact us today!
