General Cleaning Approaches for a Garage Door

With springtime comes cleaning for many residents around Idaho, and many components of your home should be considered here. One that sometimes doesn’t get enough attention from a cleanliness standpoint, but in which cleaning is nonetheless quite important: The garage door.

At Price’s Guaranteed Doors, we’re happy to offer garage door repair and installation services for client needs around Boise, Nampa and nearby parts of Idaho. Keeping the garage door clean can have a bigger impact than you might think on its long-term lifespan and usefulness – here are some basics on how to clean the garage door itself, plus any glass windows or other features that are part of the door setup.

How Often Should Garage Doors Be Cleaned?

Firstly, before detailing how to clean a garage door, it’s worth noting when this task should take place: Cleaning the garage door should be done roughly every three months or so – in the spring and fall seasons at least.

This can help ensure that any dirt buildup, mildew or other substances don’t start to cause damage, corrosion or similar problems over time. It also can be good to do a check of the door’s hardware and other features at this time, as well – including making sure it continues to open and close properly, that all parts are tight and secure, etc.

What Materials Are Needed?

When cleaning a garage door, there are some basics on materials needed. These will typically include a bucket full of warm water and some mild detergent or dish soap; a soft-bristled brush; some towels, sponges or rags; and perhaps a ladder if the door is particularly high up.

Once these items are ready to go, it’s time to move on to the actual garage door cleaning steps themselves.

Basic Steps for Garage Door Cleaning

Here are the simple steps to follow once you’ve arranged your items and equipment:

• Mixing a soap and water solution: Start by mixing the detergent and water solution in the bucket. This should be gentle soap that won’t damage the door’s surface; avoid anything with abrasive ingredients like bleach or harsh chemicals.
• Wet the door with a hose: Use a hose to spray the garage door with water. This will help loosen any dirt or debris on the surface, and it also moistens the area for cleaning.
• Scrub away dirt: Next, use the brush and soap solution to gently scrub any sections of the door that are particularly grimy or have buildup. Start from top to bottom if you’re able, to reduce the chances of making streaks.
• Rinse: After scrubbing away dirt and debris, use a hose again for rinsing off the garage door.
• Dry: Finish things off by using towels or sponges to dry off the door, including around any fixtures on it like windows or other features. This will help ensure there’s no water left to cause rusting or other damage over time.

With these simple steps in mind, you can keep your garage door looking great and working properly for years to come!

Garage Door Window Cleaning

Luckily, there’s nothing complex or nuanced whatsoever about cleaning the windows on a garage door – it’s an identical process to any other window in your home.

Use a mild glass cleaner and soft cloth or paper towels to wipe away dirt, smudges and other residue on the windows. If there are hard-to-reach spots, you can either use an old toothbrush or a microfiber cloth attached to an extendable pole for better access.

And that’s it!

Risks to Avoid While Cleaning Garage Doors

As you clean garage doors, there are few risks to avoid in the process.

Firstly, as mentioned above, never use harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners on the door itself; this can scratch and damage its surface over time. Secondly, be careful when using ladders or other similar equipment – overextending yourself is not recommended when cleaning a garage door.

Lastly, avoid applying too much pressure when scrubbing dirtied areas of the door; this can cause dents or other forms of damage.

With these tips in mind, you should have no trouble keeping your garage door clean and looking great!

At Price’s Guaranteed Doors, we are your Idaho garage door experts. If you ever have any questions about cleaning or maintaining your garage door, please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information.