Vivid Doors One of the most awkward parts of spring cleaning is getting your doors and windows to look like new. No matter how tidy your living room or organized your kitchen, if your windows are dirty or your doors are covered in finger-prints, your home will not quite look as good as it should. Getting rid of those smudges and smears will be the perfect finishing touch for your home.
Cleaning Internal Doors
Internal doors are usually fairly easy to clean. Simply dusting them then wiping them down with a mild solution of soapy water will usually suffice. If there are scratches or scuff marks then these may need filled in or re-painted. Always perform a spot test on a small, concealed area of the door to make sure that the paint will not react with the cleaning solution you choose.
Clean the doorknob or handle with an appropriate brass cleaner, or an antibacterial wipe.
Cleaning External Doors
External, wooden doors can be particularly awkward to clean, depending on the grain of the wood and the type of paint or varnish that has been used on it. To clean an external wooden door, start by wiping the door down to remove dust and bigger particles of dirt. Next, if the door is varnished, wipe it down with a soft rag that has been dipped in oil soap. If the door is painted instead of varnished, use a mild solution of water and regular household dish soap, then wipe the door dry with some paper towels.
If there are some particularly stubborn areas of dirt, scrub them with a soft-bristled tooth brush.
Garage Doors
Garage doors are usually made of metal. The best way to clean them is to start by spraying them with water using a hose. Take care not to use too much pressure, because this could damage the door. You want the spray to be just intense enough to remove any superficial dirt that is stuck to the door. The same goes for things like patio doors. Never blast these with a pressure washer.
Next, use a telescopic broom or mop to scrub the door, applying a detergent solution. There are many specialist solutions that are designed for use on aluminium. Perform a spot test before using these, and follow the directions on the label carefully. Clean from the top to the bottom – this will prevent dirty water from running down onto clean sections of the door.
Once you have finished, rinse the door with clean water, to remove any detergent residue.
Keeping Your Windows Sparkling
Windows should be cleaned on both the inside and outside. When cleaning windows, a good rule of thumb is to start work in the upper-left, and then work in an s-shape down towards the bottom right. After cleaning the window, wipe it down with a cloth or chamois, drying the cloth between each stroke. This will help to stop smudges and lines from appearing.
General Glass Cleaning
You can clean most forms of glass using the same approach as you would to clean windows. If you have stubborn fingerprints or grease stains on your sliding glass doors or windows, you can remove them using a solution of white wine vinegar and water. For particularly stubborn stains or marks, try a baking soda solution first, then use a vinegar solution to bring the surface to a nice shine.
