How to Clean Your Garage Door

With the new year now upon us, the attention of many homeowners will turn to spring cleaning and home improvements. 

Often, people will focus primarily on the interior of their home when carrying out spring cleaning, but it’s important to not neglect your garage door.

Due to its very nature, a garage door is exposed to all of the elements that the British weather can throw its way, and as we know these can be varied. Plus, if you’re located within two miles of the sea, the salty air can add an extra layer to this. 

With this in mind, it’s important to regularly carry out cleaning on your garage door to ensure it’s performing at its best, and what better time to make a start than in the new year?

In this blog, the team here at Rollerdor will outline exactly what you need and how to effectively clean your garage doors. 

Read on to learn more. 

What you’ll need

Before we delve into the details of how to clean your garage door, it’s important to understand what you’ll need to get your spring clean underway. Fortunately, you don’t require any specialist equipment and most households will have everything they need already.

This includes:

• A bucket or washing up bowl
• A hose
• Soap or detergent (car wash soap or washing up liquid will work well)
• A cloth or sponge 

Some people may be tempted to use a pressure washer, bleach or other cleaning products, but it’s extremely harsh and can damage your door’s paint, so we don’t recommend this. 

Cleaning the exterior 

Now that you have everything you need, you can start cleaning your garage door.  

First, begin by giving the door a spray with the hosepipe to remove any large pieces of dirt or bird muck before gently wiping the door with a cloth or sponge that has been soaked in soapy water in your bucket or washing up bowl. Grab your hose again and give the door a light spray to rinse off any soapy water. 

Then, give your door a few hours to dry. If any stubborn stains remain, you can repeat the process. During the cleaning process, if you notice your door’s paint is flaking anywhere, it could be a sign of oxidation which can occur when aluminium is exposed to the air probably from a small scratch, it is best to clean and then touch up the paint to seal from the air.  

Cleaning the interior 

As well as giving the outside of your garage door a clean, it’s important to do the same inside. While no one will see the interior of your garage door as frequently as the exterior, keeping it in good condition will help the overall durability and longevity of the product.

Simply repeat the same steps as listed above for the inside of your garage door. Make sure to also pay attention to the door’s components such as tracks and runners. Be sure to remove any dirt or debris to ensure its functionality is not impacted in the future, but do not add any lubricants (grease or oil ) as these will actually impede your door. You may also want to rearrange the inside of your garage before you clean it to ensure no items become wet. 

How often should you clean a garage door?

Cleaning garage doors can help enhance their longevity as well as prevent the build-up of nasty corrosion on their surface. 

While the new year is a good time to give a garage door a clean, it should not be the only time you do it. Giving garage doors a regular clean is the best way to ensure they’re performing at their best and to prevent faults from occurring. 

Cleaning your garage door every four to eight weeks (more often if you are in close proximity to the sea) will ensure it’s in the best possible condition to keep your property safe. 

Here at Rollerdor, we provide a comprehensive garage door servicing and maintenance offering. From minor repairs to full-scale maintenance, our team can assess your garage door and provide a solution that keeps your property secure. To find out more about what we do, get in touch with our team today.