Cleaning and Caring for Wood and Metal Garage Doors

It's easy to take a functioning garage door for granted. Without occasionally cleaning it and performing a few basic maintenance tasks you're likely to wind up with a major repair bill. When garage doors are neglected for too long, they sometimes even need to be replaced. The good news, though, is that caring for and cleaning a garage door is simple. Wood garage doors require a bit more care, but even so, they're easy to maintain too.

A Special Note about Wood Garage Doors

Most garage door care and cleaning tips apply equally to wood and metal models. However, there are a few special things to keep in mind regarding wood garage doors. Above everything else, they need to be finished properly. Film finishes like varnishes and paints look great at first, but they don't tend to withstand the elements too well. It's far better to finish a wood garage door with a penetrating finish like oil or a stain. Prior to finishing your garage door, clean it thoroughly with a mild solution and then scrape it and sand it so it's as smooth as possible. Never power wash a wood garage door, and make sure to finish both the exterior and interior to keep water damage, insect damage and other issues at bay.

How to Clean a Wood or Metal Garage Door

As long as your wood garage door is properly finished, you can clean it using the same process as you would a metal garage door. Use these steps:

• Wipe down the door with a soft, dry cloth to remove dust, dirt and other debris.
• Prepare your cleaning solution. Use one cup of a non-toxic, biodegradable cleaner containing 0.5 percent phosphate or less mixed with two gallons of warm water. You can also use one cup ammonia mixed with five gallons of room-temperature water.
• Apply the solution from the bottom of the door to the top of the door using a sponge, soft-bristle brush or clean, soft cloth.
• Remove stubborn mildew and/or fungal growths using a mixture of one cup bleach, five gallons of water and one cup of mild soap.
• Rinse down the door with clean water. You can then either dry it with a cloth or allow it to air dry.

General Garage Door Maintenance Tips

• Twice a year, visually inspect your garage door and its components. If you notice signs of wear and tear or other damage, have them addressed promptly.
• Vacuum and/or wipe down garage door components to ensure the ongoing proper operation of your metal or wood garage door.
• Use a garage door spray lubricant to keep bearings, hinges, rollers and tracks in good working order.
• Check the springs to ensure that they're sufficiently "wet," or lubricated, and lubricate as needed.
• Also, check the chain to ensure that it is properly greased. If not, grease it to keep it from experiencing mechanical issues.
• If you have an automatic opener, you might want to have a professional garage door company examine it once a year or so as well.