Cleaning Your Metal Garage Door: Top Tips

If your home has been fitted with new metal garage doors, you will want to ensure that they are kept in great condition. If you do not look after the garage doors on your home, they may start to look shabby which could affect the value of your home if you decide to sell. Dirty garage doors can also lead to the metal becoming damaged by corrosion or rust. You can avoid these problems by regularly cleaning your metal garage doors. Below is a guide to the steps you should take when cleaning the doors. 

Use soapy water to wash down the garage

You should begin by washing down the metal door using warm soapy water. You should prepare this mixture by filling a bucket with water. You should then add a little detergent. It is essential that you use a detergent which is not too harsh. A household liquid soap which is used to clean the dishes is ideal. If the detergent you use is too harsh, it could cause damage to the garage door. If the dirt will not wash away and you need to tackle a tough spot, you can mix a very weak solution of bleach and water. However, if you do use bleach, you should make sure that the garage door is properly washed down with clean water to remove any residue.

Be careful with abrasive pads

When dealing with rust, you may be tempted to use abrasive wire wool or pads. While this type of cleaning equipment can be very useful, you should be careful when using them. If you overuse abrasive pads or if you apply too much pressure when removing the rust, you could cause damage to the surface of the door. While this might not matter too much on the interior, any damage to the exterior surfaces could really spoil the appearance of the garage door. If you are concerned about this problem, you should only use soft pads when washing the door.

Remember to apply a little wax

Once you had washed down your garage door and removed any rust, you should allow the door to dry naturally. Once the door is dry, you should apply wax to the door to protect it from bad weather and moisture. If you are unsure about the best type of wax, you should ask a staff in the DIY store.

If you would like further advice, you should contact a garage door service.