This article will teach you how to maintain and keep your white wooden doors as pristine as possible. It will show you how to clean and care for them properly, and it will also teach you how to preserve their beauty for years to come.
When we clean our homes, we frequently overlook one of the things we handle the most, the home’s doorways!
White wooden entries complement practically every design, from traditional to contemporary. White conveys a notion of purity, simplicity, and clearness.
Life may be messy, and doorways are frequently the foremost thing we handle when cleaning up. But unfortunately, they require some TLC to keep their aesthetic integrity.
The areas of the doorway that receive the most abuse are roughly the base of the door, which frequently comes into touch with our filthy footwear, and doorknobs, which accumulate oils and dirt from our hands.
From dirty fingerprints near the handles to that one shoe imprint you created while attempting to keep the entrance open, we’ll show you how to maintain lovely wooden doors easily and, by extension, a beautiful house.
Dust and disinfect
Disinfecting door knobs is one of the most straightforward things you can do to care for your doors. First, wipe off all the areas of the door you can reach, being careful to get in all the small crevices of the door, especially if you have panel doors, with a disinfectant spray or your preferred cleanser on a soft cloth.
Disinfecting doorknobs is especially crucial during the more frigid seasons when we are additionally inclined to spend time indoors and develop the common cold.
Take time to dust your doors before cleaning them.
Water smears dust and will make it appear even dirtier than when you began, so be meticulous with your dusting before ever wiping doors down with any type of cleaner.
A clean, dry paintbrush can help you remove dust from trims and molding far better than cleaning cloths or feather dusters because it can penetrate cracks and grooves.
The bulk of the doorway can be cleansed with a fresh cloth.
Once you’ve completed the detailed cleaning of your door, give it a quick pass with a fresh cloth to eliminate any remaining dust bunnies.
Scratch Removal
Scuff marks on white wooden doors can be removed by buffing them. If buffing does not remove your minor scratches, use a baking soda and water mixture to gently clean the area with a non-abrasive sponge or cloth. Baking soda exfoliates and softly abrades for a more thorough clean.
If the scuffs are not removed using this procedure, the affected area may need to be repainted to restore the clean, white appearance.
To remove deep scuffs and mild scratches, sand around the scuff mark to provide a uniform finish. Then, use an identical match to your original paint to get a seamless effect that no one will notice. After sanding and selecting the appropriate paint, carefully paint the defect with a quality 2 to 2.5-inch sash brush.
Washing
Many people think using the same chemical sprays that work well on your countertops might be enticing to use on doorways, but these chemicals can harm the paint, finish, or wood.
A majority of the dirt and grime on painted doorways is created by dirty hands or oils from your fingerprints, which is why washing your doors with just plain water is usually unsuccessful.
A diluted mix of water and mild soap will do the job while being tough on the dirt and gentle on your doorway. One tablespoon of dishwashing fluid in a gallon of water should be enough!
Before jumping in and washing your entire door and doorway trim, choose an area of the door that is less noticeable and clean a small area. This allows you to test your cleaning solution to ensure that there are no adverse reactions to the finish or paint.
Once your test spot has been verified and everything looks good, dig in and start cleaning. Wipe down the door with a clean sponge or soft cloth dipped in your solution. First, ring out any excess solution on the sponge or towel, and then thoroughly wash down the door’s surface.
Excess water can cause streak marks on your painted interior doors, so do everything you can to keep the solution from dribbling down the doorway! Then, using a moist, soap-free towel, buff the surface. Next, dry the doorway with a clean cloth to remove excess moisture and eliminate streaks. Finally, don’t forget to clean the frame!
Unyielding Stains
Occasionally water and soap are insufficient to eliminate dirt from your interior home doors. If you have stubborn or ground in stains, try a solution of water and filtered white vinegar. It is non-toxic, cheap, and quite effective. However, vinegar has a very strong and pungent odor. Nevertheless, despite its initial intensity, vinegar is a deodorizer. Combine four cups of water with one cup of vinegar for a powerful but mild cleaning solution.
Regardless of how bad the stain may be, it is critical not to use solutions such as mineral spirits, which might destroy the finish or paint and transform a routine cleaning process into an unexpected and potentially costly repair effort.
Pro Tip: Do not use vinegar on natural or stained wood doors and frames. Vinegar can leave the wood looking dull.
Preventive Maintenance
Now that you’ve restored your white wooden doors with a good cleaning keeping them clean and beautiful with some basic maintenance will be easy. To avoid stains, wipe your doorways often and clean any dirt or smudges immediately with a moist cloth. Using these easy cleaning tips, you can save energy and time and keep your white wooden doors looking like new. If you need help with cleaning your home or office, contact Clean Heart Maids! We are a locally owned and operated business dedicated to professional cleaning. Our highly trained staff is ready to take on your home or business.