Cleaning the garage door: Tips & tricks
Your garage door no longer looks as good as new? Don’t worry, this is perfectly normal. Over time, dirt and dust accumulate, and the door begins to lose its sheen. However, with the help of a few tips and tricks, you can have your garage door clean again in no time! We show you how.
How often should I clean the garage door?
Particularly in the winter months, dirt often accumulates on the garage door and the door fittings. To ensure that your door still looks good and functions properly in a few years’ time, it should be cleaned regularly. Clean your garage door about once every four months. Regular cleaning prevents stubborn dirt deposits.
Do not use detergents containing scouring agents, sponges with rough surfaces, steam or high-pressure cleaners. These may damage surfaces.
How often the garage door needs cleaning also depends on the weather and other environmental influences. Is the garage on a busy street or near the sea? Then you should clean the garage door more often, as exhaust fumes and salty air mean that a lot of dirt accumulates. By cleaning the door system regularly, you can prevent heavy soiling which may impair the function of the door over time.
A clean garage door in 3 easy steps
It’s really easy to keep your garage door clean – and the effort pays off! A door which is cleaned regularly is not only more attractive, but also has a longer service life. And you will see: cleaning doesn’t always have to be a chore.
- Carefully remove heavy soiling with a hand brush.
- Clean the surface carefully using a soft, clean cloth or a sponge and cold water. Coarse dirt could scratch the surface. In addition to the door surface, always clean all glass surfaces, seals, frames and fittings, too – including the area between the slats.
- Heavy soiling can be removed with warm water (maximum temperature 25 °C) and household washing-up liquid. Clean using little pressure and circular movements. Then wipe with clean water.
Tips on how to take care of the various materials in doors
A door system should always be cleaned using only water, household washing-up liquid and a soft, clean cloth. Not every cleaning agent is suitable for every material. In the following section, you can find tips & tricks on how to take care of the various materials in a garage door.
Follow the cleaning and care instructions from the manufacturer of the door. Do not use sharp-edged objects, steam or high-pressure cleaners, as these may damage the surface coating.
Sectional door panels
The panels of a sectional door should only be cleaned with warm water and a very mild soap solution. For best results, remove coarse dirt and dust with plenty of water and a very wet cloth. Don’t forget to clean the areas between the individual sections.
Garage doors made of wood
Wooden doors are usually sealed with wood stain or a lacquer finish. To clean them, use a little mild washing-up liquid and a slightly moist cloth. If the paint or finish is already flaking, it’s time to apply a new coat. For best results, use a sander to remove the remains of the old finish from the wooden door and then apply an undercoat. Once the undercoat has dried, apply protective paint or lacquer in the desired colour. Observe the manufacturer’s information on usage and drying times.
Plastic windows
Plastic windows in garage doors should not be cleaned using aggressive cleaning agents or cleaning agents containing alcohol. Use clear water or a mild cleaning agent. Use a clean, non-linting cloth to avoid scratching the surface.
Elements made of steel
Elements made of steel should be rinsed a dishwater solution. A soft sponge or commercially available paint cleaner will suffice. Check for rust and apply rust remover if necessary.
Elements made of stainless steel
Most soiling can be removed with a soft, clean cloth and a warm dishwater solution. A stainless steel cleaner can be used to remove stubborn stains such as limescale or discolouration. Scouring agents are not suitable, as they scratch the surface. After cleaning, wipe with clear water and rub stainless steel surfaces dry. Use baking powder and a soft cloth to restore the sheen of stainless steel. Rust remover, lemon juice or coca-cola can help remove surface rust.
Photocell
To ensure correct functioning of safety devices such as photocells, they must not be damaged, twisted or soiled. Wipe the photocells and reflectors using a moist, non-linting cloth and exerting only light pressure. Always take care not to change the position of the photocell. After cleaning, check for correct functioning by closing the garage door and interrupting the photocell.
Closing cylinder
The lock or emergency release can be cleaned with a commercially available penetrating oil or lubricant. To do this, hold a cloth under the lock and spray a small amount of the fluid into the closing cylinder. Remove superfluous fluid to prevent smearing. If the closing cylinder is not frequently used, take the opportunity to check it for correct functioning.
Garage door operator
The door operator, the track, the motor carriage and the control unit housing should also be cleaned regularly in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. The Garage door operators from SOMMER can be cleaned in a few easy steps:
- Disconnect the operator from the mains voltage. If an accumulator has been connected, disconnect the power supply. Then check that the power is disconnected.
- Remove loose dirt from the motor carriage, the control unit housing and the track with a moist, lint-free cloth.
The motor carriage is supplied with safety low voltage via the chain and the rail. The use of oil or grease will greatly reduce the conductivity of the chain, rail and motor carriage. This may result in faults due to inadequate electrical contact. The chain and the rail of garage door operators from SOMMER are maintenance-free and must not be oiled or greased.
- If required, install the accumulator in reverse order of removal. Re-connect the garage door operator to the mains voltage and check the voltage supply.
Increasing service life by carrying out maintenance on the door
Carrying out annual maintenance on the garage door extends the service life of your door system. For private operators, inspection of the door system is not mandatory. However, regular maintenance means increased safety and a longer service life. In Germany, the operator of a door system has a legal duty to maintain the safety of the door system, which is ensured by means of a UVV (accident prevention) inspection.
Maintenance on a garage door should always be carried out by a trained specialist company.
Cleaning the interior of a garage
And once the garage door is bright and shiny again, you can continue your spring cleaning by thoroughly cleaning the inside of the garage, too. Proceed as follows:
- Clear out & tidy up the garage
- Remove spider’s webs from walls & ceiling
- Sweep the garage floor with a broom
- Check & clean water drain in the garage
- Clean the floor with a brush or high-pressure cleaner
- To ensure quick drying: leave garage door open for a short time
In our article Ventilating your garage correctly and preventing mould you can find out what to do in the case of mould in the garage and how to prevent the formation of mould.
Automating your garage door with a garage door operator
You still open and close your garage door by hand? If you are considering retrofitting your garage door with an Electric garage door operators from SOMMER, you can find out more in our article Retrofitting the garage door operator.
Keeping your garage clean and tidy
Cleaning and taking care of your garage and the garage door is quite simple and doesn’t require too much effort. Always observe the information from the manufacturer. If you clean your garage door properly, you will be able to enjoy it for many years to come. Don’t wait until it jams or squeaks – carry out cleaning and care work regularly. All you need for basic cleaning is warm and cold water, soft cloths and sponges, a brush and simple household cleaning agents such as washing-up liquid. This not only ensures that your garage door will function properly for a long time to come – it also looks good.