It’s hard to believe, but spring is right around the corner, and that means many homeowners are now thinking about their yearly spring cleaning tasks.
It’s hard to believe, but spring is right around the corner, and that means many homeowners are now thinking about their yearly spring cleaning tasks. Are you including your garage door as part of your spring cleaning routine? Many don’t, even though it is an important way to keep your garage door looking and functioning well. Routine cleaning of your garage door prolongs its lifespan, helps you notice minor issues before they become major ones, wards off rust, and boosts the curb appeal of your entire home. So how should you tackle spring cleaning when it comes to your garage door? Here are some tips.
1) Give Your Garage Door a Thorough Scrubbing
Your first step should be to wash all of the grime and rock salt that has accumulated on the door since the winter months. Fill a bucket with warm water and a little bit of mild dish soap and scrub down the door, using a non-abrasive cleaning cloth or sponge so you don’t ruin the finish. Make sure to scrub down the top of the door as well – use a step ladder so you can reach it safely. If there are any trouble spots, a mixture of bleach and water might help you remove tougher stains.
2) Wipe and Relubricate the Weatherstripping
The weatherstripping is one of the most important components of the garage door, so you’ll need to make sure you treat it with care. Use an all-purpose cleaner and wipe down the stripping all around the door. After it has dried out, reapply a new layer of silicone-based lubricant, or whatever your garage door manufacturer recommends. This lubricant will protect the stripping from cracking and dehydration and help it last longer. To maintain the protective seal around your door, you should be reapplying lubricant every two or three months.
3) Check the Hardware and Opener
Just as important is the metal hardware surrounding your garage door. Here, use your non-abrasive cloth to wipe down all of the metal areas – your hinges, door tracks, rollers, and other moving metal parts. After they dry out, reapply lubrication to these areas as well. Here you’ll want to use a lithium-based lubricant, or one specially formulated for garage doors as recommended by the manufacturer. In addition, double check your opener mechanisms – these also require periodic cleaning and lubrication to function optimally.
Let First Choice Garage Doors Find The Right Door For You
Since 2004, First Choice Garage Doors has been providing quality service in Maryland, Delaware, Northern Virginia, and Pennsylvania. We offer services like garage door installation and replacement, as well as maintenance and repair. We specialize in the repair and maintenance of garage doors and their accessories. Here at First Choice Garage Doors, we work with top manufacturers in the industry, including Amar Entrematic, Clopay, Wayne Dalton, and Artisan.