Clean Your Garage Door – Like most homeowners, cleaning your garage door hasn’t made it very high on your priority list. We get it. On average, Americans are working longer hours, driving kids around to one practice to another practice. Finding the time to maintain your home just doesn’t seem to come as easily as it used to, but why is cleaning your garage door important to do?

When is the Last Time you Cleaned your Garage Door?

Winter is around the corner, and there’s no better time than the present to start your cleaning your garage door. Ready to get started? Here are some things to keep in mind.

On average, homeowners should wash their garage door at least twice a year, spring and once in the fall. In some cases, homes in a harsh environment, such as a coastal area or areas that gets a lot of snow, may require quarterly cleaning. This is because the excessive exposure to salt can erode the finish of a garage door more quickly.

Sure, keeping your garage door clean makes your house look nicer — a definite bonus if you’re worried about curb appeal — but cleaning your garage door also provides a number of other benefits, too:

Prevent Rust:

Rust is caused when salt, dirt or other substances become stuck on your garage door. Not only is rust unsightly, but, over time, it can damage the integrity of your door. Regular cleaning prevents rust from forming on doors made of certain materials to ultimately extend the life of the door.

Prolong Your Door’s Finish:

Your garage door is exposed to the elements on a daily basis — rain, sun, wind, dirt — and all of these can take a toll, even on the highest-quality door. Over time, the finish on your door can become dull and, in some cases, damaged or eroded. If dirt and grime are left on the door over long periods, it can speed up the erosion of the finish.

While wood garage doors can and should be refinished periodically, keeping them clean means you can go longer in between refinishing. For doors made from other materials, you may not be refinishing them on a regular basis, but maintaining the integrity of the door’s surface goes a long way in keeping the door in good condition.

Maintain Your Warranty:

If your garage door is still under warranty, then you are required to clean it regularly to maintain the terms of the warranty. In some cases, failure to keep your door clean will void your warranty and prevent you from using it when problems arise. While we hope you never run into problems with your door, sticking to the terms of your warranty will give you peace of mind if something goes wrong.

Washing your Garage Door

Once you understand the benefits of regularly cleaning your garage door, it’s time to begin the process. It may seem intimidating, especially if you’ve never cleaned your garage door before, but it’s actually quite simple and can typically be completed with items you already have around your home.

Before you start, make sure you have the following:

Cleaning Solution:

A mild detergent, such as dishwasher soap or car wash soap is your best bet, making this project one of the cheaper home improvement jobs you’ll tackle as a homeowner.

Once you have soap in hand, grab a bucket and mix one cup of the liquid soap with two gallons of water. Never add bleach to your cleaning solution. Bleach should only be used as a spot cleaner for tough-to-tackle stains — more about that later.

Non-abrasive Sponges or Clean Cloths:

The last thing you want to do is damage your door’s finish by using an abrasive brush or sponge. Grab a non-abrasive sponge or cleaning cloth to scrub the door, like the same sponges or clothes you use for a car. Avoid using dirty rags that may have dirt or sand on them, as well as scouring products.

Once the door is clean, you’ll want some soft, dry cloths to dry off the surface.

Step Ladder:

Using a step ladder guarantees quality cleaning from top to bottom. After all, you don’t just want to clean the bottom half of the door! This will also help as you inspect the parts of your garage door, making sure everything is in good working order.

Once your supplies are ready, it’s time to get to work as anyone can wash the door. But, as you’re working, keep these tips in mind:

• Don’t be afraid to put some elbow grease into it. Scrub hard and even use your hands to remove tough spots or dirt that’s caked on the door.
• Use a bleach/water mixture to spot clean tough stains.
• Make sure to scrub the weatherstripping and trim around the door, too. This will prolong the life of your weatherstripping, a cost savin tip.
• Wash both the exterior and interior of the door. The interior, specially the bottom portion, is still exposed to dirt and grime.

What Not to DO:

Don’t Use a Pressure Washer

• Pressure Washer can damage the integrity of your door.

Don’t Mix Cleaning Solution and Bleach

• A bleach-water mixture can be used for tough stains, but it should never be applied while soap is still on the door or incorporated into your cleaning solution

Don’t Use Abrasive Sponges, Cloths or Solvents

• Using these products can scratch or damage the door’s surface and erode the finish.

When your garage door needs repair, you may need help fast. After all, a broken door can be a security issue and can affect your home’s security and energy efficiency. In some cases, a broken garage door can even be a hazard for your family, putting you at risk of an injury. Consult a professional garage door technician for Garage Door Repair Service due to safety hazards.

With more than 30 years of service, our award-winning team can handle many brands of doors and many types of problems.

Call us today +1 (519) 735-7790

So don’t wait for such grave issues to jeopardize the safety of your car and also your family. Instead, look for these signs, which may imply that your car garage door needs to be service or repaired:

It won’t Open or Close:

Sensor obstruction is one of the most common causes of garage door issues. Door sensors, or photo eyes, which are usually found at the base of your door’s track, can be prone to faulty wiring, misaligned sensors and obstructions. If your door is clear of obstruction and sensors are aligned and still won’t open, be sure to call a garage door repair expert.

Slow Response Time:

Observe how long it takes for your door to respond to your commands. It must typically begin to open or close within a second or two after you pressed the opener.  If you observe any delay in the operation, it might indicate that something is wrong with your door or the opener.

It Makes a Loud Noise:

A noisy garage door is the result of loose hardware, worn rollers, or the garage door opener itself. There are simple fixes, but to avoid the last minute urgent need of a garage door repair expert, it is better to keep your ears open to the noise coming from the garage door that seems unusual to you.

The door is off the Tracks:

If your door is visibly off its tracks, it can cause your door to malfunction and become stuck. This tends to happen to old garage doors or doors that have sustained damage over the years. You cannot do much from home to alleviate this situation, as it may require specific parts and other necessary equipment.

Uneven Garage Door Sections:

Garage doors have a tendency to sag over time if they are not properly maintained. When the door is closed, you’ll see large gaps under the ends of the door.

It is advisable to check and test the balance of your garage door at least once a month. This involves disconnecting the opener from the door and manually operating it. When you bring the door at about midway and leave it there, it must not continue to rise or fall. If it does, there must be something wrong with the tension spring or other parts of your door.