Like any part of your home’s exterior, your garage door benefits from the occasional cleaning. It’s essential for maintaining curb appeal, as well as ensuring the door’s longevity and functionality. Too much grime and debris can wear down the finish and corrode the components. If you’re wondering how best to clean it, here’s what you need to know.

Do: 

Use a mild detergent.

In most situations, a little dish soap and water is all you need to clean a garage door. Laundry detergent could also work. You need about one cup of detergent for every five gallons of water, but it does not need to be exact! A harsher cleaning solution could negatively affect the paint or sealant on the surface.

Use a soft cloth or sponge.

Since you should use a mild detergent, it’s best to use something equally as gentle for scrubbing. Treat the garage door as you would a car. A soft cloth or sponge will suffice; there’s no need to use an abrasive cleaning cloth or metal brush. If there’s a stubborn stain or caked-on dirt, be patient; with a bit of diligence, it will come off eventually. 

Don’t:

Use a pressure washer. 

Although a pressure washer may help you avoid using harsh detergents, the water pressure itself can do more harm than good. For those with wooden garage doors, the force could cause some splintering. As for those with metal doors, too much pressure could lead to a few dents. Even though it seems like a fast way to clean up, a pressure washer will give you more problems in the long run. 

Ignore the weatherstripping. 

Located at the bottom of the door is the weatherstripping, which is a thin piece of rubber or vinyl designed for climate control. Due to its location, it can get dirty fairly quickly. So, whenever you wash the surface of the doors, be sure to clean up the weatherstripping as well; be as gentle with it as you are with the door. If there’s too much buildup, it won’t be as effective. 

 

If your garage door is past the point of cleaning and you need repairs or replacements, get in touch with CGX Overhead Door LLC. Based in Eureka, MO, residents, property managers, and builders throughout the Greater St. Louis area have relied on this company for its comprehensive services and dedication. Their team has been awarded the Super Service Award from Angie’s List several years in a row! You can see some of their previous garage door work on their website, but if you have any questions, call them today at (314) 550-9212.