Your garage door is a highly visible, hard-working surface that is subjected to all sorts of use and abuse on a daily basis. And yet, during the warm weather months, we often neglect to give our garage doors the same kind of care that we give our homes’ windows, patios and other exterior areas. Now’s a good time to expand your spring and summer cleaning checklist to include the garage door. Here are some tips.
For optimal results when washing the door:
- Wash the door surfaces and windows of your garage with a mild liquid soap (such as a car-washing soap or dish-washing soap) and water. Wash both the interior and exterior using a sponge, cloth and/or soft brush.
- Do not use harsh or abrasive detergents. This can damage the painted surface of the door or the seals.
- Rinse thoroughly with a hose, but do not use a pressure washer. This, too, can damage the surface.
- If you are cleaning something more stubborn than dirt or road salt, such as oil stains, you can spot-clean the area with a diluted bleach and water solution. Be sure to never mix bleach with other cleanser because the mixture will cause harmful fumes. Immediately after spot cleaning, rinse all surfaces thoroughly.
- After washing, and every six months to protect the door’s finish, your door should be waxed. Use a good quality car wax, following instructions on the package. CAUTION: Do not apply wax to AccuFinish™, ArmorFinish™ or anodized aluminum doors.
- If you detect surface rust, contact your local Raynor Dealer for inspection and repair options.
- Also inspect and clean the weather strip at the bottom of the door. Applying a vinyl protectant will prolong its life. If it is showing signs of wear or cracking, it can be replaced by your Raynor dealer. It’s important that this bottom strip is in good shape and in full contact with the garage floor. That will help to insulate your garage as well as to keep rodents and insects out.
- As a final step, you should clean and organize the areas around the garage door. Remove any stacks or objects that could fall over and obstruct the path of the garage door or damage the track.
It’s also a good time to do a quick maintenance check and tune-up.
- Inspect springs and hardware for signs of wear. Avoid any contact with the torsion springs as they are under extreme tension. Call a Raynor Dealer to schedule a service call if you suspect any problems.
- Lubricate the tracks and hinges with a silicone or Teflon®-based spray. Do not use WD-40® type lubricant (oil-based) or grease. Then open and close the door to distribute the lubricant.
- And finally, tighten any loose screws or nuts. Caution should be used around any nuts or bolts with “Red” heads. These are under extreme tension. You may want to consider having your local Raynor Dealer inspect those.
For more tips on keeping your garage door looking great and working smoothly, download this free Care and Maintenance Guide.
