How to Clean Doors (Wood, Metal, Glass and Screen)

Published June 22, 2022
Woman cleaning front door

Doors might not be something you think about cleaning often. It's not like a kitchen or bathroom, which is on top of your list. But doors get dirty since you use them daily. Learn how to clean different types of doors and how often you should be cleaning them.

How to Clean Metal Front Door

Upscale Home Front Door

Let's start with the best door you have in your house--your front door! Cleaning your front door is essential to ensuring your house looks sharp inside and out. Cleaning your front door is actually pretty simple. Just grab a few supplies.

  • Magic eraser
  • White vinegar
  • Dawn dish soap
  • Spray bottle
  • Microfiber cloth

Instructions for Cleaning Metal Doors

Painted metal doors are pretty durable. They deal with a lot of weather, so they have to be. Thankfully, how you clean a front door is simple. Use a bit of vinegar and Dawn to cut scum.

  1. In a spray bottle, add 1 cup of white vinegar, 2 drops of Dawn, and 1 cup of water.
  2. Shake to mix and spray down the door.
  3. Allow it to sit for a few minutes.
  4. Wet a microfiber cloth or sponge.
  5. Scrub down the door.
  6. For tough stains, try a magic eraser with gentle pressure. You don't want to harm the paint of the door.
  7. Wipe down with a damp microfiber cloth to rinse.
  8. Allow it to dry.

Cleaning White Entry Doors Made Easy

White doors are even trickier to get clean. Not only do you have to wipe them down regularly with soap and water, but they get that ugly yellow build-up. Nobody wants guests to see that. For cleaning white doors, you need:

  • Baking soda
  • Dawn dish soap
  • Toothbrush
  • Microfiber cloth
  • Sponge

Steps for Getting a White Doors Sparkling

Cleaning a white door takes two parts--the initial dirt removal step, and then the deep cleaning step. While it's a bit more time-consuming, it's not complicated.

  1. Add a bit of dish soap to warm water.
  2. Dip in a microfiber cloth and wipe down the whole door from top to bottom.
  3. For yellowing areas or stains, add ½ cup of baking soda, 2 drops of Dawn, and ¼ cup of water to create a paste.
  4. Spread the paste over the stained areas.
  5. Use the toothbrush to give a light scrub.
  6. Allow it to sit for 5-10 minutes.
  7. Wipe away with a damp cloth.
  8. Repeat as needed to get the doors clean.

How to Clean Interior Doors

Brand New North American Home

Do you realize how many doors you have in your house? It's a lot--typically, 10 or more. And many of those doors are interior doors to bedrooms, bathrooms, pantries, etc. These interior doors often have six panes on them that are great for collecting dust and gunk. To clean a pre-manufactured white or painted interior door, you should grab:

  • Duster or microfiber cloth
  • Mild dish soap (Dawn recommended)
  • White vinegar
  • Baking soda
  • Spray bottle
  • Toothbrush

Quick Instructions for Cleaning Interior Doors

Now that you've got your materials at the ready, it's time to get all sciency and create your ultimate cleaning concoction.

  1. Take the duster or microfiber cloth and wipe away as much dust as possible.
  2. Mix 1 cup of water, ¼ cup of baking soda, and 2 tablespoons of dish soap into the spray bottle.
  3. Gently add 1 cup of white vinegar.
  4. Allow it to fizz if needed.
  5. Spray down the door and allow to sit for 10 or so minutes.
  6. Use a toothbrush to scrub down the panel grooves.
  7. Wipe down with a damp cloth.
  8. For stains, make a paste of baking soda and dish soap.
  9. Spread it on the stain.
  10. Allow it to sit for 10 minutes.
  11. Wipe away with a damp cloth.
  12. Wipe the entire door down with a damp cloth to rinse.

Learn How to Clean a Wooden Door

Front door and stoop

In addition to prefabricated doors, you can also buy wood interior doors. These beautiful creations spice up your living space and give it a rustic look. However, you need to be gentle when cleaning them. You'll need:

  • Duster
  • Microfiber cloth
  • Dish soap
  • Toothbrush

Instructions for Wood Door Cleaning

Remember, when cleaning wood doors, the key is to be gentle. You don't want to harm to wood or the seal.

  1. Dust the entire door to remove any loose dirt.
  2. Mix water and mild dish soap to make a soapy mix.
  3. Dip your cloth in the water, wring it out, and wipe down the door.
  4. Scrub all the panels with a toothbrush.
  5. Wipe down with a damp cloth following the grain of the wood.
  6. Dry with a towel.

If you need more cleaning power, add ¼ to ½ cup of white vinegar to your mixture.

How to Clean a Glass Door Without Streaks

Mature man leaning in garden door

Glass doors aren't too hard to clean. All you need are a few essentials.

  • White vinegar
  • Spray bottle
  • Old t-shirt
  • Baking soda

Step-by-Step Instructions for Cleaning Glass Doors

You can choose to clean your glass doors with a commercial cleaner, but this method works just as well.

  1. For the frame, mix baking soda and water.
  2. Scrub until all the stains are gone.
  3. Dry with a towel.
  4. Mix a 1:1 ratio of white vinegar and water.
  5. Spray down the glass.
  6. Wipe down with an old t-shirt.
  7. Clean door tracks, if it's a slider door.

How to Clean Screen Doors

Screen doors include the screen door and the tracks. You want to clean everything when it comes to cleaning these doors.

  • Vacuum
  • Dish soap
  • Microfiber cloth
  • Magic eraser
  • Bristle brush
  • Duster
  • Sponge

Methods to Get Screen Doors Clean

Screen doors take a gentle hand. You don't want to pop the screen out accidentally while cleaning them. That's a hassle. But you don't have to remove them to get them clean.

  1. Vacuum off the screens and the tracks to remove gunk and dirt.
  2. Scrub down the frame with a magic eraser or damp cloth.
  3. Use a wet sponge to wipe out the tracks.
  4. Create a soapy water mix.
  5. Use the sponge or bristle brush (depending on the level of dirt) to scrub down the screen.
  6. Start at the top and work your way down.
  7. Wipe down the screen with a damp cloth.
  8. Allow to air dry.

Deep Clean Your Door Hinges

Once your doors look fabulous, you might wonder how to deep clean your door hinges. This is pretty simple with a bit of white vinegar. To get started, you need:

  • White vinegar
  • Olive oil
  • Cloth
  • Toothbrush

Cleaning Hinges Steps

Prior to deep cleaning your hinges, you'll want to wipe them down with whatever cleaner you used for your door.

  1. Mix a 1:1 ratio of vinegar and olive oil.
  2. Scrub the hinges with the mixture using the toothbrush.
  3. Buff with a microfiber cloth.

How Often to Clean Doors

There is no set schedule for cleaning doors. You want to wipe them down every few weeks to once a month to avoid dirt build-up. You can also give them a good deep cleaning every 3-6 months, depending on how dirty your doors get. If you have pets or children with dirty little fingers, you might want to consider washing your doors more.

How to Clean Doors Fast

When it comes to cleaning doors, you don't want to forget the door knobs. These can get a lot of dirt and germ build-up. It's also important to know what kind of door you are cleaning to be sure you use the right method and chemicals. And, if you need some help with shower doors, you are covered there too.

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How to Clean Doors (Wood, Metal, Glass and Screen)