How to Clean a Wood Garage Door

Take these steps to extend the life of your wood garage door

With all of the hustle and bustle of the holidays finally over, it's easy to put daunting tasks like cleaning your Wayne Dalton wood garage door on the back burner. Most people don't think about cleaning their wood garage door until it's absolutely necessary, putting it off until the exterior is eroded or dusty. However, caring for your garage door is important. If the finish isn't properly maintained it could wear down over time. Since wood garage doors are a little more tricky to clean compared to more durable surfaces such as aluminum and steel, you need to ensure that you won't damage your door during the cleaning process. We have put together a few tips on how to clean your wood garage door to make sure that you get the job done right!

Step 1:

We recommend that you wash your garage doors yearly. Getting in the habit of doing this not only helps to beautify your home and boost its curb appeal, it also helps prolong the life-span of your Wayne Dalton garage door. Before beginning the cleaning process, inspect your garage door to make sure your primer hasn't eroded and is in good condition. If you notice that it has, your garage door may need to be primed and refinished. If everything looks good, you are ready to begin cleaning. 

Step 2:

Mix one cup of mild household detergent with five gallons of warm water to wipe down your  garage door. The detergent water mixture will not harm the exterior wood and will help remove grime, dirt, marks, stains of all kinds and any other forms of dirt.

Step 3:

Using a soft cloth or sponge, remove any dirt, stains, dust and other unwanted grime from the surface of your garage. It is recommended to start from top to bottom when beginning the cleaning process. Also, be sure to focus on cleaning the components or parts of the door such as the knobs and corners.

If the finish on your wood door is thinning or eroding causing the wood to be exposed, follow the instructions above, but only clean the area where the wood substrate is surfacing. Once you've completed that step, prime the surface with an oil/alkyd primer and finish it off with priming and finish coating.

Step 4:

Once all of the steps above are complete, rinse the door with clean water and leave it to dry completely.

For more information on how to appropriately maintain and clean your Wayne Dalton wooden garage doors, contact your local Wayne Dalton Dealer. 

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