How to Clean Wooden Doors

A wooden door is a byword for class and a house with wooden doors can always seem more homely. Wooden doors are durable & hard-wearing but with busy lives we can forget they need cleaning or overlook them when we’re doing our household chores. Doors are one of the most used parts of our homes so can attract the most grime and dirt, especially around the handles and the lower part of the door.

With just a little TLC you can keep your wooden door looking as good as when you bought it and also make sure the door lasts as long as it should. What we’re saying is cleaning a wooden door periodically is a must! We’ll take you through the basic steps you need to take to clean wood doors and also look at how to remove some of the tougher stains that you can encounter with wooden doors.

How to Clean Wood Doors

Regularly Dust Your Wooden Doors

Cobwebs and dust can easily and quickly build up in homes around doorways, and so doors with panels and details that are prone to catching  dust. Cleaning doors on a regular basis will prevent grime from building up and necessitating a deeper clean. Our tip is to use a paint brush to tease out any dust from door rails, moldings and hinges that a cloth or feather duster might miss.

Here’s our guide to cleaning your doors in easy steps.

Cleaning Equipment Required

To clean wooden doors you will need:

• Non-abrasive cleaning cloths (such as microfibre)
• Paintbrush (for the edges and cracks)
• Warm water
• Dishwashing liquid
• A bowl
• Liquid furniture polish

Cleaning Wooden Doors in Five Easy Steps

1. Prepare the doors by using the paintbrush to remove any dust hiding in the edges and corners.
2. Grab a bowl of warm water and add a small amount of dishwashing liquid to it. Using a soft cloth and the water wipe the door down gently to get rid of everyday dirt and grime. Remember to also clean the sides
3. Give the door a last wipe over with clean water to make sure there is no soapy residue as soap can contain chemicals that will harm the finish of your door if left on for a longer period.
4. Door handles attract not just grime but bacteria as they are in daily contact with our hands.Clean the door handles with antibacterial spray or wipe.
5. To give your wooden door that sparkling new look, spray some furniture polish on a fresh dry cloth and wipe over the whole area.

Removing Tough Stains From Wooden Doors

There’s no doubt that at some point your doors will be the recipient of some accident or other that will leave you with a different kind of stain to everyday dirt and grime, whether that’s paint from when you’re decorating, or grease from cooking.

To remove tough stains from wooden doors use a mineral spirit (such as paint thinner). Put a few drops of the spirit on a cloth and work the stain until it is gone. Wipe down the door afterwards with a clean damp cloth to ensure no chemicals are left that may harm the finish of the door.

How to Remove Dog & Cat Scratches From a Wooden Door

As much as we love our pets, they are responsible for both everyday wear & tear in our homes along with some more serious damage at times!

Anxious pets are not often happy to see a closed door and can scratch at a door if not trained to get in and out of a room. Cat and dog flaps are an option in external doors but it is doubtful that you’ll want to fit them to internal doors,especially if you’ve just made an expensive investment in them!

Surface scratches to wooden doors can be buffed out with cleaning and polish but deeper scratches will need more work.

You will need:

• Fine sandpaper
• Wood filler
• A putty knife
• A soft cloth
• Paint or stain to match the existing finish.
• An old sheet (to protect your floor from dust)

Here are the steps you’ll need to take to get rid of dog scratches on wood doors:

1. Make sure your door is clean
2. Place the old sheet under the door to gather any sandust and protect your floor.
3. Sand down the scratches gently
4. Wipe the area you have sanded with a soft cloth to get rid of any remaining dust. You could also use a paint brush.
5. With the putty knife take enough wood filler to fill the scratches. Remove any excess and allow the filler to dry.
6. Sand the area that has been filled until it is smooth.
7. Clean the area again.
8. Apply the stain or paint that will match the finish of your wooden door.
9. Leave the door open to dry.

Preventing Stains in Wooden Doors

Accidents will happen and your doors will be subject to knocks & stains, and in busy times not get the TLC they deserve to look their absolute best. As we know, prevention is better than cure, and regular cleaning will keep doors looking their best. Cleaning your doors twice a month will increase the lifespan of your doors, make sure any dirt or marks don’t turn into more difficult problems to deal with, and most importantly, maintain the gorgeous finish that wooden doors are so valued for.