You have your windows professionally cleaned; sweep and pressure wash your driveway; tidy your garden. But what about your garage door? The front of your garage counts for a large proportion of your property’s kerb appeal, so you need to keep it looking clean! Even the smoothest and shiniest garage door finishes become dulled with grime over time, and it’s not just an aesthetic concern. Left to accumulate, dirt and environmental contaminants can cause long-term damage to your garage door - whether that’s by corroding the finish or causing parts to seize or jam. This can lead to costly repairs.
A clean garage door is more than a matter of pride in your property; it’s a vital part of your home’s cleaning schedule and maintenance.
Different garage door materials and types require slightly different cleaning methods to ensure best possible results and long-term care. This article serves as a comprehensive guide to cleaning your garage door - covering metal, timber, and roller / sectional garage doors.
We cover the entire process - from essential preparations and safety precautions to specific garage door cleaning tips for maintaining its finish and functionality.
Why Cleaning You Garage Door Is Important
As well as keeping your garage door looking the part, regular cleaning is a simple way to protect its functionality and longevity.
Over time, dirt and corrosive substances like salt, grit, and pollen naturally settle on the surface of your garage door; unless they are removed, this can cause permanent damage to your garage’s surface, premature rusting, or discolouration.
A clean and well-maintained garage door will retain its finish and continue to operate smoothly for much longer, limiting the need for expensive repairs or a premature replacement. Furthermore, regular cleaning allows you to perform a visual inspection of your garage door, helping you to spot minor issues, and nip them in the bud before they become more costly.
Cleaning Your Garage Door Panel
Preparation & Safety First
Don’t grab your sponge just yet! Before you set to work, take a few minutes getting ready to ensure you are properly prepared. Not only will this make the cleaning process quicker and easier, more importantly it will help keep you - and your garage door - safe from scratches and bumps.
Essential Safety Precautions
With any aspect of garage door cleaning or maintenance, safety should always be your top priority. Before you set to work, follow these steps:
- Disconnect Power Supply: If you have an electric garage door, unplug the opener unit from the wall socket to prevent the door from accidentally opening or closing while you are working.
- Clear the Area: Ensure you’re free to work around the garage door without trip hazards, obstacles or hazardous tools / substances.
- Secure the Door: If cleaning a manual garage door, you might need to prop it open using a clamp or a block of wood to prevent it from closing unexpectedly.
- Use a Stable Ladder: If the top of your garage door is taller than you can reach, use a sturdy ladder or a step stool. Never improvise with a bucket or unstable surface.
- Wear Protective Gear: Use a pair of gardening or washing up gloves to protect your hands from both the cleaning solution and any sharp edges. It’s also a good idea to wear goggles or safety glasses.
- Read Your Garage Door Manual: It’s always worth reverting to your garage door manual to check if it contains any specific instructions for cleaning. Similarly, you need to know if there are any garage door parts / components which should not be cleaned (e.g. tracks / rollers). This guide provides general advice, but we’d always recommend checking your manufacturer’s instructions wherever possible.
Gathering Your Supplies
You don’t need any special or expensive equipment when cleaning your garage door. You’ll usually find what you need inside your garage (!), shed or down at your local hardware store.
- Two large buckets
- Hose with a spray nozzle
- Soft sponge / microfibre cloth
- Soft-bristle brush
- Soft-bristle crevice brush
- Soft, dry towel / chamois
- Mild washing up liquid / Dedicated car washing detergent
Washing Your Garage Door: A General Step-by-Step Guide
This guide provides the best way to clean a garage door for most garage door types and materials. Follow the below instructions for a pristine, streak-free finish. Please note we have specific advice for cleaning different types of garage doors beneath this section. However, this general method offers an effective and safe way to wash a typical garage door.
Step 1: Rinse
Use your garden hose on a gentle setting to spray down the entire surface of your garage door from top to bottom. Rinsing the door helps to remove loose dirt, dust, and spiderwebs. This crucial first step prevents abrasive dirt from scratching the surface during the wash. Pay particular attention to the bottom of the door where grit and grime often accumulate. Never use a pressure washer on a garage door; the high-pressure spray can force water into the door’s inner components, damage its seal and damage the outer finish.
If you don’t have access to a hose, use a soft-bristle brush to remove cobwebs and areas of built up grime, before throwing a bucket of water at the garage door.
Step 2: Prepare the Cleaning Solution
After rinsing the garage door down, fill one of your buckets with warm water and add a few squirts of washing up liquid or a dedicated car wash detergent. Mix the solution thoroughly, and fill the second bucket with clean water for rinsing your sponge. When selecting a cleaning agent, avoid using any harsh chemicals, abrasive cleaners or solvents; these can damage the finish, strip paintwork, and even compromise your garage door's integrity.
Step 3: Sponge Wash
Dip your soft sponge or microfibre cloth into the soapy water and begin washing the garage door - starting at the top and working your way down. Avoid scrubbing; use gentle, circular motions to remove dirt and grime. For areas with stubborn areas with built up dirt, use a soft-bristle brush, being careful not to scratch the surface. Work on one section at a time; keeping the area you are working on wet will help prevent streaking. Remember to regularly rinse your sponge in the clean water to avoid spreading dirt. Depending on how dirty your garage door is, you may need to replace the bucket / buckets of water during cleaning.
Step 4: Final Rinse & Dry
Once you have finished washing the entire surface of the door, use your hose to rinse away all of the soap residue. Make sure you rinse the door thoroughly, as any soap / detergent residue can leave streaks on the surface or attract more dirt. Finally, to ensure the perfect finish, use a soft, clean towel or chamois cloth to dry the door. This final step is key to preventing water spots and streaks, leaving you with a spotless, shiny finish.
Step 5: Check for Damage
With a freshly cleaned garage door, take the opportunity to visually inspect for any damage or maintenance issues which might be more difficult to spot on a dirty door. Quickly picking up and rectifying any maintenance issues can avoid more long term damage and costly repairs.
Cleaning Advice for Different Types of Garage Door
No matter what kind of garage door you have, the cleaning process we’ve outlined above offers a good universal starting point. However, some garage door types and materials have unique cleaning requirements. Bearing these specific requirements in mind will help you achieve the best results whilst helping to preserve the longevity of your garage door.
Metal Garage Doors (Steel & Aluminium)
Single panel garage doors are often made from steel or aluminium, and both are easy to clean. For a standard steel door with a factory finish or paintwork, you can simply proceed with our universal cleaning process. However you should always look out for any minor scratches / dents; these can be prone to rusting if not properly protected.
When cleaning aluminium roller garage doors, the process is even more straightforward due to the material’s natural resistance to rust and corrosion. You can simply follow the universal method outlined above for fuss free cleaning.
Timber/Wood Garage Doors
Cleaning timber / wooden garage doors requires an extra level of care. As wood can absorb water, you should avoid over-saturating the door, and wash your door as quickly as possible. For wooden doors, we would recommend you use a soft brush and a damp cloth to remove built up dirt prior to cleaning with a solution containing a low concentration of mild detergent. After cleaning and rinsing, ensure wood is thoroughly dried. If your wooden door is untreated, you may wish to consider applying a preservative or sealant to add a protective layer from rom moisture and UV damage. Failing to protect a wooden door can quickly lead to warping, rotting, and the need for costly repairs.
Roller & Sectional Garage Doors
Cleaning Garage Roller Doors: Owing to their design, roller garage doors are generally very easy to clean. Their smooth, vertical-rolling surface provides easy access, with the horizontal slats being designed to fit together tightly. Roller doors like those made by Garolla feature an enclosed top box, into which the door rolls on opening. This means that less dirt and debris can get into the inner mechanism, reducing the need for cleaning of internal components. This simplicity is a key benefit of a modern roller garage door.
Sectional Doors: Sectional garage doors have gaps between each panel that can collect dirt and grime. You need to pay particular attention to these gaps during cleaning, using a soft-crevice brush.
Beyond the Surface: Cleaning Key Garage Door Components
When cleaning your garage door, you need to look beyond the surface to ensure proactive maintenance of key components. However, it’s important to note that some components and mechanisms - particularly those under tension - can be dangerous, and you should always consult your garage door manufacturer’s manual for specific instructions.
Here’s what you need to think about.
Cleaning Inside Your Garage Door
People often don’t think about cleaning the inside panel of their garage door, but this is important for ensuring a smooth operation - particularly for roller garage doors. You’ll generally only need to use a soft damp cloth to keep the inside panels of your garage door clean.
For traditional up-and-over and sectional garage doors, you'll also need to check the tracks and springs. General best practice is to use a dry cloth to wipe away any dust, dirt or debris from the horizontal and vertical tracks. However, you should never attempt to clean or lubricate springs, cables or rollers if you don't know what you are doing. This is a job best left to professionals.
Cleaning Seals and Windows
It’s easy to forget about weather seals when cleaning your garage door. However, they often harbour the most dirt and grime, which left uncleaned can damage the rubber. Simply use a soapy sponge to wipe it down, removing any dirt or mildew. Use this opportunity to inspect the seal for cracks or tears - any damage to a seal usually necessitates replacement.
For garage doors with windows, after cleaning and rinsing, use a glass cleaner and a microfibre cloth on the windows to ensure a streak-free finish.
Cleaning Electric Garage Door Sensors
Photo-eye sensors on automatic garage doors must be kept clean to function properly. Even a thin layer of dust or grime can obscure the UV beam and cause your door to reverse when closing. After rinsing, use a soft, dry cloth and gently wipe the lens of the sensor. You may need to clean the sensor more frequently to ensure this important safety feature of your electric garage door works properly.
How Often Should I Clean My Garage Door?
It’s a good idea to establish a regular cleaning schedule to keep your garage door looking great and working smoothly for years to come.
A Simple Cleaning Schedule
The below guide offers a good “rule of thumb” schedule for cleaning your garage door.
- Monthly: A quick visual inspection in and outside of your garage. Look out for any new damage / maintenance issues, build up of dirt / mildew and signs of wear. Clear any debris from the tracks and around the weather seals.
- Quarterly: A full wash and rinse of the garage door’s external surface. This is particularly important if you live in a coastal area (salty sea air can be corrosive), or in a dusty, industrial area.
- Annually: A more thorough clean of the inside and outside of your garage door, thoroughly checking the condition and cleanliness of all components and mechanisms. This is also a good opportunity to reseal a wooden garage door or touch up minor paintwork.
Removing Stubborn Garage Door Stains and Dirt
Soap and water won’t always cut it! It’s important to know how to remove more stubborn garage door stains and dirt, and you should take fast action to remove them.
- Bird Droppings: Bird droppings can be highly acidic and if left for too long this can damage your door’s finish. For fresh bird droppings, a simple wipe down with a damp piece of kitchen cloth and soapy water should do the trick. For dried on bird droppings, moisten with warm, soapy water for a few minutes to soften it before gently wiping away. Never scrape it off, as this can damage the surface.
- Rust: If you notice a minor spot of rust on your metal garage door, clean the area first and then use a fine-grit sandpaper to gently buff the rust away. After wiping clean, apply a rust-inhibiting primer and then touch up the area with a paint that matches your door's finish.
- Grease & Oil Stains: Use a degreaser designed for vehicle cleaning or a solution of warm water with a small amount of detergent. Simply apply the solution with a soft sponge, work it into the stain, and then rinse thoroughly.
Avoid these Common Garage Door Cleaning Mistakes
Cleaning your garage door can easily lead to unintentional damage, so be aware of these common pitfalls.
Using the Wrong Cleaning Products
Using harsh chemicals and abrasive cleaners can permanently damage your garage door's finish, leading to scratches, discolouration, and rust. Always stick to mild soaps and detergents when cleaning the exterior of your garage door.
Using a Pressure Washer
Using a jet / pressure washer may seem like a quick way to clean your garage door - particularly for those with stubborn stains or a heavy build up of dirt grime. However, the high pressure can damage your garage door’s paintwork / finish and rubber seal. Furthermore, you risk water getting into the door's mechanisms and potentially causing electrical faults / internal corrosion.
Forgetting to Rinse
Failing to rinse after washing can leave a sticky film of residue on the surface of your garage door. This not only looks bad, it can also attract dirt and grime, making your door get dirtier faster.
Failing to Clean / Inspect Key Components
Solely focusing your attention on the external surface of your garage door can lead to long term maintenance problems. Failing to regularly clean and inspect the tracks, seals, and other moving parts of your garage door can cause them to seize up and malfunction.
Cleaning Your Garage Door: the Garolla Way
Regular cleaning and maintenance of your garage door is very much worth the time and effort! A good cleaning schedule helps to ensure your garage door not only looks its best, but also protects it from needing expensive repairs down the line. By sticking to a regular cleaning schedule and following best practice, you can significantly extend the lifespan of your garage door and keep it operating safely and smoothly.
Furthermore, by following Garolla’s comprehensive garage door cleaning guide, you can add value and kerb appeal to your home. Taking the time to properly wash your garage door and its components will save you time, money and hassle in the long run.
For a new garage door that is easy to clean, maintain and built to last, Garolla offers a range of high-quality, weather-resistant roller garage doors that prioritise convenience and affordability.