How to Clean a Room Door

Doors come in various materials and are finished in a number of different ways.

Keeping a door clean is pretty important, given that the door is the first thing a visitor sees and the first thing your family touches when entering the house or a particular room. Cleaning doors doesn't require much time if the cleaning schedule is staggered so that all doors are not cleaned on the same day. Do not try using the same cleaning method on doors made of different materials; for instance, varnished or wooden doors require a different cleaning method than what is used for painted doors. Treat doors carefully to prevent permanent streaks, scratches or discoloration.

Things You'll Need

• Damp cloth
• Brass polish
• Clean cloth
• Oil soap
• Soft scrubber pad
• Bucket
• Tablespoon
• Household detergent
• Screwdriver

Instructions

Wooden Doors

1. Pre-clean the wooden door with a clean damp cloth to remove grime and grit that can smear or scratch the surface of the door. Do not forget to clean the top and side edges of the door.

2. Clean the door with a soft scrubber pad and a solution of 1 quart of warm water and 1 tablespoon of liquid detergent. Do not forget to clean the top and side edges of the door. Clean stubborn stains with a light application of mineral spirits, available at retail stores.

3. Remove the doorknob, if the surrounding area is especially dirty, and clean the area carefully with the detergent solution and a soft scrubber pad.

4. Use brass polish to clean brass doorknobs and the hardware before replacing them.

5. Remove the soap film by wiping the door with a clean cloth and clear water.

6. Apply a small amount of furniture polish to the door, rubbing it on in the direction of the wood grain.

7. Buff the door with a clean cloth in the direction of the wood grain.

8. Clean the doorjamb with a soft scrubber pad and a solution of 1 quart of warm water mixed with 1 tablespoon of household liquid detergent.

9. Remove the soap film by wiping with a clean cloth and clear water.

Varnished Doors

1. Moisten a soft clean cloth with oil soap, available at retail stores, and rub the cloth in the direction of the wood grain. Do not forget to clean the top and side edges of the door.

2. Remove the doorknob, if the area around it is especially dirty, and clean the area also using a cloth dampened with oil soap and rubbing in the direction of the wood grain.

3. Buff the door with a clean soft cloth in the direction of the wood grain.

4. Clean and polish the doorknob and hardware using brass polish, before replacing them.

5. Use a soft clean cloth dampened with oil soap to clean the doorjamb. Rub the cloth in the direction of the wood grain.

6. Buff the door with a clean soft cloth in the direction of the wood grain.

Painted Doors

1. Fill a bucket with a solution of 1 quart of warm water and 1 tablespoon of liquid dish detergent.

2. Gently but thoroughly scrub the painted door with the warm soapy solution and a soft scrubber pad. Do not forget to clean the top and side edges of the door.

3. Remove the doorknob with a screwdriver and clean the area under and around it carefully. Use a soft scrubber pad to thoroughly clean the doorknob.

4. Remove the soap film by wiping the door with a clean cloth dampened with clean water.

5. Reinstall the doorknob and hardware.

6. Gently but thoroughly scrub the doorjamb with the warm soapy solution and a soft scrubber pad.

7. Remove the soap film by wiping the door with a clean cloth dampened with clean water.

Stained Doors

1. Fill a bucket with a solution of 1 quart of warm water and 1 tablespoon of liquid dish detergent.

2. Gently but thoroughly scrub the door with the warm soapy solution and a soft scrubber pad. Do not forget to clean the top and side edges of the door.

3. Remove the doorknob with a screwdriver and clean the area under and around it very carefully. Use a soft scrubber pad to thoroughly clean the doorknob.

4. Remove the soap film by wiping the door with a clean cloth dampened with clean water.

5. Use a clean soft cloth that has been lightly sprayed with a furniture oil treatment, available at retail stores, to polish the door. Do not apply so much oil as to leave residue on the door.

6. Reinstall the doorknob and hardware.

7. Gently but thoroughly scrub the doorjamb with the warm soapy solution and a soft scrubber pad.

8. Remove the soap film by wiping the door with a clean cloth dampened with clean water.

9. Apply a small amount of furniture polish to the door and doorjamb by rubbing it in the direction of the wood grain.

10. Use a clean cloth to buff the door by rubbing it in the direction of the wood grain.

Tips & Warnings

• Schedule the cleaning of the doors on a rotating basis so they all are not cleaned on the same day.

• Wear gloves when cleaning the door.

• Do not mix bleach with detergent to use as a cleaning agent; the combination emits a poisonous gas.

• Do not place furniture in direct sunlight to avoid discoloring the finish.

References

• Michigan State University Extension: Cleaning Wood-Paneled Walls and Woodwork
• Utah State University: Furniture Cleaning on a Shoestring
• University of Kentucky: Care of Furniture Surfaces