1. GATHER YOUR SUPPLIES

• Several soft, clean cloths and/or wash mitt
• A few clean towels
• Car Wash Soap or a gentle soap
• A large bucket for the soapy water
• A broom
• A silicone-based lubricant (for the weather stripping)

Optional (See Below)

• Mild Detergent
• Silicone wax

If you have stubborn stains that the soap doesn’t remove, use a mild detergent instead. Just be sure that it contains no more than 0.5% phosphate. Use a quarter cup of detergent per 5 liters of water.

If you have a steel, aluminum, or fiberglass garage door, you should add silicone wax to the above list. Garage door manufacturers recommend that you wax these types of doors yearly. Wax adds a protective coating to the door’s finish that defends it against damage and fading. The most user-friendly and effective option is a liquid spray wax (a silicone car wax will do just fine).

2. BRUSH & PRE-RINSE THE DOOR

Start by removing all dirt and debris from the surface using a soft-bristled broom or a microfiber mop. Afterward, pre-rinse the entire surface using a hose. Use the wide spray setting on your hose if you have a nozzle. Never use a pressure washer, as this could damage your garage door.

3. APPLY THE SOAP

Using your cloth or wash mitt, scrub the garage from top-to-bottom. Make sure you get the weather stripping, too. This would be a good time to check if your weather strip is cracked or worn.

4. RINSE, DRY, & WAX

Using your hose, rinse down the door, ensuring no spots you missed or require extra scrubbing.

If you plan on waxing the garage door, you may need to dry your garage door first. Some waxes can be applied on a wet surface and others can’t—check the product’s instructions to be sure. Use a clean, dry, soft cloth to wipe down the garage door. When applying the wax, go from top to bottom: start at one of the top corners and work your way across the door, then move down to the next row and do the same.

5. LUBRICATE THE WEATHER STRIPPING

Weather stripping should be lubricated every two to three months, and there’s no better time to do this than after it has been scrubbed clean. Make sure you use a silicone-based lubricant, as a petroleum-based one will cause the weather stripping to dry up and crack.

6. CLEAN THE INTERIOR SIDE OF THE DOOR

Cleaning the interior side of the door periodically is essential for the upkeep of your garage door. So just like you did with the exterior, first brush the interior surface to get rid of dirt, dust, debris, and cobwebs. Afterwards, scrub the surface with a gentle soap solution. Finally, use a clean, wet cloth to wipe away the suds, then a clean, dry cloth to dry the surface.

While you’re at it, ensure that the tracks are clean. A buildup of dirt and grime on the tracks will cause the rollers to stick. Note that the tracks should only be cleaned and not lubricated. If your garage door is sticking when opening and closing, it’s the rollers you’ll need to lubricate.

IDENTIFY NEW PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY GET WORSE

This is an excellent time to visually inspect the various components of your garage door for wear and damage, not only the tracks and rollers but also the torsion spring and the chain or belt. This way, if you spot any issues developing, you can resolve them before they become significant problems.

If you spot any issues with your garage door while scrubbing it down, count on Wagner Garage Door to swiftly resolve them. We have the tools, parts, and expertise to repair any brand of garage doors. Contact us to schedule a repair call today!