Painted wood doors, especially entry doors, need regular cleaning to avoid dirt build-up and to remove stains early on. However, unlike metal or fiberglass that you can easily wash, cleaning a painted wooden door needs to be done carefully. Carelessly cleaning your painted wooden door can strip off the door’s paint, and it can also cause the wood to rot faster over time. To clean your painted wood door correctly, consider using the following guide:
- Make a cleaning solution for your door by mixing warm water and mild dish soap or water and ammonia. You can add baking soda for extra cleaning power. You can also mix water and a small amount of trisodium phosphate (TSP) for use in removing stubborn stains.
- Use a dry rag to dust off any loose dirt from your painted wood door.
- Using a sponge or a clean cloth, wash the door with your cleaning solution, moving from the top to the bottom.
- To clean stubborn stains, spray the damp door with your TSP solution and wipe with a damp cloth.
- Dampen a clean cloth with clear water and use that to rinse your door.
