How to clean all types of doors

Find out how to deep clean doors. Over time, finger prints, dust and other stains can damage them. Keep them in good condition!

One of the things that causes us most doubts when it comes to deep cleaning at home are the doors. Interior doors are normally made of wood, either natural or varnished, given that they help to insulate both in terms of sound and temperature. Keeping them clean is important to prevent the appearance of fungi and help to give them a longer use life.

Types of doors and how to clean them step by step

Varnished wooden doors:

• Remove any residue: using a damp cloth or duster remove any dust from the surface, this will stop the varnish from scratching.
• Disinfect: with a special furniture cleaner, wet a cleaning cloth and wipe the whole door, removing any stain residues left on the surface. This should be done gently to avoid damaging the wood.
• Polish the varnish: using a thinner cloth, use a polish to wipe the whole surface of the door and make it shine again. Once you’ve done this, clean with a clean cloth and dry to remove any residue.

Unvarnished wooden doors

• Clean with soapy water: use a clean cloth and wet it in the mixture of soap and water. This can be neutral soap or a specific soap for wood. Clean the whole door with the cloth, using circular movements.
• Dry: it's important to dry the door with a dry cloth to remove any damp. Given that it isn’t varnished, the door is less protected which makes this step essential.

Panelled doors

• Brush: by nature, they are more awkward to clean. Because of the glass squares, dust builds up in all the corners and beading, so it’s important to use a brush or even the vacuum cleaner to remove any residue before you start dusting.
• Clean the wood: this step is the same for any door, use a specific product or a mixture of water and soap to clean the wood.
• The glass: finally, clean the glass with a specific product so they look like new.

How often should you clean them?

Doors are usually one of the main things that get forgotten about at home, but cleaning them should ideally be included as another domestic chore, helping you to prevent an excessive build-up of dirt. Wiping them every two weeks or so with a microfibre cloth is recommended to remove superficial dirt. If they have hand prints or other marks, then a deeper clean is ideal.

Handles, knobs and frames

They are the parts of the door we touch the most and, therefore, the part containing germs and bacteria. We recommend disinfecting them regularly using a specific virucidal product, to ensure they are always free from microbes.