When you think about it, you go through your internal doors a few times a day, and you never give them second thoughts. But then, they can be welcoming, as well as neglected and bad-looking. With time, the lack of care will inevitably reduce their lifespan.
On the other hand, poor maintenance will give your visitors negative feedback about yourself. As per experts at Internal Doors UK, learning how to maintain your internal doors for long-term durability is essential. Here’s everything you need to know.
Use wax for varnished wood
Varnished wood is quite common in the UK – and especially oak. Cleaning and polishing doors is quite common, but you also need to ensure dust and humidity won’t affect the door – apply wax two times a year, and you won’t have to worry about such deterioration.
You can apply wax in two different ways. Keep the door on, and you will end up with aching arms – more convenient, though. Then, you can make it easy and take the door off its hinges, but the process will be more time-consuming.
Apply wax with a cloth – clean and lint-free. Apply tiny amounts of wax and always work along the grain. Once the first layer is up, the door should dry for 24 hours. See if you have the desired results – if not, apply a second layer and so on.
Use a gentle detergent for unvarnished wood
Unvarnished wood has a classic appearance. Get a bucket, fill it up with hot water, add a spoon of gentle detergent and a drop of vinegar. A spoon of olive oil will also help. Get a clean sponge, dip it in the mix, squeeze it and gently clean the door – work with the grain and never across it.
You need to do it quickly, only to ensure drops of water won’t be on the wood for too long. Use a clean cloth to clear out excess moisture once you’re done. A mix of hot water and olive oil will also work if you want to keep the wood looking natural. You need two spoons of oil to four litres of water.
What not to do
No matter what type of wood you deal with, make sure the cleaning operation is gentle and soft. Avoid scouring or rubbing in excess, or you risk damaging the wood. Overcleaning it will also damage it, not to mention soaking it in any type of liquid.
Such procedures will clear out the treatment layers and damage the wood below. Stick to a clean cloth or a soft sponge, rather than sharp objects or metallic tools. If your door has tracks, vacuum them regularly to prevent debris from building up.
Reapplying treatments
The door finishing must be reapplied every few years, as it tends to wear off. Doors made of engineered or natural wood are more likely to require such treatments. Other materials are more durable and can take more time without any reapplications.
No matter what the treatment involves, keep in mind that some doors might require sanding upfront. As for the actual treatment, it depends on what the door had. Most of them are covered in lacquer or paint – you can also come up with a different finishing or treatment.
Maintaining hardware
Moving parts shouldn’t be overlooked either – latches, hinges, rollers, and others. They require occasional oiling – stick to light-purpose oils. Rollers will also do with petroleum jelly or similar lubricants. Metallic parts rust with time and will need replacement.
Keeping things lubricated will prevent rust from settling in. For instance, even if you fail to find a general purpose oil, you can use the classic WD-40, which is just as efficient. You don’t have to waste your money on so-called specific oils designed for doors only – they’re general purpose oils.
Conclusion
As a short final conclusion, you don’t need to be a genius to learn how to maintain your internal doors for long-term durability. A bit of common sense will usually do. Stick to mild products and clean clothes or sponges – keep it simple and don’t scrub excessively.
A few minutes a month will preserve your doors and add years to their lifespan.