Are you considering new doors for your home?
Aluminum framed doors give your home a stylish look. They can upgrade your space and beautify your home.
Whether you’re considering having Milgard aluminum doors installed in your home or already own them, you can make them last for years to come with proper care.
In this post, you’ll learn how to care for aluminum doors. Read on for a deep dive into learning how to make your Milgard aluminum doors shine.
How to Care for Aluminum Doors
Follow these tips to clean your Milgard aluminum doors. They will make them sparkle.
1. Soak the Outdoor Frames in Water
The first thing to do is to rinse your doors. When working outdoors, you can use a garden hose to douse the door frames.
Rinsing the doors will remove most of the grime and dirt that gets caked on from the elements so your cleaner can work better. Don’t have a garden hose? No problem. Then all you need is a bucket of water.
2. Remove Grease Stains and Spots
Grease stains and spots can take a toll on your doors. To remove them, you’ll need a solvent-based cleaner made for aluminum. You can find these at most hardware stores like Home Depot.
Make sure to read the instructions and follow them to a “t.” You may need to work using gloves or goggles depending on the product. Try to get an eco-friendly and safe biodegradable product if possible.
You’ll want to pay special attention to how long the cleaner should remain on the aluminum before you need to wipe it off. Once the allotted time is done, rinse the cleaner off well.
3. Remove Additional Grime with Lemon Juice and Baking Soda
Baking soda and lemon juice make a paste that can remove dirt and grime that forms on aluminum. It also gives the aluminum a nice shine.
After using the commercial aluminum cleaner, apply the baking soda and lemon juice to the remaining stains with a clean rag or a sponge.
You’ll need to mix 1/4 cup of baking soda with 1/2 cup of lemon juice for your mixture. Leave the paste on until it dries.
Don’t forget to apply the mixture to the glass crevices and cracks. Drying time will depend on the weather. To get in the nooks and crannies, you can use a scrub brush.
4. Give the Frames a Good Rinse
After the paste dries, rinse off the mixture and the commercial solvent you used. Continue rinsing until your door looks clean.
It’s important to rinse well because leftover residue can damage the glass in the door such as a sliding door. Polish your frame lightly using water and steel wool to give your frames a shine.
5. Cleaning the Frames Indoors
When working on aluminum frames indoors, you use a damp cloth to wipe the frames. But first, you need to rinse your window frames thoroughly before using a damp sponge for cleaning.
Rinsing will help loosen dust and dirt that has formed on your door. Rinse the frames with a wet sponge. This will make it easier to clean the area.
Make sure to wet your sponge well. Then run it along the entire door frame, including crevices and cracks. You can also use a scrub brush to areas difficult to clean with a sponge.
Working with a Solvent
You can usually use the same solvent that you used to clean your aluminum doors outside. Most solvents are made to be able to be used indoors and outdoors.
But as solvent ingredients can be different, first check that the solvent is safe to use indoors.
Follow the same steps with your solvent. Then follow up with your baking soda and lemon juice paste mixture. Mix 1/4 cup of baking soda with 1/2 cup of lemon juice as before.
6. Use a Scouring Pad to Remove Indoor Dirt
In order to remove dirt and debris from your window frame, it’s best to use a scouring pad. A scouring pad will remove the tough dirt and stubborn messes that come from your stove and sticks onto the surface.
If you don’t have any scouring pads in your cabinet, they’re easy to find in grocery stores in the sponge section.
Apply the solvent to the tough stains to give it time to absorb. Let it work its magic. Be sure not to leave it on your aluminum door any longer than the manufacturer recommends. Then clean it.
Next, apply your baking soda/lemon juice paste concentration. Let that dry. Then rinse the frames.
7. Rinse the Frames and Pat Them Dry
Using a damp sponge, now it’s time to wipe your frames. When you’re finished, rinse the frames. Then use a dry cloth to rub off any water. Indoor frames take longer to dry than outdoor frames left in the sun or a breeze.
So they must be dried right after they’re cleaned. When you’re done, lightly polish your aluminum frame with a fine steel wool pad and a little water. Make sure to rub gently and not too hard.
8. Buff and Polish Your Frames
Sometimes after the cleaning process, the frames can look a bit dull. But this is an easy fix. You can buff them by applying a little water with your fine steel wool. Continue buffing until you they shine.
If your outdoor frames look a little rusty, they can be treated using a rust remover that works with aluminum.
You can find a rust remover in a store like Lowes or Walmart. Make sure to check the label so the product is safe to use on aluminum.
Before you apply your product to the entire door frame, test a small section first in an obscure spot. This way, if the cleaner discolors your frame, it won’t be in a prominent spot. But if the product works with aluminum, you should be fine.
The Takeaway on Caring for Aluminum Doors
Follow this guide to clean your aluminum doors. If you perform these steps with tender loving care, they can last for decades.
Looking to buy aluminum doors for your home? Download our brochure on our website.
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