How to Clean Your Home’s Doors and Trim Like a Pro

Could your Toronto exterior doors, frames, and trim use a little attention?

The truth is that doors and wood trim are notorious for attracting dust, dirt, and debris. This often occurs over the course of a few weeks or months. Depending on your location and the state of your home, however, it could occur in as little as a few days!

Fortunately, you don’t need many tools to maintain wood doors in Ontario and keep them in top condition. Follow these simple steps to clean your doors and trim like a seasoned professional!

3 Steps to Clean Your Exterior Doors

Whether your Toronto exterior doors are made from wood, fibreglass, or steel, clean them by doing the following:

1. Wipe Down the Door and Frame: First, combine water with either dishwashing liquid or vinegar. Then, using a microfiber cloth, wipe down all of your doors, frames, and trim. Be sure to start at the top with the head jamb and work your way down to the floor.
2. Wash the Glass Accents: If your wood doors in Ontario happen to be French doors or have glass accents, chances are that there are smudges, streaks, and fingerprints scattered across these surfaces. With a vinegar-based solution and microfiber cloth, gently clean both sides of the glass.
3. Thoroughly Clean the Hardware: Depending on whether your door’s hardware is made of brass, chrome, steel, or another material, find a compatible polish product and gently rub the hardware with a cloth. Use a second cloth to remove the polish and leave a sparkling finish!

3 Steps to Clean Your Wood Trim

After cleaning your Toronto exterior doors and frames, it’s time to turn your attention to the trim throughout your home. Be sure to do the following:

1. Vacuum the Area: Particularly if you haven’t cleaned your trim recently, chances are that there is plenty of dirt that will need to be removed before you attempt to dust or wipe down the trim. Equipping the soft brush attachment, gently vacuum the area—paying special attention to your baseboards!
2. Wipe Down the Trim: Now that you have removed most of the dirt and debris surrounding your trim, it’s time to polish some of the remaining blemishes out of your trim. Make a solution of water and either vinegar or detergent, and wipe down each area with a damp microfiber cloth. Feel free to apply a little extra pressure to remove stubborn marks and stains.
3. Rub the Trim with Dryer Sheets: After your trim has been vacuumed, wiped down, and has had a chance to dry, consider using a simple hack that will help you prevent dirt and dust from building up in the future. Take several dryer sheets and rub down all of your trim—including baseboards, crown mouldings, and even door frames. This will help eliminate the static that so often attracts dust, dirt, and debris!