Wooden doors have been popular among homeowners forever, desired for their strength and reliability as much as for their aesthetic beauty. However, like anything in your home, your internal doors need to be cared for if you want them to last.
Just how much care do internal wood doors need? How can you properly maintain them and keep them looking their best? Whether you have modern internal doors or traditional doors, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. Find out more below.
Keep Your Doors Clean
Even if you do nothing else to care for your internal wooden doors, keeping them clean is absolutely essential. First and foremost, dirty doors won’t look good. They will put off guests and visitors and could even pose a health hazard, as door handles can often carry germs and viruses.
Doors will naturally accumulate dust and other substances, so cleaning them regularly is strongly recommended. With wood, you want to avoid using any harsh chemicals, as this can damage the material and cause visual blemishes to appear. Instead, wipe your doors down using warm water and a soft cloth. If they are particularly dirty, use a gentle, non-abrasive soap.
After cleaning, ensure your doors are fully dried, as excess water can damage the material.
Check for Damage
Wooden doors and strong and robust but can get damaged through overuse, bumps, knicks, or scrapes over the years. Damaged wooden doors can pose a hazard, with small, sharp shards of wood likely to cause splinters in the skin.
You should regularly inspect your internal wooden doors for signs of damage. These signs could be obvious, such as large, damaged areas, or more subtle, such as small cracks that could indicate further damage is likely.
Sharp edges can be sanded down until they are smooth, while cracks can be filled using a special wood filler.
You should also check the mechanical parts of your doors, such as the knobs, locks, and hinges. If these break or malfunction, they could damage the wooden material of your door, so keep an eye on them and keep them oiled to ensure they are working correctly.
Re-treat Your Doors
If you treated your doors yourself when you purchased them, reapplying treatment in the future is recommended.
First, wipe your doors down thoroughly to remove dirt and grime, and lightly sand to remove old paint and varnish. Remove the door handles, and then you can begin reapplying your treatment. After you have finished, you’ll be amazed as your doors will look as good as the day you bought them.
Wood is a strong and durable material, and as a result, internal wooden doors don’t require a great deal of care and maintenance. However, if you want to keep them looking their best, it’s important to monitor them and address any issues as and when they arise. Keep your doors clean, watch out for signs of damage, and reapply treatment if you feel it’s necessary. This will keep your internal wooden doors looking fantastic for years to come.