Cleaning Screens and Doors

Spring Cleaning is several weeks behind us but I’m still finding that things like the front door and the sliding doors and screens need regular cleaning.

Gardening, outdoor activities, and just general summer living has left muddy hand prints, grass and who know what else (bug guts) embeded on the exterior of our home. Ick! I grimace when I come home and see the disgraceful door and need to get my act together fast.

So how does one go about removing this quickly and easily because puh-lease it’s summer and I don’t want to spend it scrubbing up after each family outing.

Front door: I would love to leave this as-is but we do have guests coming and I would like for them to be comfortable knocking on our front door instead of cringing and says "She runs what website?". So I start off with removing loose debris with the vacuum. Using the brush attachment on the hose go over the rim of the door and all the corners. Then I mix up a very very mild solution of some mild powdered laundry soap and a bucket full of warm water. I sponge down the front door, rinse it off with the hose and dry off with a cleaning towel. Voila!

Sliding Screen Door: My daughter loves to rub her muddy hands over the screen door after coming in from the garden. I always get an “I’m sorry mommy.” But she does it anyway. So the quickest way for me to keep up with this is to hose it down with the jet spray selection on the garden hose but often mine needs a little more.  Last time the hose didn't get it all so using again the very mild solution of powdered laundry soap or some of my eco-all purpose cleaner and a bucket full of warm water and using a scrub brush go over the screen and rinse off with the garden hose.

Sliding Door: First I vacuum the tracks and then re-lubricate them with a silicone based lubricant. Don’t use a lot.  Now it’s better to clean your glass on an overcast day. Why this reduces streaks I don’t know but it does so keep that in mind. Vinegar and water is a nice natural solution that works (there is a secret tip of adding a little cornstarch to this solution but I have never tried it). Spray the door and then either squeegie off, wipe dry with my microfiber mop, or use newspaper to dry the windows.

Alert: Now do be careful and know your finishes before cleaning up. I don't want you to strip anything or damage your windows and doors. Read up on your particular materials.

Enjoy your nice, newly cleaned exterior.