How To Clean Garage Door Window Inserts

Cleaning your garage door windows is one of the quickest ways to freshen up the front of your home and ensure the garage door looks great for years to come. Regular garage door maintenance will also help to preserve the garage door's warranty if you recently bought a replacement.

Keep in mind that garage door windows should be cleaned every three months to prevent a film from forming due to the build-up of dust, dirt, and grime. So be sure to clean the windows every season.

While keeping your garage door clean prevents wear and rust from forming, some cleaning products and equipment should not be used when cleaning garage windows.

For example, you should never use a pressure washer. Instead, use a garden hose set to the shower setting for a gentle cleaning to prevent paint stripping or cracking the windows, among other issues.

The Dos and Don'ts of Cleaning Garage Door Windows

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Cleaning the windows on your garage door is a key part of the general maintenance you should already be conducting regularly. Dodds Doors has compiled a few guidelines to help you properly maintain the look of your garage door windows :

Do Clean the Garage Door Regularly

Garage door windows accumulate dirt and dust over time because they are exposed to the elements year-round. However, garage door maintenance is often neglected because you overlook an issue until it's too late.

Start by cleaning the window frames; use a soft cleaning material such as a sponge or a damp cloth. If your windows have decorative inserts, remove them before washing them gently with a cloth or sponge. Once removed, clean the glass window, and clean the inserts before putting them back.

Do Use Gentle Cleaning Products

Use dish soap (or any other soft soap) mixed with warm water. That's because abrasive detergents or high alkaline cleaners can damage garage door windows . Always use warm water and mild detergents such as dish soap or other household cleaners. Mix the mild detergent well before washing the garage door window glass. You can also opt to use a mixture of vinegar and water as an alternative solution.

Do Use a Soft Cloth

Use a soft cloth instead of a brush when cleaning. Soft fabric won't scratch and/or damage the weather stripping on the garage door window. A brush can also damage wooden garage doors.

What Not to Do When Cleaning Garage Door Windows

The following explains how not to clean your garage door windows. Windows are a part of the garage door that should always be treated with care to ensure its long-term aesthetic, no matter if it's a regular, acrylic, or a polycarbonate garage door window.

Never Use a Pressure Washer

Never use a pressure washer to clean garage door windows. While a pressure washer is convenient when cleaning brick, vinyl siding, and concrete floors, it should never be used to clean your garage door or its windows.

Never Mix Bleach and Detergents

Never mix bleach with detergent dissolved in water. Combining household cleaning products and bleach can emanate fumes that are harmful to your health. Only use bleach on stubborn stains after thoroughly rinsing off the mild detergent.

Avoid Using Abrasive Detergents

Avoid using abrasive detergents. They damage the weather stripping and can cause unsightly scratches on the windows.

Avoid Cleaning Garage Door Windows in Direct Sunlight

Avoid cleaning the garage door in direct sunlight. The last thing you want is a chalky residue on the garage windows because the sunlight will dry the chemicals in your cleaning product, causing streaks and smears.

Learning how to clean garage door windows properly is one of the best ways to save on repair and replacement costs due to negligent garage door maintenance. While a garage door is not a top-of-mind for most homeowners, it's one part of the home you will regret not regularly maintaining when it breaks down. That's why you should make a garage door upkeep part of your seasonal cleaning.

While homeowners can handle the cleaning and minor repairs, you should always call a professional garage door technician to handle serious garage door repairs . Dodds has the largest team of technicians in the Greater Toronto Area, providing unmatched customer service 24/7 with 28 local service areas. That's why Dodds Doors has been recognized as the Consumer Choice Winner as the best garage door company in Toronto since 2000 and trusted by Canadian home and business owners for over 60 years.

If you're ready for a new garage door to replace one that is broken or outdated, Dodd's Doors has a wide selection of modern and contemporary garage doors for sale , including our Platinum Series.

Call Dodds Doors today at 1-877-503-6337 to learn more about your garage door options.