How to care for and maintain your internal doors

Internal doors usually require much less maintenance than external ones, so they should be relatively easy to care for. The materials your new door are made from, and where the door is placed, will affect how much maintenance it will require in the long-term. For example, bathroom doors and kitchen doors may need more care as they are used in a more humid environment than most of your other internal doors. If you take the time to maintain your new doors they should lat you many years.

Cleaning

All doors will benefit from occasional dusting or a wipe with a damp cloth. What cleaning products can be used will depend on the material and finish of the door. You should check specifications of individual doors and treatments if you need to clean the door with anything stronger than just water. 

Don't scour, excessively rub, soak, or over-clean the door or you'll remove the treatment layers and can damage the material below. Avoid using any metal tools or sharp objects to remove dirt. If a door has tracks, these should be regularly vacuumed or brushed to remove any debris which might build up. 

Re-applying treatment

If you have had to finish a door yourself, it's likely the finish will need to be reapplied every few years. Natural and engineered wood doors are likely to need more regular treatment than doors made of other materials. Some doors need to be sanded before treatments are reapplied. 

Maintaining door hardware

Moving parts, such as rollers, latches, or hinges, may need to be oiled occasionally, with a light general purpose oil, to keep them moving smoothly and rust-free. Rollers will also benefit from an occasional application of petroleum jelly, or similar lubricant, to protect them and the track.

Metal hardware can rust and may need to be replaced in time. Plastic parts can also deteriorate and may also need to be replaced. If a door stops operating correctly – such as having squeaking moving parts, or leaves that don't open or close properly or sag in their frames – it might be that some of the hardware needs maintenance or adjustment, or it may need to be replaced. 

Check any glazing panels

Check any glass in doors for cracks as this can make the door unsafe. If it does get cracked, it will need to be strengthened or replaced as soon as possible. If the glass is insulated, you should check for any condensation between the panels, which might indicate a problem with the seals.