Do you have a wrought iron door in need of cleaning? Are you worried about using the wrong chemicals, scrubbing too hard with the wrong material, or not getting it clean enough? A custom wrought iron door can be a beautiful part of your home or business, but without understanding how to care for wrought iron, it can quickly become the dingiest, least-cared-for part of your home.

Today, we’ll discuss what challenges you’ll need to keep in mind to clean your wrought iron door, recommended methods for getting the job done, and what you can do when basic methods don’t work.

What makes cleaning wrought iron a challenge?

There are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to cleaning wrought iron. You want to avoid anything that’s going to leave it coated in water or anything else that could corrode it or encourage rusting. Along the same lines, you’ll want to consider how to safeguard it against rust and corrosion over time while cleaning it. A rusted wrought iron door is, of course, much more difficult to restore to its pristine state than one that’s merely dirty or dusty.

You’ll also want to be careful not to scratch up the surface of your wrought iron door. While it’s not impossible to repair scratches in wrought iron and/or the paint on your door, it’s extra work you’d probably prefer to avoid.

What is the best way to clean your wrought iron door?

Cleaning a wrought-iron door is actually quite simple; it’s mostly about avoiding the wrong chemicals and tools. To that end, you’ll want to choose a vegetable-based soap, like Castile, as your starting point. These are gentle soaps that won’t wear down your door in the cleaning process.

Mix your vegetable-based soap with water in a bowl and mix it until you get suds, then dip a soft lint-free cloth into the mixture. Gently wipe your door clean from top to bottom with the soaked cloth, being careful to get into any nooks and crannies and clearing out everything with a firm hand.

After this, you’ll want to clear the soap from the door, either by spraying with a hose or by using a fresh cloth dipped only in water. When you’ve thoroughly rinsed your door, you’ll want to dry it as completely as possible with a clean cloth.

Is gentle cleaning enough?

Do you have deep scratches on your iron door? Has rust already set in? If so, you may need to take further action to get your door properly cleaned.

That means removing the paint and buffing out the rust with sandpaper or a similar abrasive, then repainting — preferably in two layers with a rust-inhibiting primer followed by a moisture-resistant, scratch-resistant paint.

Learn More About Wrought Iron Door Cleaning

If you need to know more about caring for a wrought-iron door or you have problems beyond what you can resolve on your own, then it may be time to call in the assistance of an expert. The team at Scardino Doors can help you restore and repair your door to pristine condition and help you safeguard it against further damage.

To discover more about our wrought iron doors, reach out to the team at Scardino Doors — call us at 404-999-5273 or contact us online today!