Many aspects of day to day life can cause dirt, smearing or water marks to set up camp over the glass on your sparkling new bi-fold doors and sometimes waiting for a visit from the window cleaner just isn’t an option. We have created a simple guide on how to clean your doors and allow them to dazzle, appearing as good as new, just in time for the arrival of your impeccably clean guests!
All you will need is:
- 2 dry cloths
- a sponge
- a squeegee
- washing up liquid
- glass cleaner
- a toothbrush
Dusting
You will want to start by removing the dust on your door frame and glass. Use the dry cloth to lightly dust over the surfaces and handles, encouraging the dust to fall downwards rather than up into the air and landing back on the door.
Focus points
Now is time to get into the nitty gritty. By completing the intricate work now, the results will become more satisfying as the process goes on.
If you have any noticeable stains on your glass, such as specks of mud, add a small amount of water to one of your dry cloths, allowing it to become slightly damp. Use the cloth to rub over the stained areas until they have been broken down and removed.
If you notice any staining around the handles or on the door frame, add some warm water to the toothbrush and get scrubbing! However, if your frame is metal, we recommend using the cloth with some added washing up liquid for this step to avoid any scratching from the brush.
Make sure that any remaining moisture on the framework has been wiped off with your dry cloth to avoid any staining before moving to the next step.
Wash
Now is time for the fun part. Soak your sponge in water mixed with a small amount of glass cleaner and washing up liquid. You are aiming for only a small amount of suds to appear when you wash the glass, so don’t go too heavy on the products. Wash over one panel at a time with a light pressure, allowing only a thin layer of water and product residue. You may need to spend a little extra time on certain points to get an all-over, even clean, so be sure to keep your eye out for stains or marks that don’t get removed by the sponge first time. These marks are most commonly found along the bottom of your doors where grit, mud and puddles are repeatedly splashed. By focusing on one panel at a time, you are allowing yourself enough time to wash over the glass, removing any remaining stains, before it air dries and leaves water droplet stains.
Drying
Grab your squeegee once one panel has been washed over and, starting from the top, gently drag it in a constant side-to-side motion, creating a series of ‘S’ shapes, to remove the remaining water and suds and slowly work your way down to the bottom of the door. Once at the bottom, wipe the squeegee down with the damp cloth before starting back at the top, if needed, or on the next panel.
Rotate these steps for each section of the door until they have all been dusted, washed and dried and by this stage, your entire bi-fold door will be gleaming, from the glass, to the frame, to the locks and bolts.
The track
To go one step further, you may want to pay attention to the lower track that your door slides open and closed on. For this, you will need:
- your hoover and brush attachments
- a damp cloth
You will find that a mass of dirt, dust, grit and even insects have been trapped in here over time. By simply hoovering the gaps and ridges, you will be able to remove a large amount of the debris. You may need to use your hoover attachments to get into the corners and remove any additional debris that is jammed. You can then take your damp cloth and run it up and down the track to ensure that you have removed all of the debris, leaving your tracks, as well as your doors, gleaming and appearing as good as new.
If you have any queries about cleaning your bi-fold doors, get in touch with our specialist team at Parsons Joinery and we will be happy to assist you. You can call us on 01273814870 or email us at enquiries@parsonsjoinery.com.
