How to Clean External Bifold Doors

Cleaning the Glass on External Bifold Doors

Cleaning windows can be a tedious task. The repetition and arm ache is enough to make anyone give up eventually, but if you want your bifold doors to look the part, stand up to harsh weather conditions and last a great length of time, a good clean of your glass is essential.

Many of us focus on the inside, what with all the mucky fingerprints and dust, but the outside is just as important, if not, a little more important, and every-so-often requires a little TLC.

Cleaning the glass in your bifold door is pretty self explanatory; a simple glass cleaner and kitchen roll will do the trick on days when you need to get it done quickly.

If you have a little more time on your hands and want to give the glass a proper clean up, try cleaning the glass with vinegar. Mix rubbing alcohol with vinegar and warm water to create a window-friendly and streak-free solution. The amounts depend on the size of the glass, however for outdoor and bifold door glass, we’d suggest you go a little heavier with the vinegar. Especially if it’s your first time using this solution as it’ll help break through all the grime.

White distilled vinegar is a natural ingredient, and therefore is animal and child-friendly. It also has non-toxic and antibacterial properties making it the perfect solution for cleaning glass and frames. Luckily, the vinegar smell fades quickly but this shouldn’t be a problem on an external door, anyway!

The Best Way to Clean Glass

Using the method above, we’d suggest placing the mixture into an empty spray bottle. This is a great technique as you have more control over the amount you use, the placement and you won’t have to worry about your hands smelling like vinegar!

For wiping the glass, newspaper will work well although a lint-free microfibre towel would be best. If you don’t have a lint-free towel then using kitchen roll will do the job, you just need to ensure that fibres aren’t being left on the glass. Work the towel in circular motions and concentrate on any areas that have tough dirt or stains.

Use a microfibre cloth, in downward motions, to remove any moisture. To ensure a streak-free window, dry your glass as quickly as possible, as soon as you’ve finished cleaning it with the vinegar solution would be best.

Cleaning the Frames of External Bifold Doors

The frames of your external bifold doors need a little attention, and, depending on the material used for your frames, will require certain products and certain methods to achieve a clean and well-cared for door frame. What works for one type of material won't necessarily work for another, so knowing which is the best solution for your external door frames is key.

Cleaning your door frame not only makes the external frames look nice, it also improves the longevity of your doors by removing any harmful bacteria and animal droppings which could corrode the frame if left uncleaned.

How to Clean Aluminium Doors

Aluminium is quite a sensitive material and so it’s best to use a soft sponge or cloth for cleaning the frames. At most, you can use a natural bristle brush but nothing harsher than this as you’ll start to scratch away at the aluminium and it's protective coating.

For dirt and grime, a hose pipe is a good way to encourage any residue to loosen without having to scrub at it. For cleaning solutions, we’d recommend a cream based solution or a cleaner solution created for aluminium frames. However, if your aluminium bifold door isn’t particularly dirty, and just needs a wipe over, then a basic detergent solution should do the trick.

Make sure to avoid cleaners that have chlorine, ketones and hydrocarbons in and always do a patch test first if you’re using the cleaner for the first time.

How to Clean Wooden External Doors

Cleaning a wooden door is pretty easy and can be done with warm soapy water and a soft, non-abrasive sponge or cloth, simply wiping over the frames and pat away any excess water with a microfibre cloth.

To finish, a polish using liquid furniture polish is great for protecting the wood and adding a lovely shine to the surface.

How to Clean uPVC BIfold Doors

To clean uPVC bifold door frames, a simple solution of fairy liquid and warm water will do the trick. Wipe your frames down with a soft cloth or sponge and dry with a clean and dry cloth or kitchen roll.

Avoid using cream cleaner solutions, and scouring pads and wire pads as they’ll remove the glossy finish on the uPVC.

In Summary

Cleaning external bifold doors isn’t a regular, and time constraining task, however it’s important that you give the glass and windows and good clean every so often so that they look good, it also helps improve lightflow thoughout your home.

When first installing your external bifold doors, it’s a good idea to treat the frames, especially if they’re wood, to ensure they’re well protected from the elements.

It’s not only the outside that you need to consider though. The inside of your bifold doors also needs caring for and treating, so make sure you’ve given the inside just as much thought and care to ensure your bifold doors are around for many years to come!