White wooden doors go with every style, from traditional to contemporary, and the color white conveys cleanliness and simplicity.

White doors are stunning, but they show dirt frequently, especially in the sections that encounter unclean shoes and grubby fingers around the doorknob and the bottom of the door.
Luckily, how to clean doors isn't too challenging and can be done with a few ingredients from around the home.

In our guide, you can learn the most effective and cost-effective ways how to clean white wood doors, no matter the location around your home. By the end, you'll see how easy it is to come up with an effective door cleaner rather than breaking out a new can of paint. (Read How To Get Rid Of Rose Bushes)

Guide how to clean white wood doors

How Do I Clean a Painted Interior Door?

Cleaning your interior doors, including those you use the most, such as the pantry or bedroom doors, may appear difficult, but it's actually fairly simple. Here are some quick tips on how to clean interior doors.

Use a duster, soft cloth, or a vacuum with a nozzle attachment to dust the top edge of the door frame.

Clean the frame around the door with a rag and a spot cleaner to eliminate smudges and fingerprints. You can alternatively do this by gently cleaning the frame with a sponge after mixing a bucket of warm water with soap. Using a soft cloth, dry the frame.

Wipe the door with warm, soapy water from top to bottom, including the narrow inside corners of the door, and dry fully with a soft cloth.

Using a cloth and a spray cleaner, clean the door handles. If your door has brass fixtures, you can purchase a brass cleaner or prepare your own with 1/2 cup vinegar and 2 tablespoons salt.

Consider using a solution like Murphy's Oil Soap on varnished wood interior doors. Wipe down the door's surface in the grain's direction, then wipe with a towel to remove any excess cleaner. Your doors will make gleaming and fresh because of this.

If your interior doors are painted, wipe them down with a mixture of warm water and soap or an all-purpose cleaner from top to bottom. To make sure you don't remove any paint, clean a small spot before wiping the entire door.

How Do You Clean White Painted Wood?

Cleaning a white-painted door is like cleaning any white-painted wood. Stick to cleaning the wood with warm soapy water, and soft sponge, and a microfiber cloth.

Cleaning products containing harsh chemicals like bleach and ammonia can strip paint from wooden surfaces.

Dry any cleaned wood with a dry towel and wipe it with non-soapy water. Dry the wood with a dry towel after using a dry cloth to make sure it doesn't rub off the paint.

Ways to Clean White Painted Wood

Basic Painted Wood Cleaning Process

  1. Mix 1/2-cup of all-purpose cleaner, white vinegar, or wood cleaner with 1/2-cup water and add to a spray bottle.
  2. Begin to spray the wood surface with the mixture, do small areas to prevent water from running too much.
  3. Scrub the surface with a soft sponge using a circular motion and go right to the edges.
  4. Rinse the sponge, then wring it out, and wipe the wood again to remove the cleanser.
  5. Dry the cabinet with a soft towel or rag.

How Can I Make My Door White Again?

There are several reasons why a white door will become yellow, as does interior glass. The first reason is always due to smoke damage.

It may have come from a fireplace, wood stove, or even a wood furnace with a partially open chimney. Tobacco smoke is another source of smoke damage.

Even if no one in your household smokes, white paint and glass appear to attract smoke like a magnet. Another reason your doors may become discolored over time is because of interior sprays.

Air fresheners, furniture polish, hair spray, and other sprays fall under this category and quickly accumulate on wood, glass, or anywhere where the blow of air pushes them.

Paint Cleaner Formulation

  • 1/3 cup of gentle liquid dish soap
  • 1 cup of ordinary automotive window wash liquid
  • 1/3 cup of a liquid cleaner
  • 1 shot glass of white vinegar
  • 1 cup of glass cleaner
  • 1/2 gallon of water

Mix the components.

In a large mixing bowl, mix the ingredients listed above to make the cleaner. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle once it has been completely combined. If required, save the cleaner's unused portion for subsequent use.

Conduct a test on the cleaner.

Using a soft, lint-free cloth, spray a tiny amount of the cleaner. The cloth should be slightly damp, not completely saturated. To see if there is an unfavorable reaction, rub the cleaner on an inconspicuous area of your door.

Cleanse with the cleaner.

Apply sure you have a pail of warm, clean water ready before you apply the cleaner so you can rinse the cloth or sponge out as needed. Using a sponge or a lint-free cloth, spray the cleaner on the door and begin to wash it completely.

Wash the door.

Wash the door from top to bottom, preferably starting at the top and working your way down. This will assist in preventing dirt streaks from entering an area that has recently been cleansed. Rinse the cloth or sponge and wring it dry regularly. Apply the cleaner and repeat the process.

Rinse the door.

After you've completely cleaned the door, repeat the process, but this time only using warm, clean water. This will aid in the removal of any leftover cleaner from the door.

Allow the door to dry.

Allow the door to dry completely before allowing it to be used daily. Use a clean, dry, lint-free cloth to dry the door.

Whiten A Painted Door

How Do You Whiten A Painted Door?

Use one cup of vinegar with 4 cups of water for a potent but gentle cleaning solution. Mixing vinegar with water means that it is easy to remove stubborn stains.

Disinfect and Dust

Start by removing any loose dust. Loose dust can fall onto a damp door and make it look dirtier than when you started.

A clean paintbrush works wonders for removing dirty dust from molding and trim. A clean cloth does the trick for most of the doors. (Learn How To Propagate Virginia Creeper)

Once you have finished any detailed work, you may need to wipe the door using a clean rag to remove any last dust.

Washing

Most of the dirt accumulating on painted doors results from oily fingerprints sticking to the dirt, so cleaning with water is ineffective.

A diluted solution of mild dish soap and water is strong enough to clean the door but gentle on it. 1 tbsp dishwashing liquid per gallon of water is enough to address most light marks.

Wipe down the door with a cloth or clean sponge dipped in the solution. To begin, wring out the cloth or sponge and wipe down the door's surface.

Excess water can stain painted surfaces; ensure you don't drip the solution down the door!

Using a damp, soap-free cloth, wipe the surface. To avoid drip marks, wipe the door with a clean, damp cloth and remember to wash the frame.

Tough Stains

Occasionally, soap and water alone are strong to remove stains. If dealing with stubborn stains, try a solution of distilled white vinegar and water. It costs little money and non-toxic while tough on grime. Mix 1 cup vinegar and 4 cups water to create a strong but gentle cleaning solution.

Wood Care

After cleansing your doors, some simple maintenance techniques make it easier to maintain a clean appearance in less time.

To keep new stains from settling in, dust your doors frequently and wipe them with a damp cloth. You could save a lot of time and keep your white wooden doors looking their best using the above techniques.

How To Clean White Painted Doors