Best Way to Clean Metal Roll-Up Doors or Storage Doors
Dirty, chalky or grimy doors can detract from the curb appeal of your facility. How to safely clean your storage doors without getting water into the units.
Customers tend to rent from facilities that look clean and well cared for. Curb appeal is an important factor when customers are considering where to keep their treasures.
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Even if your doors are new or are in good shape and are not extremely oxidized or faded, dust and grime can make your property look uncared for. After time, the paint on your doors can fade and chalk. Customers do not appreciate this chalky oxidation that can get on their hands and dirty their clothes.
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A good cleaning can improve the look of your entire facility. Care must be taken not to get water in the unit as your customers have cardboard boxes just inches from the door and waterlogged boxes do not make customers happy.
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Power washing or pressure washing is not recommended for cleaning roll-up doors because most doors do not have seals that will keep water out of the units. Water under pressure, even with a nozzle on a garden hose can get water in the unit. Care must be taken to avoid the opening above the door and the "C" channels on the edges.
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The safest way to clean the doors is by hand with mild soap and water with soft-bristled brushes on poles or with microfiber towels with plain water. Rinse with a soft spray of a hose or just let the water run down the door. Make sure to rinse off all cleaners completely.
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Just like washing a car, if possible, wash your doors in the shade to avoid water spots.
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If the doors are chalky, the chalk should be removed. Your doors will look better and your customers will appreciate not getting chalk on their clothes and hands.
Metal Building and Door Cleaning Directions:
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Cleaning a roll-up storage door is simple and easy to do. Rinse off any heavy dust or dirt with a hose, being careful not to get water into the unit.
Use microfiber towel and plain water in a bucket. Wet the microfiber and wring out. Fold into a pad. Start at the top and wipe across each rib. Re-fold the cloth to have a clean surface and rinse often. Most of the grime and light chalk will wipe off easily. If there is heavy chalk, Prep Pads will make your job easier by cutting through the chalk without scratching the surface. If residue is left on the door, wash off with brush on a pole and EZ-Prep Cleaning solution and rinse with plain water.
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A Storage Door Cleaning Kit will clean about 50 or more storage doors. Includes 5 large Microfiber Cleaning Cloths, 2 Prep Pads for removing marks or stains, a Cleaning Brush with soft bristles for cleaning and a Quart of EZ-Prep Cleaning Concentrate ( mix 1 oz. per gallon of water) for a final wash.
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It is a good idea to wash one of the doors on an empty unit first to ensure water does not get in the unit.
Rinsing the door by letting the water run down instead of spraying, helps to insure that there is less chance of water getting into the unit. This also reduces the chance that the dirt on top of the door will run down and contaminate your clean surface.
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DIRECTIONS FOR WASHING WITH THE BRUSH
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Fill bucket with about 2 to 4 gallons of water.
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Pour in about 1-2 oz. per gallon of EZ-Prep Cleaning Concentrate into the bucket. Do not use too much cleaner or the solution will be difficult to rinse off.
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Rinse the surface down with water. DO NOT apply soap solution on a dry surface or it may streak.
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Dip brush or sponge into soap solution and apply to surface working from top to bottom. It is not necessary to press hard. Use uniform strokes and go all the way across the door if possible.
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Rinse well. DO NOT ALLOW SOAP TO DRY ON SURFACE. Wash in sections if necessary.
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Rinse THOROUGHLY until the water sheets off and there are no bubbles or areas where the water beads up. If there are, rewash the door. Complete and thorough rinsing is very important.
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Let dry and recheck door. Make sure there is no cleaner or other contaminants left on the surface. Check the top of the roll-up doors to make sure that no greasy dirt ran down on the door. If it has, the residue must be removed and can be cleaned off with a clean microfiber and plain water.
Here is a picture of greasy dirt that ran down from the top of the door. This needs to be wiped off. Use plain water and a clean cloth to remove the residue. Check after the area dries to insure the residue is gone.
WHAT IF THE DOORS ARE STILL DULL AND FADED?
Everbrite Coating will restore the color and luster of faded doors to look new again and will protect the metal from sun fading, corrosion and oxidation. Everbrite Coating has restored over a hundred thousand doors to look new again and can restore yours too.
