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At Elite Windows, we understand that adding a composite door to your home is a significant investment. Which is why we've put together a blog to help you look after them, ensuring they stay in excellent condition for as long as possible. Unlike wood and PVCu, composite doors have been manufactured to guarantee excellent longevity, saving you from regular upkeep. Composite doors have also been designed to retain aesthetic appeal for long periods of time too.​

How to maintain your composite door

Keeping the door handle clean

Being the most used part of your door, naturally, the handle requires the most upkeep. As it's exposed to wear and tear on a daily basis, the handle's colour and material can often deteriorate. To keep your handle looking brand new, a simple clean with warm and soapy water will work just fine. Wipe down the handles using the soapy water, and then scrub it just enough to remove debris and scuff marks.' It's important that you don't use anything abrasive such as a rough sided sponge, as this will scratch the finish of your handle. Once clean, wipe down your handle with a dry cotton cloth. To retain the handle's shine, we recommend you use a PVCu polish (which can be found in your local DIY shop). Apply a thin layer of this, and the wipe down. 

Looking after your doors windows

If your composite door has windows, they are no doubt made of double or triple glazed glass. The glass itself will be fairly thick, meaning it won't easily crack or retain scratches. However, your windows will still need to be cleaned to keep their shine and transparency. To guarantee the best results, we recommend cleaning your windows with window-cleaner and a sponge or cotton cloth. Next, scrub down the glass gently and in circular motions. Once the glass is covered, remove excess moisture and clean with a dry cloth.

Cleaning the door

So, you've tackled the smaller parts of your door; now it's time to care for the actual composite door frame. The structure is made of many insulating layers, making the door sturdy, and secure. However, it's not invincible when it comes to dirt and grime. If you have a lightly coloured composite door, such as white, yellow, light blue or green, your door is prone to picking up dirt. Although your door only needs to be cleaned thoroughly once a month to keep it looking its best, when you do get round to giving your door some proper TLC, here is the guide to follow to ensure an effective composite door cleaning. 

Your composite door may be long-lasting, but it still needs to be handled with care to ensure you don't damage it through excessive handling. Soak a soft cloth in a bucket of warm and soapy water, and make sure you rinse the cloth to remove excess water. Smoothly, wipe down the door, removing grime and grit that has built up, as this debris will eventually cause problems with your door's function if not taken care of. If you come across a stubborn stain that refuses to move from scrubbing, you may need to purchase a PVCu polish. Apply this cleaner using a soapy cloth, scrubbing away at the stain until it fades. 

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Tips

Make sure you stay clear of using scouring pads, bleaches and other harsh cleaning chemicals, as these products can permanently damage the colour of your composite door. Once you've cleaned the composite frame, we advise that you tend to the locks and hinges by covering them in an oil or lubricant. Doing this monthly will keep them in full working order for longer periods, saving you money in the long-run. We hope this guide has given you an insight into the correct way to clean your composite doors. If you're looking for more help or if you would like to talk to us about our composite door range, we're more than happy to help. Get in touch.