Maintaining the cleanliness and style of your door handles and door knobs is just as important as the functionality they provide. Perhaps you have noticed a build-up of dirt on your handle or the beginnings of some tarnishing?
Our experts here at Door Handle Store have curated an easy guide on cleaning door handles and door knobs. In addition, our guide covers how to clean door handles for the most prevalent finishes we use to craft our handles; this includes:
Our article will outline everything you need to know, from the supplies you will need and advice on removing stubborn grime or stains. You will not need to purchase any expensive products or tools; we will show you how to clean your door handles by simply using everyday household items and a little bit of elbow grease.
It is a much easier process than it may seem, and by following our easy tips, you will have sparkling, beautiful handles and stylish doors again in no time at all.
Have you noticed your handles looking a little tarnished? When your handles or knobs become tarnished, their surface can look darker, dull, and appear to have lost their lustre. Tarnishing results from a build-up of a layer of corrosion on the outermost layer of the handle due to a chemical reaction; this may result from exposure to humid air, water, or chemicals.
Taken from the late Middle English language, "to tarnish" stems from the French term "terne", which means dark and dull.
Tarnished door handles may result in a messier look, causing many to become disheartened. It often affects brass, chrome, steel, and nickel door handles, but thankfully, cleaning tarnished handles is not as difficult as you may think.
It doesn't matter if you have door handles on backplate or door handles on rose. Before you grab your gloves and start cleaning, it is worth considering the makeup of your handles.
Brass, steel, and zinc are some of the most prevalent materials used to construct door handles. Each metal will require a different cleaning method, so it is essential to recognise the makeup of your handles to ensure that you do not cause any scratches or damage to your handles.
In addition, rough polishing or using strong chemicals may cause damage to your hardware by affecting the plating of the decorative finish.
Some door handles or door knobs may also have a coating or lacquer protecting the metal; this is particularly common with brass door handles.
Should your handles have a high shine, glossy finish, they likely have a clear coating to protect the metal underneath.
Coated or lacquered brass door handles can suffer easily from damage caused by keys or jewellery. You will notice this damage appearing as minor cuts or marks on the surface; these will allow air to tarnish the metal underneath.
The best way to maintain lacquered brass door handles is to gently clean the handle with a soft cloth and warm water before adding a light coating of natural wax to give these handles some extra protection. With these handles, it is best not to use harsh chemicals or harsh materials such as steel wool, as this will cause damage.
Internal and external door handles require different levels of care: your internal handles will be easier to maintain as they are shielded from severe weather conditions, whereas your external handles are constantly exposed and will most likely pick up dirt, stains, and any marks easier than your internal handles.
We often put great effort into maintaining the interiors of our homes, constantly cleaning our furniture, and hoovering our floors - but we often forget to care for the outside of our homes.
Your external doors are often the first thing a visitor will see when visiting your home. It is thus essential to give it the same level of care as you would your interior handles.
With their constant exposure to the elements, your external door handles are more likely to attract marks and stains easier than interior door handles. As a result, you may find your handles will need a little TLC.
We know it may be confusing to know exactly how to keep external door handles clean, but considering our previous tips, we are confident you will have your handles in pristine condition in no time.
For external door handles, consider the materials:
As with any cleaning project, you need to own the right tools for the job. As before, do not forget to note the material of your external door handle. The last thing you will want to do is make the handle worse! Usually, the door handle, letterbox, door knockers and lock will be the same type of metal.
Whether your external handle is solid brass, chrome, pewter or even a plastic PVC door handle, a simple method of cleaning your exterior handle is to keep it gentle.
There are several things to avoid when cleaning your door handles. To reap the many benefits of cleaning your handles, you should avoid these.
As interior door handles need extra care, follow our in-depth guide below:
Intended to be polished, silver and shiny, Chrome finishes are easy to keep clean. There is a simple method to clean chrome door handles, which will take no time to complete. Check out our instructions below to restore your beautiful chrome handles to their original glory.
Brass door handles and doorknobs are prominent features throughout period properties. Unfortunately, solid brass handles or handles with brass plating are also inclined to tarnish over time.
Fortunately, if you are willing to put in some elbow grease, cleaning brass door handles is easy and an excellent method to keep tarnishing at bay.
There are several solutions to clean brass door handles which we will take you through. You can also follow these methods for cleaning copper handles.
A popular solution to clean brass is to combine simple household products you likely have in your kitchen cupboards into a paste to apply to your handles or door knobs. Follow our steps below to find out more.
If you are cleaning an Antique Brass handle or door knob, be careful not to buff them too hard as you may damage the finish!
A similar method, but perhaps a slightly more straightforward method to clean brass handles, is to use a lemon.
The following method of cleaning brass handles sounds strange, but it is highly effective. All you need is a bottle of tomato ketchup, and you can get clean brass handles in no time.
We know it sounds unusual to use tomato sauce as a cleaning aid, but tomato sauce has an acidic content of approximately 4% due to vinegar added to it. This acid helps dissolve dirt, grease and any stains on the surface whilst also acting as an abrasive, assisting in the removal of any residue which may be left behind.
Satin Nickel handles have fast become some of our bestsellers. We craft their popular finish by placing a nickel layer over zinc, providing a robust and durable finish to your handles.
You can easily maintain their subtle glossy finish through gentle cleaning. Here is the best, simplest method we recommend.
Stainless steel handles are amongst the most robust handles on the market. Often used on doors in commercial, industrial, and residential properties, they must be kept clean.
Cleaning stainless steel handles can be difficult, but you can avoid damage and restore life to your handles when provided with accurate information.
Perhaps the easiest and safest way to clean your stainless-steel door furniture is by using a damp cloth to wipe down the handles and then using warm, clean water to rinse them off.
With their bright finish, you may notice your handles have some stubborn dirt or marks on them. Mixing equal parts of white vinegar and olive oil and applying them to your handle will do the trick.
For extra finesse, incorporate these quick tips to enhance the beauty and shine of your handles:
With high quality products and considerate service, we will work together with you to enhance your business and improve the efficiency. Please don't hesitate to contact us to get more details of Zinc Door Handle.