You’ve taken the time to decide on the style, design, and finish of your new door handles, put them on, and they look great. Now you want to keep them looking like new, but what’s the best way to care for and clean them?
External door handles may need a different type of care and maintenance than those used on the interior, however they need not be time consuming or expensive to maintain. The finish of the door handle or handle will determine the most appropriate type of product to keep it clean and functional.
stainless steel
NEVER use wire wool or carbon steel brushes to clean stainless steel door handles and pulls; this can damage the surface and allow particles to become embedded in the surface and cause rust or other corrosion. Warm water, mild detergent, and a soft cloth are all you really need to keep your stainless steel clean, and be sure to dry it thoroughly after cleaning to avoid watermarks. For more stubborn marks any non-scratch household abrasive cleaner should do the trick, again be sure to rinse and dry well!
polished brass
While you may have spent hours helping your grandparents polish their fireplace set, when it comes to door handles, the best way to keep your polished brass door furniture looking shiny is simply with water. warm soapy water and a soft cloth. All polished brass hobs we supply have been treated with a special lacquer, and using metal polishes or other abrasive cleaners will damage this and cause it to wear much faster than it would with normal use. Eventually, after a few years of use, this lacquer can crack, at which point you should remove the handle or pull the door and treat it with an acetone thinner applied with a soft brush. Dry thoroughly with a soft cloth, then polish with a metal polish. Regular polishing thereafter will keep them looking great.
Chrome
Nice and easy, and low maintenance, the best way to keep your chrome handles looking good is to dust them off and give them a quick wash with the proven combination of soft cloth and warm soapy water. Be sure to dry thoroughly afterwards with a lint-free cloth or towel. An occasional wipe with a light oil will also help maintain the appearance of your handles. Do not use metal polishes or any type of abrasive cleaner.
antique black
Although often coated with tough finishes, iron-based products will always be susceptible to rust. To reduce the likelihood of this happening, be sure to remove any harmful deposits that could lead to corrosion, and clean the door handle from time to time with a light oil applied with a soft cloth.
If you can avoid doing the following, you will help extend the life of your door handles:
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Do not hang excessive weight from the handle, eg full shopping bags.
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Do not allow children to hang on or play with the handle.
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Do not use the handle as a doorstop against a wall; it’s much better to install a doorstop to keep your door handle from hitting the wall (you can find some great ones here).
So, to keep your door handles, door pulls and door furniture looking like new, a few minutes of cleaning and care every two months will have a significant impact on the long-term maintenance requirements of your products. .
