A door is one of the hardest-working parts of your home, and a little regular care keeps it looking its best and working smoothly for years. Internal doors mostly need keeping clean and the odd check of the hinges and handles; external doors take more of a battering from the weather and need treating to stay protected. Here's a simple maintenance routine for both — cleaning, treating and the checks worth doing every few months.
Maintaining internal doors
Internal doors live an easy life compared with external ones, so keeping them in good order is mostly about cleaning and the occasional check.
Cleaning
A quick dust removes most loose dirt. For scuff marks or stubborn grime, wipe with a soft cloth and a little diluted mild soap, then dry with a soft towel — always test a hidden area first in case the finish reacts. White or painted doors that have yellowed over time usually come back with a gentle clean; avoid harsh or abrasive cleaners, which dull the finish.
To refresh a tired timber door, a hardwax oil or wax revives the colour and protects the surface. Take a look at the Treatex hardwax oils and Osmo oils for interior doors.
Hinges, seals and hardware
Every few months, check the hinges are tight to the frame and tighten any that have worked loose; replace a worn hinge rather than risk the door dropping. If the door is a fire door, check the seals around the frame are intact with no breaks. Try the handles and locks too — if a mechanism feels stiff, a little lubricant usually sorts it, and anything that won't come right is worth a professional look.
Maintaining external doors
External doors face rain, sun and frost all year, so they need a bit more attention to stay looking good and keep protecting your home.
Cleaning
Wipe the door down with a cloth and a drop of mild soap whenever it needs it — external doors pick up more dirt and marks than internal ones. On a glazed door, a window cleaner brings the glass panels up nicely. Fit external door cleaning into the same routine as your internal checks so nothing gets forgotten.
Treating and weatherproofing
The most important job on an external timber door is keeping it sealed against the weather. Re-oil or re-coat it about once a year, or whenever the finish starts to look dry — our external wood treatments, including Osmo UV Protection Oil and Impranol, are made for exactly this. A porch or canopy shelters the door and makes any finish last longer.
Draught-proofing and hardware
If you feel a draught, weatherstripping, a door sweep or a draught excluder seals the gaps and keeps the heat in. Check the external door hardware regularly for security — make sure locks, handles, seals and hinges are fitted properly, and lubricate any moving parts that are starting to stiffen or rust.
Door maintenance checklist
| Task | How often |
|---|---|
| Dust and wipe clean | As needed |
| Check hinges, handles and locks | Every few months |
| Check seals (and fire seals) | Every few months |
| Re-oil or re-coat an external timber door | Yearly, or when the finish looks dry |
| Refresh an internal timber door's oil or wax | As it needs it |
Frequently asked questions
How do you clean a wooden door?
Dust it first, then wipe with a soft cloth and a little diluted mild soap, drying it afterwards. Test a hidden area first, and avoid abrasive cleaners that can dull the finish.
How do you clean white doors that have gone yellow?
A gentle clean with a soft cloth and mild soapy water usually lifts the yellowing — steer clear of harsh cleaners. If a painted door is badly discoloured, it can be sanded back and repainted.
How often should you oil an external door?
About once a year, or whenever the finish starts to look dry — more often on a south or south-west facing door that takes the most sun and rain.
How do you maintain an external door?
Clean it when needed, keep it treated with an exterior oil or coating, check the seals, hinges and locks every few months, and shelter it with a porch or canopy where you can.
Do internal doors need much maintenance?
Not much — keep them clean, check the hinges and handles occasionally, and refresh a timber door's oil or wax when it starts to look tired.
A few minutes now and then is all it takes to keep your doors looking their best and working smoothly. If a door is past saving, it may be time for a new one — browse our external doors and internal doors, or ask our team for advice on caring for the doors you have.
Related reads
| How to treat external wood doors | Oil and protect exterior timber for the long term. |
| How to weatherproof your doors | Seal out draughts and rain. |
| Cost guide for external door replacement | When maintenance isn't enough, what a new door costs. |
