How To Clean A Louvered Door [3 Effective Methods]

Have you noticed that your louvered door is becoming dusty or discolored? Are you wondering what the best techniques are to clean the door? Well, we found the answer for you! We checked out the best techniques to clean louvered doors, and in this post, we will share them with you.

Here are ways you can use to clean your louvered door:

1. Use soapy water
2. Dust the door
3. Use wood cleaner

Cleaning louvered doors is fairly easy to do. It's best to first take a look at the door to determine which method is needed. For example, there are times where the door may need a simple dusting and other times where it may need a more thorough cleaning. Continue reading to learn about the different methods and how to perform them.

 

Methods to Clean Louvered Doors

You may find that your louvered doors quickly become dusty in rooms that are frequented often or that have a lot of open windows. The below methods will go over how to approach louvered doors for both light and deep cleaning.

Things you'll need for these methods:

• Cleaning cloths
• Mild soap
• Duster
• Wood cleaner (such as Murphy's Oil Soap)
• Handheld vacuum
• Putty knife
• Wood cleaner
• Dish soap
• 2-gallon bucket

Technique 1. Use soapy water

1. This method works best for especially dirty doors. Start by filling your two-gallon bucket with about a gallon of water. Next, pour a small amount of mild soap in the water and swish it around in your hand so that it's evenly distributed.
2. Next, dip your cleaning cloth into the water and wring it out. Apply the cloth to the top of the door and clean around the outside border. After cleaning the border on one side, go to the other side and clean it as well.
3. Next, lay your cleaning cloth on a flat surface and then place a putty knife on top of it. Then, fold the cleaning cloth over the putty knife so that the metal is completely covered, but the handle is free.
4. Use the putty knife to clean between the louvers on the door. Start at the top of the door and work your way to the bottom using left to right is sweeping motions. 
5. Afterward, wipe the stained area with a cleaning cloth and put the stain is lifted.
6. Next, replace the soapy water in your cleaning bucket with fresh water and use it to wipe down your door again with the cleaning cloth. Be sure to ring at the cloth out thoroughly, as you don't want too much water on the wooden doors. And that's it!

Take a look at this putty knife on Amazon.

Technique 2. Use a duster or handheld vacuum

If your door doesn't have caked-up dirt or grime, simply dusting it may suffice. You can use a few different items to dust your louvered doors. For example, you can use a feather duster, a pair of pantyhose, or a handheld vacuum for this task.

1. To start, grab your dusting tool and dust around the border of the louvered door. After you have finished one side, go around and dust the other side's border.
2. Next, grab your dusting tool and, starting at the top of the door, dust in between the slates. If you have a handheld vacuum, you may want to change the attachment to the thinnest one possible or one with a brush to get in between the slated area. If you're using a set of pantyhose, you can wrap the pantyhose in a putty knife to get in between the slates as well.
3. After you've dusted the door, it helps to go back over it with a dust lint-free cleaning cloth to eliminate any dust that may have risen and settled back on the door after the cleaning.

Check out this cleaning cloth on Amazon.

Technique 3. Use wood cleaner

If your louvered doors are not painted, a wood cleaner will work best to keep them clean. For example, Murphys Oil Soap is a great wood cleaner to consider.

Find Murphy's Oil Soap on Amazon.

1. Start by dusting your door using a feather duster, vacuum, or another dusting tool. This will remove any surface dust and prevent it from caking up when you apply your cleaner. Next, pour your wood cleaner into a two-gallon bucket and fill it with warm water.
2. Take your cleaning cloth, dip it in the bucket and clean the borders of the door. After cleaning the first side go back and clean the second side of the door.
3. Next, similar to the previous method, take a putty knife or another flat object with a handle and wrap your cleaning cloth around it.
4. Then take the cloth and, starting at the top of the door, clean the louvers from left to right, removing any grime or dirt. If there are stains on the door, consider using either diluted vinegar or mild dish soap to remove them.
5. Afterward, dump the cleaning solution and replace it with fresh water. Then wipe the door down to remove any remnants of the solution. Be sure to wring out the cleaning cloth thoroughly to avoid wetting the door too heavily, as this can cause mold issues.

Check out this 2-gallon bucket on Amazon.

How often should you clean doors?

The frequency at which you clean your doors will depend on a few things, but generally, once a week should suffice. The most important factors include the location of the doors, the frequency in which they're used, and whether or not they're interior doors.

Generally, interior doors may not need to be cleaned as often as exterior doors as they aren't exposed to outside elements such as dust, outside dirt, and precipitation. However, if you have a large household, small children, or pets, you may find that the interior doors need to be cleaned two or three times a week, depending on their appearance.

How do I keep dust off my door?

There are several ways to help minimize the amount of dust on your doors. Let's look at the most common ways.

Increase pet cleanliness

Dead hair, dander, and skin cells are the biggest dust contributors. Unfortunately, pets can contribute more to the buildup of dust in your home and on your doors. Try to groom your pet regularly to prevent the accumulation of dust.

Keep the windows closed

Opening windows to allow fresh air into your home a bad idea, but it can be the culprit of dust accumulation in your home. Try to keep the windows closed on days that are particularly windy to reduce the amount of dust that enters your rooms. And when you do open the window, only open it a few inches if it doesn't have a screen on it.

Clean the floors more often

Whether you have hardwood floors or carpeting, cleaning the floors at least once a week can help minimize the amount of dust in your home and, as a result, the amount of dust on your doors. It helps to know that carpets hold more dust than wood. So, if you're looking for the best flooring to minimize this issue, hard floor surfaces such as wood, stone, tile, or vinyl are great options to consider.

Read more about this floor cleaner on Amazon.

Reduce static electricity

The lack of humidity often causes static electricity levels to rise, and as a result, it can lead to the accumulation of dust. The solution? Consider installing a humidifier in your home, specifically in the rooms where dust seems to accumulate on the doors more often. Keeping your humidity levels at about 40% to 50% can help keep dust levels to a minimum.

Learn more about this humidifier on Amazon.

What's the point of louvers?

Louvers provide excellent airflow due to their design. They're great for providing ventilation in tightly closed areas, which can help prevent musty smells or excessive humidity. They're also perfect for providing semi-private areas in rooms such as bathrooms, changing rooms, and laundry rooms.

Read more about this louvered door on Amazon.

Are shutters the same as louvered doors?

Not necessarily. Shutters are not doors. They are window dressings that can go on the outside of windowpanes. However, these can be used to cover cabinet areas or any interior spaces inside of a home. Their similar to louvered doors in that they have louvers, but they do not function as doors.

Wrapping Things Up

We hope that this post has helped illustrate how to clean louvered doors. The best way to clean louvered doors depends on whether or not the doors are painted and the level of cleaning that the door requires. If the door requires a deep cleaning, soapy water or wood cleaner is maybe the best option. But if the door is simply dusty, using a duster or handheld vacuum may work best.

Before you go, be sure to check out our other posts:

Are Louvered Doors Out Of Style?

Should Kitchen And Bathroom Cabinets Match?