How to Maintain Iron Doors | Wrought Iron Doors

Wrought iron doors can add a touch of character and elegance to your home. Their many benefits make them an excellent choice for both interior and exterior doors. However, to ensure their longevity, it is essential that you clean and maintain iron doors properly.

How to Clean and Maintain Iron Doors

Dust
Create a Soapy Mixture Using a Mild Cleanser
Wash and Rinse
Dry with a Soft Cloth or Sponge
Look for Spots of Rust
Remove Rust Spots
Prime and Paint
Regularly Oil Hinges

Regular cleaning and maintenance are required with every interior and exterior iron door. The frequency of cleaning and maintenance will vary based on the climate your home is located. Humid climates, especially those in coastal regions where saltwater is in the air, will require more frequent cleaning and maintenance to keep wrought iron doors in peak condition.

What is an Iron Door?

While wooden doors are made from wood, iron doors use iron as the primary material. Wrought iron is incredibly durable and long-lasting. Prefabricated iron doors come in many different styles, from a single door with a transom to double iron doors. Iron doors come in a variety of styles to fit your home's architectural style. Most of the time, iron doors will be hollow and filled with insulating foam. However, you can also get a custom iron door made from solid iron panels if you're looking for added security.

Why Choose an Iron Door?

When homeowners are trying to add a touch of luxury or sophistication to their home, wrought iron security doors are often the door of choice. Iron French doors have long been associated with strength and value, and today's market is no different. The elegant design of an iron entry door can quickly boost your home's curb appeal. Not only are they visually appealing, but their distinct look helps your home stand out from others, making a strong impression on all who come to your home. Additionally, iron doors can last a lifetime if properly cared for.

Are Iron Doors Secure?

Iron doors are some of the best front doors for home security due to the nature of iron. Iron is heavy, sturdy, and durable, making it hard to break. Some wooden doors are penetrable, but iron doors are nearly indestructible. Additionally, there is a distinct sound when iron front doors are struck. Both of these factors will deter thieves from breaking into your home. This is why wrought iron front entry doors and iron storm doors are growing in popularity amongst homeowners.

Are Iron Doors Energy-Efficient?

Many homeowners are surprised to find that iron doors are energy-efficient. Iron doors can absorb a substantial amount of heat, blocking it from entering your home in the summer or escaping during the winter. Polyurethane foam, found in most iron doors, further enhances this insulation while providing added security. Additionally, the glass panel often used in iron door designs is low-emissivity insulated glass that reflects heat while still letting natural light enter your home.

Energy efficiency can also be enhanced with a thermal break in the door jamb and proper weather stripping, whether you have iron double doors or a single iron door.

Are Iron Doors Durable?

Iron has been used as a building material for centuries, lasting through the ages, thanks to iron's durability. Because wrought iron is such a durable material, it is an ideal material to be used with iron entry doors. Not only is the material hard to penetrate, but it can easily withstand the elements as well. With the proper installation, an iron door for your home's entryway can protect your home's interior from water damage, hurricane-force winds, flying debris, and even fire.

Beautiful Iron Doors For Your Home

Wrought iron doors are available in many different styles and add a beautiful aesthetic to any space. These beautiful doors are quickly becoming popular additions to new homes and are commonly used in remodeling projects.

Rustica offers several iron door styles for both the inside and outside of your home. If you're looking for a majestic look, consider the Manor Double Iron Door. On the other hand, if you're looking for exterior iron doors with added security, look to the Alley Vineyard Exterior Door.

When it comes to the inside of your home, there are several options for iron glass doors, including the Orchard Single Pocket Door and the Veranda Interior Door. We also offer several iron wine room doors, such as the Lander Wine Room Door. Any of these styles can enhance the overall look and feel of your home.

How to Clean and Maintain Iron Doors

Once you've taken the leap and purchased an iron door, you must know how to clean and maintain it if you want to get the full life out of your door. Iron security doors are relatively low maintenance, especially if you clean them regularly. Here's what you need to know about cleaning and maintaining your iron doors, an iron gate, or iron railings:

1. Dust

Once you install your iron door, be sure to add it to your regular dusting routine. Many homeowners only focus on the actual wiping down of their iron doors, but regular dusting is equally important. Why? Studies have shown that most dust contains water-soluble salts that can lead to metal corrosion. Iron is a metal, which means dust sitting on your iron door could attract moisture that will eventually lead to corrosion and rusting. Therefore, it is important to dust your door regularly.

2. Create a Soapy Mixture Using a Mild Cleanser

It's best to wipe down your iron doors once a month apart from regular dusting. Doing this will help keep your door looking new and helps you catch rust as early as possible.
When you wipe down your iron door, it is important to use a soapy mixture made using a mild cleanser. While you can purchase a special cleaner for iron doors, you can just as easily make a DIY version by mixing warm water and a teaspoon of liquid castile soap or a vegetable-based soap.

Always be sure that you use a mild cleanser. Using any kind of caustic cleaners, like a surface spray, window cleaner, or other harsh chemicals, will permanently alter your iron door's finish.

3. Wash and Rinse

Once your mixture is ready, get a soft, lint-free cloth damp with the soapy mixture and wipe down your iron door. Ensuring your cloth is damp and not soaking wet will help minimize the amount of water that is actually making contact with your iron door.

When it comes to wiping down your door, the most effective way is to work your way from the top of the door to the bottom. Starting at the top will help keep any dust or dirty water from falling on already cleaned surfaces. If you can't reach the top of your door, your best option is to use a small stool or stepladder.

Once you have completely wiped down your iron door, it is essential to rinse off the door. This can be done using clean, warm water with a cup, or you can simply use a garden hose. Whichever method you choose, the objective is to remove all of the soapy mixture from your iron door. Any mixture left behind could leave a soapy residue on your iron door, which could eventually lead to discoloration.

4. Dry with a Soft Cloth or Sponge

Water is one of the biggest enemies of metal doors since it is one of the main culprits of rusting. Therefore, you want to dry your iron door off right away. The best way to do this is to use another dry soft, lint-free cloth or a soft sponge to remove all the water from your door. Ensuring your iron door is completely dry will help protect your iron door's finish and keep it from rusting.

5. Look for Spots of Rust

If your iron door is relatively new, simply wiping it down, rinsing, and drying should be all that you need to do. As your iron door begins to age, though, you'll want to start looking for signs of rust or corrosion.

You can inspect your door visually by merely looking over the entire door. However, it can help to run your hand along the door to feel for any bumps or irregularities in the door's surface. Once you notice rust, you want to take care of it right away to prevent further damage.

6. Remove Rust Spots

Finding signs of rust will happen from time to time with any iron door, especially exterior doors exposed to the elements. All rust should be taken care of right away to protect the door from further damage. There are a couple of ways to remove rust from iron doors.

One way is to use a wire brush to scrape the rust off of the door carefully. Another way is to use sandpaper or a grinder to remove the rust. If the rust is on a small, detailed part of the door, it can be helpful to use a detail sander to ensure that all rust is removed.

7. Prime and Paint

After the rust is removed from the door, you want to make sure that you get all sanding dust removed from the door. This will help prevent new rust areas and ensure that the door is ready to be properly primed and painted. The best way to do this is to clean your iron door again using the steps listed above.

Once the surface of the door is dust-free, it's time to prime the door. When you prime your iron door, you want to make sure that you use a specially designed primer that includes a rust-inhibiting compound. This works to prevent the door from rusting in the future. To fully protect your door, you want to make sure to cover the entire surface of the door. For detailed doors, use a small paintbrush to ensure the primer covers the entire surface, even little crevices.

Make sure to follow the instructions for the specific primer you choose to use on your iron door, keeping in mind that drying time will vary depending on the manufacturer and humidity levels.

Once the primer is dry, you can paint your iron door using a metal paint color. Avoid any smudging by letting the paint dry for at least 48 hours before using the door. After the door is dry, you'll have a door that looks both fresh and new. It's best to do this type of maintenance work during a warmer time of the year so the paint is able to properly dry.

8. Regularly Oil Hinges

While looking new and fresh is great, it's just as important that your door works great too. In order to keep your door from creaking when opening, you will want to regularly oil the hinges of your iron door or iron screen door.

Simply locate the hinges on the door jamb and put a bit of oil on the hinges to keep them moving smoothly. This can be an aerosol like WD-40 or any other type of door hinge oil. Just be sure to always have a clean, soft, lint-free cloth on hand to clean any excess oil quickly. You want to make sure you wipe the excess before it runs.

You can oil the hinge with the door hanging, but to get the best results, you'll want to remove the hinge pins. Simply remove the pins one at a time, oil the pin, and then put it back into place. This process is critical in humid climates and coastal regions that have high salt content in the air. By keeping your hinges oiled, your iron door will continue working like new, even at 100 years old!

How to Open Iron Doors in Minecraft

For all the Minecraft fans who landed on our page by mistake, we'll let you in on a little secret. Iron doors are designed to keep Minecraft monsters from getting into your building. In order to get through one, you need to find a button made from stone, a lever, or a redstone torch. You can also look for a wood or stone pressure plate to open iron doors. Good luck!

Iron Doors are a Low Maintenance Option for a Luxurious Look

Like any other door, iron doors do require some maintenance. But, the maintenance required is quick and easy. All you need is a soapy mixture, soft cloth, and ladder, and you're good to go. While maintenance is easy, the best part is that the beauty of iron doors can increase your home's curb appeal, adding a touch of regal to your home.

Whether you are shopping for a wrought iron door for your front entry door, looking for a unique option for your interior doors, or are shopping for wine cellar doors, Rustica.com has several styles to choose from. We also offer custom iron doors created by an artisan to get the iron door that will match your home's architectural style.
Now that you know how easy it is to take care of an iron door, all that's left to do is find the perfect style for your next door.