With fall around the corner, it’s time to clean and prepare your front door for fall décor. Fall is a great time of year to decorate your front doorway, porch or stoop. It’s the season that marks the beginning of holiday decorating and sets the tone with themed styles for the rest of the year that your guests will love. Before you bring out all your decorations, however, it’s best to first prep the with a thorough cleaning.
Prep your door for fall décor
Our front door is quite old but I keep it looking new by cleaning and polishing it twice a year – once in the spring and again in the fall. It also becomes very weathered, especially from sun exposure. As the months go by, it starts to fade and look dull. You can even see the difference in the photo where the wreath used to be. If you have a wood-stained door, you know what I mean about needing to maintain it. You can see by the before and after photos that wood doors like this require a lot of maintenance. The before picture shows an obvious dried-out, dull looking door, while the after picture shows a shiny and rich color.
Before
After
Selecting the right materials is key to achieving a great-looking front door. I like to use a high-quality cleaner to remove all the dirt, dust, and buildup followed by a wood polish. Choose a wood polish that is oil based and matches the color of your door. For example, if your door has an oak stain, select a lighter polish. If you have a walnut stained door, select a darker polish. For this project, I’m using Old English Mineral Oil in the dark color since my door has been stained with a dark walnut color. This polish also protects and restores the wood while helping to hide scratches.
Materials and Instructions
1. Gather all of your materials
For this project you will need:
- Fox tail duster
- 2 clean dry cloths
- Sponge brush (optional)
- Disposable gloves
- Murphy Oil Soap
- Old English Mineral Oil
2. Protect your hands by wearing gloves
There are a few different types of gloves that you can use for this project, such as, rubber, vinyl, nitrile or latex. If you are sensitive latex, use hypoallergenic gloves. Otherwise, use whatever you have on hand, as long as they are functional for this type of project. More importantly, use gloves to protect your hands from the cleaner and polish.
3. Brush off dust and dirt
To remove any dust, dirt, or loose particles from the door, use a fox tail brush or a similar tool. A clean, dry paint brush will also work well. Choose a brush with soft bristles that is large enough to remove any debris. Ensure that all dust and debris are removed before proceeding to the next step.
4. Clean the door
In small sections, spray some of the Murphy Oil Soap cleaner onto the door and wipe the area with a dry cloth (a microfiber cloth or even an old cotton t-shirt works well) until the section is covered with the cleaner. Continue to spray and wipe one section at a time and wipe until the door is clean. Ensure that you wipe the door thoroughly to remove any excess cleaner. Wait a few minutes for the door to completely dry before moving to the next step.
5. Apply the polish
With your second dry cloth pour a small amount of Old English onto the cloth and apply it to the door one section at a time in even strokes.
Repeat this step until the entire door is covered, adding a little polish at a time and using a clean part of the cloth as you go. For best results, start at the top of the door and work your way down toward the bottom to ensure an even application. Once the door is fully covered with the polish, find a clean part of the cloth and give the door a final wipe to remove any excess polish or streaks.
For doors that have patterns or carved decoration, use a sponge brush to get into the creases and grooves. Apply a small amount of the polish directly unto the tip of brush and dab. Repeat until all the grooves have been coated evenly with the polish.
Pro tip: to avoid streaking, use a small amount of the polish and repeat this process one section at a time. Avoid saturating the cloth or sponge as it may not provide an even application and create drip marks or streaks.
6. Clean up
Wipe the door accessories (such door handles, and peephole) clean from any of the cleaner or polish with a paper towel (small amount of water is optional). Dispose of the cloths and gloves, and store the remaining materials in a cool, dry place.
7. Let door dry overnight
Allow the door to dry overnight and avoid touching it, as you might transfer some of the polish to your hands or clothes. You’ll notice that the door is drying when the gloss appears less wet in areas, while the rest of the door develops a sheen finish. Make sure the door is completely dry before placing any decorations.
Before
After
And there you have it – your door preparation is complete! It looks like new, with a shiny, rich color, as if it received a fresh coat of stain. However, it didn’t — it was the magic of cleaning and polishing. You will want to repeat this process again in 6 months as over time, you will notice fading.
Fall decorating ideas for your front door
Now you can decorate your door with some festive fall décor like an autumn wreath, or frame your door with some leafy orange, red and yellow autumn garland or a string of pumpkin lights. Your door will look so much better once it is cleaned and has been treated making it more inviting. Add a fall door mat and you are all set for the autumn season.
