Restoring White Doors

Written by Lee Wyatt (last updated June 10, 2024)

If you happen to live in an older home then you may want to learn the secret of restoring white doors. By learning how to restore the white colored doors that you have in your home, you can often save huge amounts of money by avoiding repainting or replacing the doors themselves. The first step in doing this though lies in learning why the doors may become discolored over time.

There are actually a few reasons why a door that has been painted white would turn yellow over time. The first reason is usually due to some kind of smoke damage. It could be from a fireplace, wood stove, or even wood furnace which didn't have a flue open all the way. Another form of smoke damage is from tobacco smoke. Even if you (or those in your family) rarely smoke inside, the paint on the doors seem to attract the smoke like a magnet. Another reason that your doors could become discolored over time is due to sprays that you used inside. Such sprays could include things like air fresheners, furniture polish, hair spray, and so forth. Lastly, your door could have been painted with some kind of defective paint. Luckily, all of these methods, except for the last, can be cleaned by using a simple cleaner that you can make at home. If it is the last reason, and you usually won't know until you have tried to clean the doors, you will have to repaint the door.

Cleaner recipe

  • 1/3 cup of gentle liquid dish soap (such as Dawn or Palmolive)
  • 1 cup of ordinary 40 below automotive window wash
  • 1/3 cup of a liquid cleaner (such as Mr. Clean, Pine-Sol, etc.)
  • 1 shot glass of white vinegar
  • 1 cup of glass cleaner (such as Windex)
  • 1/2 gallon of water

Restoration process

  1. Mix the ingredients. Using the ingredient list above, mix the cleaner together in a large mixing bowl. Once everything has been completely mixed together pour it into a spray bottle. Store the unused portion of the cleaner for later use if necessary.
  2. Test the cleaner. Spray a small amount of the cleaner to a soft, lint free cloth. The cloth should only be damp, not soaking wet. Rub the cleaner onto an inconspicuous location of your door to see if there is any adverse reaction.
  3. Apply the cleaner. Before you begin to apply the cleaner, be sure that you have a bucket of warm, clean water handy so that you can rinse the cloth or sponge out periodically. Spray the cleaner onto your sponge or lint free cloth, and then start to wash the door completely.
  4. Wash the door. Completely wash the door, preferably starting from the top of the door, working your way down. This will help prevent any streaks of dirt getting into an area that you have already cleaned. Periodically rinse out the cloth or sponge, and then wring it dry. Apply some new cleaner and repeat.
  5. Rinse the door. After you have washed the door completely, repeat the process, but this time only using some warm clean water. This will help rinse any remaining cleaner from the door.
  6. Dry the door. Dry the door before you allow it to be used regularly. When drying the door use a clean, dry, lint free cloth.

Author Bio

Lee Wyatt

Contributor of numerous Tips.Net articles, Lee Wyatt is quickly becoming a regular "Jack of all trades." He is currently an independent contractor specializing in writing and editing. Contact him today for all of your writing and editing needs! Click here to contact. ...

MORE FROM LEE

What is Basil?

Basil, or Ocimum basilicum, can be found in many areas of our everyday lives. In fact, this wonderful little herb has ...

Discover More

Calculating the Cost of College

The importance of college simply cannot be overstated. In fact, it is quickly becoming apparent that a college degree of ...

Discover More

Essential Woodworking Tools

Woodworking can be a great pastime, a fun hobby, or even an enjoyable home project if you are properly prepared. To be ...

Discover More

Remove Stubborn Stains Quickly Get everything looking clean again: Walls, floors, baseboards, counters, blinds, appliances, and more. Micro-scrubbers easily reach into surface grooves, lifting dirt away. This low-cost 8-pack is great for stubborn stains and touble areas. Check out Mr. Clean Magic Eraser 8-Pack today!

More Cleaning Tips

Cleaning Your Exterior Doors

Wood front doors should be cleaned with Murphy Oil Soap, while other types of doors can be cleaned with mild soap and ...

Discover More

Cleaning Handprints from Doors and Jambs

Of all the parts of a wall that you can expect to find a few handprints, the most-likely place has got to be the doors ...

Discover More

Cleaning Glass Doors

Use this simple method to get your glass doors really clean without streaks. You'll just need squeegee, sponge, soapy ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in Cleaning Tips from Tips.Net. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is five more than 0?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)


Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in Cleaning Tips from Tips.Net. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.