3 steps to a clean and welcoming front door

Doors collect dust and dirt just like walls, so whatever you use to scrub your walls should also work on them. But because few doors are as flat as walls, what's the trick to getting those crevices dirt-free? Here are 3 steps to a cleaner, more welcoming front door.

• Dust the door with a dry towel.
• Then tie a soft, old towel over the bristle end of a broom and brush into the angles and crevices where dust builds up.
• If there's a lot of detail work on the door, use a soft toothbrush to get into the corners.

• If you have a stained wooden door, use wood soap according to the instructions on the label.
• Follow with orange oil or spray wax to nourish the wood.
• For painted doors, a couple of homemade cleaners will do the job effectively:
• Mix 4 L (4 quarts) of warm water with 125 ml (1/2 cup) of ammonia, 50 ml (1/4 cup) of white vinegar and 50 ml (1/4 cup) of washing soda (sodium carbonate) crystals. Washing soda can be found in the laundry section of supermarkets.
• Or mix 250 ml (1 cup) of ammonia and 5 ml (1 tsp) of mild dishwashing liquid in 4 L (4 quarts) of warm water.
• Soak a natural sponge until it's completely pliable.
• Then squeeze out as much water as possible. Wash from the bottom upwards to avoid run marks. So beginning at the bottom of the door, scrub with the sponge in small circular motions.
• Rinse the sponge often and thoroughly to avoid putting dirt back on the door. If you keep a clean solution, you won't have to rinse, which will help speed up the cleaning process.

• Place a layer of plastic wrap on the door surface around the hardware you want to clean, securing the plastic with masking tape.
• If you're dealing with metal, such as a doorknocker or kick plate or even a doorknob, a metal cleaner, such as Brasso, will polish up all types of metal, including brass, copper, chrome, aluminium, stainless steel and enamel. It has jeweler's rouge in it, so it's very gentle but does an excellent job.
• With glass or ceramic doorknobs, you don't need the plastic wrap. Just take a few swipes with a rag dampened with alcohol, which won't hurt the great cleaning job you've just done on the door.