Dirty, chalky or grimy roll-up doors can detract from your self-storage facility's curb appeal. In addition, if you don't care for your doors, the paint will eventually be damaged, which will lower your property value.

Even new doors need cleaning. Removing dust, dirt and road salt will not only make your facility look better, it will protect the paint. Even if your doors aren't extremely oxidized or faded, dust and grime can make your property look like its not well-maintained. Customers tend to rent from facilities that look clean and well-treated. Keeping your doors clean will improve your curb appeal and prolong paint life.

Ways to Wash

The paint on your self-storage doors is baked on and will last for years without fading. After time, however, the paint on exterior doors is burnt off by the sun, and the remaining paint will chalk and oxidize. Customers dont appreciate this oxidation when it gets on their hands and clothes.

If you see splotchy, lighter-colored areas on your doors, thats touch-up paint the contractors applied to hide any scratches or blemishes when your doors were installed. Because this paint is not baked on, it fades faster. You can clean these areas with a no-scratch scrubby pad or restore them with a quality, clear, protective coating made for metal.

If youre in a region that uses salt for ice or snow control, rinse any areas where the salt can come in contact with metal doors or buildings with fresh water to stop corrosion. Here are some more dos and donts for cleaning you exterior doors.

DO

DO NOT

Clean But Not Great

What if your doors are clean but still dull or faded? If your doors have lost their luster and you can see the difference between when they are wet or dry, the topcoat is probably gone. A clear protective coating made for metal will restore the color and shine.

Another issue you might face is peeling paint. If your doors are peeling, chances are theyve been repainted in the past. The loose paint will need to be removed, and the area should be feathered in, primed and painted. This should probably be done by a professional, as it can be challenging to paint metal, especially on a flexible roll-up door.

Interior Doors

Interior doors or panels offer different cleaning challenges. Hallway doors lack a protective lip, so any spilled water will seep under the doors or walls and damage stored goods. For this reason, its a bad idea to clean these doors with buckets of water. As an alternative, there are waterless wash and wax products that can be sprayed on and wiped off with a cloth. Spray cleaners like Formula 409 or Fantastik will work for spot cleaning. Microfiber towels work well because they don't leave lint or fibers like rags or terrycloth towels.

Keeping your doors clean will improve the look of your property and the life of the metal. The better the curb appeal, the better you can attract and keep happy customers.

Teresa Sedmak is president of Everbrite Inc., which manufactures Everbrite Protective Coating, ProtectaClear coating and a variety of building cleaners. She is a licensed painting contractor with extensive experience and knowledge of protective coatings. For more information, call 800.304.0566; e-mail [email protected]; visit www.renewstorage.com .