With April comes spring, and with that comes the perfect time to take stock of your home, clean it up, and start anew. While you may have your living room or kitchen on the brain, we urge you not to forget your garage. After all, it’s been a long winter, and because garages seem to be a catch-all for everything we don’t know what to do with, they often get cluttered. Plus, spring is a good time to check your garage door and make sure everything is working properly.

Craft a Plan

Don’t start without a plan, as the job could get overwhelming quickly if you don’t. Create a checklist to prioritize all the items you want to accomplish. This could include anything from doing a visual inspection of your garage door to hanging bikes back up on racks to tidying up the tool bench. If you notice any issues with your garage door or opener, schedule a garage door repair with M&M Garage Doors now.

De-Clutter the Space

On a nice day, remove everything out of your garage that isn’t attached to the walls or floors. This way, you can more readily assess your belongings and figure out what you want to keep and trash. Make five piles on your lawn or driveway:

  • Keep
  • Donate
  • Recycle
  • Trash
  • Sell

If you’re wondering whether you should hold onto something or not, ask yourself if you have used that particular item in two years. No? Toss it.

Begin Cleanup

Now that you’ve got a semi-empty garage, start wiping down shelves, benches and any flat surfaces. Take a damp cloth and wipe down the interior panels on your garage door. Then, using a broom, clear away all the cobwebs from the walls and corners. Sweep out salt deposits, dirt, dust and leaves. Using a garden hose and gentle cleaner, rinse the floors, then follow up with a cool, clear water rinse.

Do an Inspection of the Doors and Opener

While we don’t suggest you do any repairs to your doors or opener, we do recommend a visual inspection and light cleaning. Dip a sponge in a bucket of warm water and soap, and gently clean the exterior panels of your garage door. It’s best to first check with your garage door provider on suggested cleaning tips.

Operate the opener to ensure it’s working properly. Open and close the door and listen for squeaking or other noises. Does it catch on the tracks? If you suspect it needs a little help on the rollers, you can spray lubricant on springs, rollers, hinges, pulleys and tracks as necessary. That being said, if you see something that requires repair or further inspection, leave it alone and call a professional immediately.

Contact M&M Garage Doors

For help with garage door spring cleaning and inspection, contact M&M Garage Doors at 586-610-5434. Our professionals can provide a full inspection and perform any necessary repairs.