Garage Door Maintenance: How to Clean Your Garage Door

A major part of garage door maintenance involves cleaning your garage door, ideally about twice a year. With spring in full bloom, there’s no better time to complete this task, particularly after another long New England winter, when all that moisture and salt can accumulate on the outer surface and leave lasting damage.

Read on to learn why it’s important to wash your garage door, and how to best get the job done the next time you have a free morning or afternoon.

Reasons to Clean Your Garage Door

Washing your garage door regularly is a simple way to increase curb appeal. But the major reasons for conducting this type of garage door maintenance go beyond simple aesthetics. A garage door is an investment, and cleaning yours can help protect that investment by prolonging the finish and potentially even maintaining the warranty if that applies to you. It’s also an effective way to prevent rust, which occurs when debris builds up over time.

How to Clean Your Garage Door

Now that you understand the importance of cleaning your garage door, here are some instructions for how to complete this task simply and effectively.

Use a Mild Cleaning Solution

When it comes to cleaning your garage door, a mild detergent such as dishwasher soap or car wash soap is more than enough to get the job done. In fact, it’s important to never use abrasive cleaners, which can cause irreparable damage to the painted surface. You’ll also want to avoid pressure washers for this same reason.

We recommend dissolving one cup of low-phosphate detergent into about two gallons of water to create your cleaning solution. Be sure to use gentle sponges and clean cloths to further prevent any damage.

Clean All Parts of Your Garage Door

Adequate garage door maintenance means washing more than just the surface of the garage door. There are many different parts of the garage door that contribute to its proper function, and it’s necessary to keep them all clean and free of debris. Remove leaves and dirt from the garage door tracks to keep it opening and closing with ease. Wipe down the photo eye sensors, which are necessary in preventing accidents. Clear away any buildup on the weatherstripping to keep it in good condition.

Wax Your Garage Door

When cleaning metal and fiberglass garage doors, we always recommend waxing your garage door after cleaning it. This adds a protective coating that guards against the harshness of the elements and helps prevent wear and tear. Any good-quality automotive wax should also be suitable for a garage door.

Cleaning your garage door is a perfect opportunity to conduct other garage door maintenance as well, such as inspecting for signs of proper functionality. If you notice any potential problems, the team at Champion Overhead Door is always here to help with any repair and maintenance your garage door may require over the years. We even offer 24-hour emergency services if that’s something that you need. Give us a call today to schedule a visit!

Garage Pest Control: How to Keep Bugs and Rodents Out of Your Garage

Having a pest problem inside the house is one of a homeowner’s worst nightmares. Whether it’s rodents or insects, both can wreak havoc to their surroundings, potentially resulting in lasting damage. This is why it’s so important to be prepared with pest control solutions that eliminate these unwanted visitors and prevent them from coming back.

While focusing on pest-proofing the interior of your home is essential, it’s equally important to extend your efforts to the garage. So whether you are actively trying to get rid of mice in your garage because you saw one scamper by, or you are simply looking to take proactive steps to prevent a future insect infestation, read on to discover why pests are so attracted to this part of your home and learn how to transform your garage into a pest-proof space!

Why are pests drawn to a garage?

You may notice that your garage is more prone to attracting pests than other parts of your home. There are a few key reasons for this:

1. Easy access. The garage often serves as a convenient access point for pests, providing protection from harsh weather conditions and potential predators.
2. Attractive environment. Pests are naturally drawn to dark, moist, and warm environments—conditions commonly found in garages, making them ideal for breeding and nesting.
3. Enticing odors. Garbage cans frequently placed in garages emit odors from food and waste. To humans, these odors are unappealing at best, but pests and rodents often smell a feast! This is especially true if you store common outdoor items like birdseed in your garage. Small rodents, especially mice, can hone in on these extra-yummy scents and be drawn to your garage because of it.

How to create a pest-proof garage

Now that you have a better understanding of why pests are drawn to your garage, you can begin implementing various methods of garage pest control. Here is what we recommend:

1. Deep clean your garage. Conducting a thorough cleaning of your garage will not only help to rid the space of any pests that are currently there, it’s also a good way to eliminate any garbage, moisture or materials that may be attracting them in the first place.
2. Seal any cracks in your garage. One of the most common ways that pests enter a garage is through cracks in the windows, walls, floor and doorways. Once you identify these cracks, you should reinforce the area to block access for unwanted visitors.
3. Inspect your garage door. Along the same lines as filling any cracks, it’s important to make sure that your garage door seals tightly so that there is minimal space between the bottom of the door and the floor of the garage. If you need assistance with this task, or if you find that you are in need of a new garage door, please don’t hesitate to contact Champion Overhead Door.
4. Use pest control products. Even with a clean and well-sealed garage, using pest control products is advisable to catch any unwanted creepy crawlies that are trying to make their way in. This can include solutions like spraying around the perimeter for insects and laying traps inside your space if you have mice in the garage. That way, you have protection both inside and outside, creating multiple lines of defense.
5. Regular maintenance. Unfortunately, pest control isn’t a one-and-done task. To maintain a pest-free garage, repeat these steps every few months. Consistency is key to preserving a clean, sealed, and pest-proof space.

Transforming your garage into a pest-proof environment is vital for preserving the integrity of your home. By understanding the reasons behind pest attraction and implementing effective home pest control measures, including techniques for dealing with mice and bugs in the garage, you can reclaim this space and enjoy a pest-free sanctuary. Stay proactive and vigilant, and you’ll ensure that your garage remains a haven for your belongings, rather than unwanted pests.

5 Important Garage Door Safety Tips

As far as objects in your home go, a garage door has the potential to be one of the most dangerous. Like any heavy moving object, it must be treated with the proper care and precaution to avoid serious injuries. By following practical garage door safety tips, it’s easy to minimize any risk and keep everyone out of harm’s way. Here’s what we recommend.

Check the Garage Door Safety Sensor

A garage door safety sensor is among the most important parts of any properly functioning garage door. Simply put, it works by reversing the direction of the garage door in the event that a person, animal or object gets in the way while it’s closing.

It’s important to check your garage door safety sensor monthly. The easiest way to do this is by placing a roll of paper towels or another similar object in the path of the garage door and closing it. If you notice that the door doesn’t reverse to avoid crushing the paper towels, it’s time to call in the professionals to make some repairs.

Conduct Regular Visual Inspections

While you’re checking the garage door safety sensors, it’s a good idea to visually inspect the other key parts of your garage door, including the cables, pulleys, rollers and springs. Look for signs of rust or general wear and tear that could interfere with the functionality of your garage door. Again, if you see anything that looks damaged, leave it to the professionals; trying to repair your garage door yourself could be dangerous.

Teach Children Garage Door Safety

Some aspects of garage door safety that seem like common sense to most adults should still be reviewed with children once they’re old enough to understand. Make sure kids know to keep their fingers away from garage door panels while the door is in motion, and to never try to “ride” the garage door by hanging onto it while it’s opening. We also recommend keeping the garage door opener out of the hands of small children.

Never Race the Garage Door

It can be tempting to exit through the garage as the door is closing, especially if it seems like you have plenty of time to make it out. Though a properly functioning garage door safety sensor will likely prevent any impact from occurring, we still recommend avoiding this dangerous move. Wait until the garage door is fully open to exit, or choose an alternate route.

Don’t Share Your Password

Garage door safety isn’t only about preventing physical harm, it’s also about protecting your home and your belongings from intruders. If you have a keypad for opening your garage door, it’s important that you keep the password as private as you possibly can. Ideally, only the people living in your home should know the password, which means making sure that your kids understand that they shouldn’t share it with anyone else. Changing the password from time to time (and avoiding these common PIN number mistakes) is always a good habit to ensure your garage and home are secure.

If you have any questions at all about garage door safety, the team here at Champion Overhead Door is always here to help. We even offer 24-hour emergency service for issues that simply can’t wait. Contact us today to learn more!

Create Extra Home Storage Space with a Garage Attic

No matter how much storage space you have in your home, sometimes it still never feels like enough. The longer you live somewhere, the more items you tend to accumulate as the years go by, and the last thing anyone wants is a house full of clutter.

If you find yourself in need of additional home storage space, you may be overlooking the perfect spot to create it: above the garage. With some DIY care and attention, that unused space can become a perfectly workable garage attic for year-round storage. Here are some helpful tips for creating an overhead garage storage space.

Determine the weight capacity of your garage roof

Before you even get started on your garage attic, the first and most important step is to determine the weight capacity of the roof by evaluating the trusses. The easiest way to do this is by examining the original blueprints for your home, which will show the number of trusses the garage roof has and where they are located. If you find that the roof is unable to support any additional weight, you may be able to add extra trusses to create the proper support.

Since this is such an essential step, we recommend consulting a professional if you aren’t completely certain that the weight capacity is high enough for a garage attic.

Create your garage attic

Once you’re confident that your garage roof can handle the weight of garage attic storage, you’re ready to start creating your garage attic. Here’s what you’ll need to do:

1. Create an access point. Cut a square out of your garage ceiling to serve as your garage attic access point. Purchase an attic ladder to attach to this access point, following the instructions for installation.
2. Install floorboards. To ensure that your garage attic is safe enough for storing items and walking around, you’ll need to install floorboards. You can do this by nailing pieces of plywood side-by-side over the floor joists.
3. Ventilate. If your garage attic isn’t properly ventilated, you risk your items becoming damaged by mold. Ventilating your space could consist of anything from installing vents to placing attic fans in problem areas.

Plan your garage attic storage solution

Once your garage attic is accessible, safe and ventilated, you’ll be ready to start planning out how to best utilize all that extra space. Just like in other storage areas, you can maximize the space by storing items on the walls, ceiling and floor, using a combination of hooks, shelves, racks and other common storage solutions.

Since it will take a bit more effort to get into your garage attic than simply walking down the stairs into your basement or opening up a storage closet, we recommend using it for items that you don’t need to access regularly, such as holiday decorations, beach chairs or other seasonal belongings.

A garage attic is just one of the many garage projects you can take on as the weather gets nicer. There are so many different ways to use such a versatile space. For other ideas, be sure to like Champion Overhead Door on Facebook.

Ultimate Guide for Spring Cleaning Your Garage

Spring is just around the corner and we don’t know about you, but we’re ready for some warmer weather after another snowy New England winter! With longer, milder days ahead, we’re fast approaching the ideal time for spring cleaning your garage so that you can have this task out of the way by the time the really hot weather hits.

Roll up your sleeves, get out your cleaning supplies and follow these steps for a fresh, clean space and improved garage organization.

Declutter

The first step to spring cleaning your garage is definitely the most tedious, but it’ll make the steps that follow that much easier—trust us! Decluttering your garage the right way typically consists of the following:

1. Removing everything from your garage. As you can imagine, this is the kind of project that calls for one of those mild spring weekends where you can drag everything out onto the driveway and lawn without anything getting ruined. Once everything is removed, you’ll want to…
2. Sort your items into categories. We recommend three categories: Keep, Sell/Donate and Recycle/Trash. If you haven’t used something in a few years, chances are it no longer needs to be taking up space in your garage. When your sorting is complete, set aside the Keep pile and dispose of the Recycle/Trash pile accordingly. For the Sell/Donate pile, it’s a good idea to…
3. Host a spring cleaning garage sale. Pick a nice weekend day, hang those “Garage Sale” signs around the neighborhood and see what you can sell. Anything that doesn’t go can be donated after.

Deep Clean

While you have all your items removed, take the opportunity to deep clean your garage. Sweep and mop the floor, treat any oil stains and wash all surfaces. For deep cleaning a concrete garage floor, you can mix a solution of ⅓ cup of Tide to 1 gallon of water, then use a large brush for scrubbing and a garden hose for washing out the garage cleaning solution. You could also rent a power washer from your local home improvement store to get the job done a little more efficiently.

Organize in Zones

When it comes time to put the items you’ve decided to keep back into your garage, it’s helpful to think about organizing your garage in zones. Brainstorm the different categories of items you have (e.g. sports equipment, woodworking equipment, power tools, holiday decorations) and organize them accordingly throughout your garage. This way, when anyone in your family is searching for something, they’ll have a general idea of where to look.

Inspect Garage Doors and Opener

Spring cleaning is the perfect time to inspect your garage door for signs of warping, rust and other common wear and tear. While you’re doing this, don’t forget to make sure that all safety functions are working properly. In addition to inspecting your garage door, set aside some time to clean the windows and the door itself.

If you find any parts of your garage door that are in need of repair, it can be dangerous to attempt that yourself, so we recommend always reaching out to the professionals for garage door maintenance needs. Here at Champion Overhead Door, we’ve seen it all, and no problem is too big or too small for us to help with.

Spring cleaning your garage can seem like an overwhelming task, especially if you have a lot of clutter to work though. But by following the steps outlined above, it’ll feel a little more manageable. And once you’re finished, you can reward yourself with a nice cold beer (or non-alcoholic beverage) outside in the spring sunshine!