Garage Door Window and Panel Care: Cleaning, Dents and Cracks

The face of your garage door is a big part of how your home looks from the street. It also takes a beating from sun, rain, dust, car bumpers and basketballs. A little regular care keeps the panels and windows looking good and helps you catch damage early.

Cleaning the panels

A couple of times a year is plenty for most doors. More often if you live near the coast or a dusty road.

• Rinse first. Use a garden hose to wash off loose dirt.
• Wash gently. Mix a mild soap or car wash soap in a bucket of water. Use a soft cloth or sponge and work from the top down.
• Rinse again. Rinse each section before the soap dries.
• Dry the bottom edge. Water sitting at the bottom of the door can cause rust or rot over time.

Skip pressure washers, which can strip the finish and force water into places it shouldn't go. Skip abrasive pads and strong solvents too. If your door has a special finish or a wood look, check the door maker's care guide first.

For homes near salt air, rinsing more often helps a lot. Our guide to garage door care in humid and coastal areas goes into more detail.

Cleaning the windows

Garage door windows are often made of plastic rather than glass, and plastic scratches easily.

• Use a soft, clean cloth and mild soapy water
• Avoid paper towels, rough sponges and scrapers
• Avoid harsh household cleaners unless the door maker says they are safe for your windows
• Clean the frames too, since dirt collects in the corners

If you aren't sure what your windows are made of, treat them like plastic. Gentle is always safe.

Dents

Small dents from a ball or a bike handle are usually cosmetic. They don't affect how the door runs.

Larger dents are different, especially if the panel looks bent, the dent sits near a hinge, or the door now rubs or catches as it moves. A bent panel can put stress on hinges and rollers and throw the door out of line. If the door moves differently after a hit, stop using it and have it checked.

A car bumping the door is a common cause of bigger damage. If that happens, look at the tracks and rollers too, not just the panel. See garage door off track: what to do first.

Cracks and separating panels

Look over the panels at each change of season. Pay attention to:

• Cracks near hinges or brackets. These areas carry stress every time the door moves.
• Cracks on the top panel. The top panel is where the opener connects, so a crack there can get worse with use.
• Panels that bow, sag or separate. A panel coming apart at the seams weakens the whole door.
• Rust spots or soft wood. These spread if they are left alone.

All of these are worth a professional look. Don't drill into panels, add bracing yourself or try to remove a panel. The bottom panel holds the bottom brackets, which connect to the lift cables under high spring tension. Removing or loosening it can cause serious injury.

Broken or cracked windows

A cracked window lets in water and drafts, and broken glass is a safety hazard. If a window breaks, keep people clear of the pieces and clean up carefully with gloves. Many window inserts are held in by a frame and can be replaced, but the method depends on the door. A professional or the door maker can tell you the right replacement.

Changes that affect how the door works

It is easy to think of the door's face as just looks. But anything that adds weight changes how the door works. Adding windows, decorative hardware, insulation kits or heavy panels can throw off the balance, since the springs were set for the door's original weight.

If you are thinking about changes like that, have the springs and balance checked afterward. Our post on garage door safety explains why balance matters.

Paint and finish

If your door's finish is fading or peeling, check the door maker's guidance before painting. Some finishes need a specific primer. Never paint the flexible weatherstripping, which needs to stay soft to seal.

Put it on the seasonal list

Panel and window care fits right in with the other seasonal jobs. Our garage door maintenance checklist lays out what to do monthly, seasonally and once a year.