How to Clean Interior Door Handles

We help you clean your door handles properly

Current events are prompting us to take precautions in terms of hygiene. COVID-19, which has affected us since the beginning of the year, has particularly impacted our ways of life.

Wearing masks, protecting our elderly and washing our hands are the barrier gestures that go round and round in our heads. However, our hands carry bacteria (according to certain studies we can transmit up to 100 million bacteria) and handle a huge number of objects during the day… this is the case with door handles. It has been proven that the COVID-19 virus can survive on steel for 3 days.

Let us do a quick calculation: 

We open our doors on average 10 times a day. We spend roughly 330 days a year at home and on average we stay 10 years in a home. We therefore touch our door handles more than 33,000 times. That is why it is so important to clean your handles properly.

Beyond the hygienic aspect, there is also the aesthetic aspect to maintain so that your handles shine bright.

We are going to show you how to clean your interior door handles.

We invite you to view our "contactless" anti-Covid-19 handles HERE

How to clean door handles

Like any everyday object, door handles require regular maintenance.

To clean properly, use a soft, dry cloth — the fabric should be cotton so that it does not scratch. Do not use chemical products that could damage the surface of your handle. It is not necessary to use specific and costly cleaning products. 

Which products to use to clean your handles

- Alcohol

Door handles are breeding grounds for bacteria — it is possible to eliminate them with household alcohol or methylated spirits. To do so, use a microfibre cloth and alcohol to disinfect your door handles and eradicate all traces of germs. There is no need to wipe afterwards as alcohol leaves no residue when it dries.

- Disinfectant wipes

Quick and effective, antibacterial wipes are perfect for cleaning your handles. No more need for a cloth and alcohol — they combine everything in one. The ideal approach is to use one wipe per door handle. However, this method is not very eco-friendly or economical.

- White vinegar

The recipe for all cleaning enthusiasts! However, the MILLA team advises against using vinegar-based products on our handles.

- Soap

Warm soapy water, a bathroom sponge (use the porous side) and that will do the trick to deep clean your handles! You can use black soap on your greasy door handles. Warm water, a spoonful of black soap, a soaked cloth and you're done! 

If your handles are made of stainless steel or polished chrome effect, wipe them with a dry, clean cloth to remove marks.

- Coca-Cola

Despite its high sugar content and the damage it can cause to our teeth, Coca-Cola is an effective antioxidant and can be your ally for cleaning the surface of your door handles. Simply use a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola. Make sure you rinse your handles to remove any sugar residue that would make them sticky. 

- Silver Stone

Silver Stone is a household essential. It cleans, polishes, shines and leaves a protective layer on delicate surfaces. It will therefore be perfect for the surface of your handles.

Please note, it is recommended not to use silver stone on porous surfaces such as wood or chipboard.

How to remove dirt from your metal door handles

On metal, dirt tends to cling and over time your handle could lose its shine. Using steel wool or wire wool impregnated with scouring cream, you can restore the shine to your old metal handles. Finally, apply a polishing product to prevent further oxidation of the metal. 

We recommend that, before using any cleaning products, you carry out a test on a small area of your door handles to check whether the surface reacts correctly to the product. All of this is also effective on the door escutcheon.

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Having followed the tips mentioned above, you will be able to enjoy the appearance of your door handles, which reflect the ornament of your home. Cleaning door handles is a guarantee of reliable operation for many years.