Here’s an easy face lift for your front door! Spring-cleaning is a fabulous way to celebrate the end of winter. But no matter how clean the inside of your home is, the first thing people see is your front door. Peeling varnish, faded paint and tarnished or rusted hardware do not give the fresh and clean impression you worked so hard to achieve indoors. Fortunately, it`s not hard to give your front door a brand new look without dipping into your rainy day savings.

Cleaning is the first step in any renovation. Use a soft, lint-free cloth to dust every surface of your front door. Shop cloths work well and so do old, white T-shirts. Pay special attention to corners and crevices like those surrounding recessed windows or the areas around hinges.

Wash your door with a degreasing solution to remove any oils or airborne grease. There are several types of degreasers available. For really tough dirt, you need to dilute trisodium phosphate in water according to the proportions on the label. For milder dirt (and a greener method), stir a few squirts of liquid dish soap into a bucket of warm water. Dish soap is formulated to cut grease, so it is an excellent cleaner for anything that spends time outdoors.

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It is not necessary to remove your front door from its hinges to give it a makeover, but doing so makes it easier for you to reach all of it and vastly reduces the risk of someone accidentally interfering with the process. Once the door is clean, remove it from its hinges and place it on a pair of sawhorses, or elevate it slightly above your work surface with four to six wooden blocks or large empty cans like the ones that tomatoes or coffee come in.

Remove all of the hardware so that you don`t have to work around it. Place anything you intend to reuse in labeled plastic zipper bags so that you don`t have to hunt for the items later.

Remove old paint, stain or varnish by applying a wax-based chemical stripper. Apply the stripper with a natural bristled brush and let it sit according to the manufacturer`s recommendation. Scrape away the old paint, stain or varnish with a plastic scraper when it begins to bubble up. Strip one side completely before turning the door over and stripping the other.

Sand your door with 200-grit sandpaper to remove any last traces of the old finish. Work with the grain and use a light touch. Wipe away the sanding dust with tack cloths. Flip the door and do the other side.

Fill in any chips or dings with stainable wood filler. Apply it with a craft stick and scrape horizontally across the surface to level it. Let the wood filler dry completely, sand it smooth and wipe away the dust.

Prime your front door to help your new paint or stain adhere properly. Read the label on your primer to ensure that it is compatible with your new stain or paint. Use a roller or brush to paint a thin coat of primer on your door. Let it dry completely, flip the door and do the other side.

Paint or stain your door, (see here how to paint wood) letting it dry completely before flipping it and letting it dry completely between coats. Apply a good all-weather sealer and your door will look as fresh and new as the rest of your home.

Once you have completed this OurDIYProjects.net front door facelift, pay a visit to our friends at Ironmongery Direct to check out their beautiful line of hardware to put the finishing touch on your makeover.

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