Your door hangers spend all their time outside — it’s only natural that they will experience some kind of wear and tear over time. But that doesn’t mean permanent damage to your door hanger — it could also mean a little dirt on the surface or the top coat fading a little bit.

But how can you protect your door hangers so that doesn’t happen often?

In this post, I’ll show you a few different ways you can do that. Plus, I’ll cover some FAQs, so you know exactly what to do!

Protect your door hanger tip #1: Use the right wood

The type of wood you use is as important as the sealant or paint. Not all wood will stand the test of time once made into a door hanger!

I recommend using plywood underlayment at ¼ inch thick. You can find this at your local home improvement store. You can also use MDF at ¼ inch thick (this is my choice and what I use on all my door hangers!).

Either of these will last long if primed and used correctly for your door hangers! They don’t have many knot holes, either, which means that the paint goes on smoothly, and you don’t have to worry so much about an uneven surface.

However, you still need to sand your wood once the door hanger is cut! That prevents splintering or unevenness. 

Protect your door hanger tip #2: Use a primer

Is primer a necessity? No, but trust me when I say it REALLY helps your door hangers last. It protects against all sorts of issues, but it is especially helpful if you live somewhere with a lot of humidity.

Once moisture gets inside the wood, it can cause bubbling and general wear and tear on the paint. But if you prep your door hanger with any type of moisture-protecting primer (I recommend the Kiltz brand, which you can find at any home improvement store), you can prevent that!

If you want to prime your door hangers but don’t want to use a primer, you can also paint a solid base coat of white. This will also help keep your colors vibrant, too, especially if they are a bit opaque to begin with.

Protect your door hanger tip #3: Use a polycrylic sealer

There are different types of sealant, but the brand isn’t as important as the application type.

You don’t want anything with polyurethane because this is used on top of wood stain, usually with furniture. It will give your door hangers an antique look, which is fine if that’s what you’re going for, but if you want to keep your colors vibrant over time, I would avoid it.

Instead, use a polyacrylic, non-oil-based sealant. It does everything you need it to do — protect your door hangers — without messing with the colors or vibrancy!

How to apply sealant

How you apply your sealant is totally up to you! Spray sealant is very popular and the easiest method, but depending on the project you’re working on, you may want to try something else.

You can also use a foam roller to roll it directly on top of your door hanger. Just make sure you cover the back and the edges to help prevent moisture-based wear and tear (yes, even on pre-cut signs from our shop!).

Another tip: Make sure you give the sealant plenty of time to dry before flipping sides or applying a second coat. Otherwise, it can stick to things and rub off the paint.

My Recommendations

There are only two sealants I recommend:

• Rust-Oleum: I use the lacquer in the clear coat. It’s high-luster and very affordable. You can find it at your local home improvement store!
• DecoArt Triple Thick Gloss Glaze: This one works best with the paint colors and keeps everything vibrant. You can buy the sealer here!

I’ve heard from a few people that some sealers can alter the colors once dry. However, with the sealants I recommend, I can personally say I have never seen this happen on my door hangers!

Protect your door hanger tip #4: Keep them clean

Of course, your door hanger will collect dust as it sits outside. There’s really nothing you can do to prevent that. However, when it’s time to swap out your door hanger for a new design, I HIGHLY recommend wiping it down with soap and water.

It will be MUCH easier to get the gunk off — like dead bugs, mold, dust, dirt, etc.—now than after your door hanger has been sitting in the heat of your attic for a year!

Have more questions? 

Have additional questions about sealing and protecting your door hangers? Here are some of my most frequently asked questions!

Can I add custom lettering after I seal my door hanger?

Absolutely! If you’ve already sealed your door hanger, you can still letter on top of it. You can always go back and brush or spray a light coat of sealant on top.

This isn’t necessary though; it’s just an extra step of precaution to protect the door hanger!

How long does it take to seal a door hanger?

It usually takes me about two to three minutes to spray seal the door hanger, then five to ten minutes for dry time (it’s very important to let the seal cure all the way!). The total time is 15 minutes or less. It’s super easy!

Can I use any paint for my door hanger?

Every artist has their preference, but I recommend using acrylic paint for door hangers. My favorite is DecoArt Americana Acrylic Paint, which you can purchase here!

What if I mess up while sealing my door hanger?

Let’s say you get a little piece of debris — like cat hair or fuzz — on your door hanger after you’ve put on the seal. You need to get it out ASAP! If you leave it to set and it dries in the sealant, there’s not much you can do without affecting your door hanger.

However, if you want to try fixing it, take 220-grit sandpaper and lightly sand over the area until the debris comes out. Then, wipe the surface of your door hanger and seal it again.

Can I use a brush sealer after using a paint pen?

Brush sealers and paint pens are a recipe for a big mess! Even if you know what to do, preventing a mess is still difficult. But, if you really want to brush seal on top of the area you painted with a pen, there is a way to prevent this.

Try to just paint one stroke in one direction. DO NOT move your brush back and forth, or you’ll end up with bleed marks from the paint pen!

How often do I need to touch up my sealant?

Your sealant should last you a while — I’m talking YEARS. So, really, once is enough. However, I’ll occasionally go back over old door hangers to ensure they’re holding up well.

If all else fails…it might be your paint

Are you still having trouble getting your door hangers to last? You may need to go back a few steps to troubleshoot!

If you find that it’s an issue with your paint, check out the post below. I walk you through four common acrylic paint mistakes and how to fix them!