Plus, painting your front door is a great DIY project you can complete in a day! Here are 15 of the best front door colors for your home—and how to choose the one that’s best for you.

Question: Three times in 10 years, I’ve installed a new brass kickplate on the front door of my house. Each time, the protective coating has worn away, leaving an ugly pattern.

The brass on our entrance door lock set seems to have a lacquer finish that was affected by temperature extremes and chipped off. Is there a way to clean the metal to restore the look of shiny brass?