How to Maintain and Care for Your Mailbox

Make sure house numbers are in place, unobscured by plants and readable during the day and night. If your house number is faded or missing a digit or two, it probably won’t affect a mail carrier who’s familiar with the route, but it might cause problems for:

• First responders
• Delivery drivers
• New or temporary mail carriers

Clean or replace your house number with high-visibility or reflective digits as necessary.

These tips help keep mail delivery running smoothly and create a good first impression of your home:

• Clean away dirt, bird droppings and moss. They don’t just make a mailbox look unsightly, they trap moisture and lead to rust. Scrub a dirty mailbox with mild detergent and water.
• Spider webs and the nests of stinging insects are hazards to you as well as the mail carrier and might lead to an interruption of mail delivery. You can typically brush away spider webs with a broom, but the nests of bees, wasps, etc. require more care. If you have any concerns about safely removing them yourself, contact a professional.
• Trim back plants growing around the mailbox so it’s easily accessible. Be aware of flowering plants close to the box that might attract bees, wasps, etc. You might need to replace them with non-flowering alternatives.
• Check the moving parts, including the lock, if equipped, and lubricate periodically. 
• Tighten loose fasteners and replace any that are missing.
• Adjust the latch to keep the door closed tightly.
• Clear away snow and ice during winter.
• Make sure the mailbox is secure on the post and aligns to the road.
• Make sure the mailbox post is straight and firmly set in the ground. If you need to reset the post, see our project, How to Set a Post With Concrete, for instructions. Check with your Post Office to ensure you reset it correctly and at the right height and distance from the road.

Exposure to the elements might mean your mailbox needs additional protection from moisture and ultraviolet (UV) rays every few years. Repainting your mailbox adds a new layer of protection and creates a more welcoming look.

1. If possible, remove the box from the post and remove the flag, door, house number and latch or handle.
2. Mask parts you can’t remove with painters tape and mask any moving parts. 
3. Clean away the dirt and, on a metal mailbox, use medium-grit sandpaper to remove rust and flaking paint. 
4. If you can’t remove the door, open it to prevent the paint from sealing it shut.
5. Apply spray primer suitable for your mailbox material, let it dry and apply a coat of suitable exterior spray paint. You can also find paint-and-primer-in-one spray paint. Whichever paint you choose, look for UV resistance and, for metal boxes, a rust-preventative formula.
6. Once the paint is completely dry, remove the tape, reassemble the box and reapply the house numbers.

• Touch up rusted areas using the steps for repainting a mailbox above in Protection from the Elements.
• Use replacement parts, such as lock, door and flag kits, to make quick repairs.
• If someone has knocked your mailbox over but the box and post are intact, you can reset it using steps from How to Set a Post With Concrete.
• If the post is damaged, the box doesn’t open or close properly or if it’s difficult to add or remove mail, replacement is best. See our project, How to Install a Mailbox, for step-by-step instructions on installing a new mailbox.