TL;DR
A sticky pet gate latch is almost always hand oil plus dust plus pet hair packed into the mechanism, not a broken part. Dust the gate dry, wash the slats and frame with warm soapy water, work a brush into the latch and hinges, rinse the residue away, and dry the hardware thoroughly. Skip oil, which collects more dust.
Where the grime actually is
A pet gate looks like a simple frame, but it collects in four specific places.
The latch. Hands touch it dozens of times a day, and hand oil binds dust and hair into a paste inside the mechanism. This is what makes a latch stiff.
The hinges and pivot points. Same problem, plus grit tracked in from outside.
The bottom rail. Splashes, mop water, tracked mud, and paw prints. It also sits at nose height for most dogs.
The vertical slats and mesh. Nose prints, tongue marks, hair, and dust in the gaps.
Wall cups and pressure pads add a fifth place, since they trap dust against the wall and can leave a mark on paint.
How do you clean a pet gate?
Dust the whole gate dry with a brush or a vacuum, then wash the frame, slats, and bottom rail with a cloth and warm water with a drop of dish soap. Work a toothbrush into the latch and hinge points, wipe the soap away with a clean damp cloth, and dry the hardware completely.
The step-by-step routine
1. Dust or vacuum it first. A soft brush attachment over the slats, the frame, and the top rail. Wet dust turns into streaks.
2. Wash the frame and slats. A cloth in warm soapy water, wrung out well. Work top to bottom, and do both faces.
3. Do the bottom rail properly. It is the dirtiest part and the part everyone skips.
4. Brush the latch. An old toothbrush and soapy water, worked into the button, the slide, and the catch. Operate the latch while you brush so the moving parts open up.
5. Brush the hinges. Same tool, into the pivot and around the pin.
6. Wipe the soap off. A clean cloth rinsed in plain water, over everything you soaped. Residue attracts dust and stays tacky.
7. Dry the hardware first, then the rest. Metal latches and hinges rust, and rust is what turns a stiff latch into a broken one.
8. Test the latch a dozen times. It should click firmly and release cleanly.
If the latch is still stiff after cleaning, use a dry lubricant such as a graphite or dry film product, applied sparingly and wiped off. Do not use cooking oil or a general household oil, which collects dust and makes the problem worse within weeks.
Match the method to the material
Wood gates. Damp cloth only, never wet. Water is the enemy of a wood finish, and standing moisture at the bottom rail lifts and dulls it. Dry immediately.
Metal gates. Wash and dry. Watch for chipped coating on painted or powder-coated metal, since exposed steel rusts.
Plastic gates. The most forgiving. Soap and water, and no abrasives, which scratch and then hold grime.
Fabric and mesh gates. Vacuum first, then spot clean with unscented soap and as little water as possible, and dry fully. These follow the same logic as how to clean a pet playpen.
Pressure-mount pads and wall cups. Remove and wash them if they detach, and clean the wall behind them. Dust trapped under a pressure pad leaves a ring, and rubbing at painted walls too hard burnishes flat paint. Test any cleaner in a hidden spot first.
What not to use
Chlorine bleach. Unnecessary on a gate, it damages finishes, and it must never be combined with ammonia, which is present in urine, or with vinegar or any other acid. Those combinations release chloramine and chlorine gas.
Ammonia-based glass cleaner on painted surfaces. It can lift finish, and it should never be anywhere near bleach.
Abrasive pads and scouring powder. They scratch plastic and strip coating on metal.
Scented sprays. Dogs and cats spend their day at gate height with their noses on it. Many essential oils are also toxic to cats and birds are extremely sensitive to fumes, so nothing scented is worth the risk.
Soaking wood. Ever.
Source: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center guidance on household hazards for pets
Chewed gates, and when to stop cleaning
Puppies chew gates. Look at the top rail and the slat edges for tooth marks, splinters, and raised burrs.
Splintered wood is a mouth injury risk, and chewed plastic leaves sharp edges. Sand a small burr smooth, and retire a gate that has been chewed through to a rough or weakened edge.
Also retire a gate whose latch does not hold under a firm push, whose slat spacing has widened, or whose pressure mounts no longer grip. A gate that fails is a fall risk at the top of stairs, and gates at the top of stairs should be hardware-mounted rather than pressure-mounted.
The manufacturer's instructions govern installation and use, so follow them for your specific gate.
How often should you clean it?
Wipe the latch and the bottom rail weekly, since those are the two dirtiest points. Do a full clean monthly, and more often for a gate in a kitchen doorway where cooking film settles on everything.
Clean gates on the same day you do the other barriers and enclosures, since they share the same hair and grime load. Crate trays are the messiest of that group and have their own soak-based routine in how to clean kennel floor pans and trays.
Give the wall and floor around the gate a pass at the same time. Gate posts collect a dark smudge on paint at rubbing height, which comes off with a barely damp cloth if you catch it early.
For everything else your pet uses daily, our guide to cleaning pet bowls, bedding, toys and gear keeps the same clean-and-dry rules in one place.
FAQ
Why is my pet gate latch sticky?
Hand oil, dust, and pet hair pack into the mechanism and set into a paste. Brush the latch with an old toothbrush and warm soapy water while operating it, wipe the residue off with a clean damp cloth, and dry it fully. Do not add household oil.
How do you lubricate a pet gate latch?
Only after cleaning, and only with a dry lubricant such as a graphite or dry film product, applied sparingly and wiped off. Cooking oil and general household oils attract dust and hair, which turns a stiff latch into a jammed one within a few weeks.
How do you clean a wooden pet gate?
Use a cloth wrung out hard in warm soapy water, never a wet one, and dry each section immediately. Standing water at the bottom rail lifts and dulls the finish. Never soak a wooden gate, and avoid ammonia-based cleaners, which can damage the finish.
How often should you clean a pet gate?
Wipe the latch and the bottom rail weekly, since those collect the most, and do a full clean monthly. A gate in a kitchen doorway needs it more often, because cooking film settles on the slats and makes hair and dust stick harder.
Can you use bleach on a pet gate?
There is no need, and it damages finishes and coatings. Bleach must also never be mixed with ammonia, which urine contains, or with any acid, since those release chloramine and chlorine gas. Warm soapy water and a rinse handle everything on a gate.
When should you replace a pet gate?
Replace one whose latch does not hold under a firm push, whose pressure mounts no longer grip, or that has been chewed to a rough or weakened edge. Gates at the top of stairs should be hardware-mounted, and a failed gate there is a serious fall risk.
Gates and barriers are a small part of a much larger job. Every home is different, so the real number depends on size, condition, and what you want covered. Get a quote or read more about house cleaning services.