People always opt to install sliding doors in their home because they add a contemporary charm to any type of home, and the fact, they are compact, means they work for spaces that cannot have hinged doors.
Sliding glass doors allow you to have plenty of daylight which can improve your energy efficiency.
The only downfall is the fact that sliding glass doors are not maintenance-free and will require some cleaning.
If you are unsure how to clean sliding glass doors, you have come to the right place.
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How To Clean Sliding Glass Door Tracks
Are your sliding doors hard to open? Are they sticking or requiring more effort to open them? Cleaning your doors often will prevent build-ups of grime and dirt which in the end will make your door quicker and easier to maintain. Did you know that you can clean the tracks with basic household cleaners? If the dirt is stubborn, consider using a baking soda and vinegar mix to remove it. Once you have finished cleaning your doors and tracks, you can add some lubrication, so the doors open smoothly.
Basic Sliding Door Cleaning
First of all, you want to start with vacuuming the tracks and ensuring you get everywhere, including the corners.
It is important to remove as much debris and dirt build-up as you can, which will make the next steps easier.
Next, create a cleaning solution with a cup of water and a small amount of non-abrasive cleaner.
You can scrub the tracks with a scrubbing brush, or an old toothbrush can work well.
Once you are finished scrubbing, you can use a paper towel or an old rag and wipe over the tracks to remove the muck.
It is a good idea to clean frequently to avoid piles of build-up from forming.
I Have Stubborn Dirt. What Can I Use To Remove It From The Tracks?
Good question! The process is very simple, requiring you to mix together equal parts of cold water and white vinegar into a clean spray bottle.
You can apply some baking soda to the tracks of the glass sliding doors, where you can see stubborn build-up.
Spray the tracks with your solution and watch it fizz up. Leave the solution to sit on the door tracks for around 10 minutes. Once the time is up you can go ahead and wipe the dirt away using a rag or cloth.
Are There Any Hacks To Cleaning Tracks With A Sponge?
There certainly is, and it happens to work very well. Grab a scourer or thick sponge and line it up to your door tracks. Now you can mark where each rail is on the sponge with a permanent marker.
Now using a knife, you need to cut along the marks without cutting all the way through. Now just bend the sponge, and it will look like a mango after you have cut it from the outside.
Dunk your sponge in some hot, soapy water and give it a little squeeze before you line it up to match where the slits are.
Now you just need to push the sponge along the tracks, and the dirt will move with the sponge and glide right off.
What Tools Can Help Reach Into Door Tracks?
The Triangle Glass Sliding Door Tool and the Sliding Door Cleaning Set are the perfect accessories that can help you to reach those hard to get to places and deep in the corners of your sliding door tracks.
There are many tools available to help make the job easier, but it might be a bit of trial and error before you find the tool you like best.
Can I Clean My Sliding Door Tracks With Steam?
Yes, you can. In fact, steam works great to loosen the grime. Just like above, you need to vacuum the sliding door tracks first and set up your steamer as you normally would for other jobs.
When you are ready to start, you can run your steamer across the door tracks and watch the hot steam loosen the dirt and grime.
After you have finished with the steamer, the remaining debris should easily wipe off with a damp cloth. You can repeat these steps for extra dirty, built-up doors.
Do I Need To Lubricate The Door After Cleaning?
While this is not always necessary, it can help the door glide along the tracks especially if you have used harsh chemicals to clean the tracks and removed all the lubrication.
After you have cleaned the doors and there is no dirt or debris remaining you can spray some lubricant onto your rag and wipe your tracks down.
You only need a small amount of lubrication per track. It is best to use a petroleum-based spray lube which will help to remove the oil and grime deposits that can build up over time.
Cleaning The Sliding Door Wheels For Gunk
Did you know that your sliding doors actually roll along the tracks with little wheels called rollers?
The rollers can eventually get a build-up of gunk in them, which can cause your door to stick and not function properly.
Most times, the problem of sticky rollers comes from them, whether being dirty or dried up.
When this occurs, you can simply remove the door from the tracks and clean out the rollers, then use a good lubricant like WD-40.
If this doesn’t solve the problem, you might have a broken or damaged roller instead of just a dirty one, which will need replacing.
Conclusion
Sliding doors are easy to use and fairly easy to maintain and fix problems.
Whether your sliding door is sticking due to dirty tracks or gunk sitting on the rollers, the problem is easily fixed with a good clean and descent lubrication.
Stop dealing with a frustrating door that won’t slide properly; instead, follow the tips above, and you should end up with a door that glides along the tracks without effort.
FAQ
How Often Should I Clean My Sliding Door Tracks And Rollers?
It is a good idea to clean the tracks once every two weeks and then do a full clean of the rollers and tracks every 3 months to avoid your door sticking and struggling to open.
Can I Get My Doors Professionally Cleaned?
If you feel you are not confident enough to remove the door or are having trouble locating the rollers, a professional sliding door company will come out and carry out a professional clean for you and check for any problems that might be present such as rust or damage.