How to Clean Sliding Door Tracks?
Introduction
Have you found yourself pulling harder on your traditional sliding doors lately? Is there any noise when the door opens and closes? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you probably need some maintenance on your sliding glass door.
Over time, leaves, dirt, sand, mud and other foreign matter can accumulate in the sliding glass wall tracks. Dirty traditional rails can become a costly problem if left unattended. When this happens, you may need to replace the entire door, including the frame.
Thankfully, there are steps you can take to avoid these problems. A good deep cleaning can remove a lot of grime that can cause problems. Afterwards, a light routine cleaning will prevent the problem from happening again. The best part is that you don't need expensive tools or chemicals to clean the tracks. You can use everyday household items to get the job done. Here are some of our best tips on how to clean sliding door tracks.
The Importance of Sliding Door Maintenance
A well-maintained sliding glass door will provide you with years of reliable performance. However, not doing sliding glass door maintenance can cause you a lot of problems.
Dirty slides will prevent the door from moving freely. As dirt continues to build up on the tracks, it will become more difficult to open and close the doors. You could end up damaging the hardware and the door frame by forcing it open and closed.
Cleaning sliding glass door tracks is also important for safety. Continued force on the door could eventually cause traditional sliding glass door panels to come off their tracks.
Daily Maintenance of Sliding Door Tracks
Routine sliding door maintenance is the best way to avoid problems with your door. Ideally, you should clean your tracks at least once a month. Clean more frequently if there is high traffic in and out of the door.
Supplies Needed for Cleaning Sliding Door Tracks
Before starting, gather some supplies. You don't need to spend a lot of money on expensive cleaners. Most of what you need are common household items. You will need the following:
How to Clean Sliding Door Tracks Using a Cleaning Solution?
A solution of white vinegar and water is an easy and effective way to clean aluminum. Using a clean spray bottle, mix equal parts white vinegar and water and spray along the tracks. Wipe clean with a dry soft cloth. Make sure to wipe off all moisture from the tracks. Alternatively, warm soapy water is a gentle, yet effective way to clean aluminum. Pour a small amount of soapy water over the trouble spot on the door track to help loosen dirt and debris, then wipe clean.
Vacuuming
Start your daily sliding glass door maintenance with something simple. Remove all leaves by hand. Next, vacuum up any visible debris. Attention to vacuuming first will reduce the work required for the next few steps.
Scrub and Wipe
Grab your toothbrush and start scrubbing the dirt off the tracks. This helps loosen the debris further. When you're done, place paper towels on the track. Blot the liquid with paper towels until dry. For aluminum and other metal surfaces, avoid using heavily abrasive materials or excessive scrubbing to maintain the integrity and aesthetics of the sliding door.
Get Corner
Get in the door frame and get the cleaning done. Use a cloth-wrapped butter knife to dig out the corners. Considering the solution you just applied, things should be easy to fix. Avoid scrubbing vigorously with sharp objects, or you may damage the track. Also, avoid harsh chemicals when cleaning sliding glass door tracks, as they can corrode the frame.
Conclusion
The above are all the steps to clean the sliding door track. If you have any questions or want to buy a new sliding door track, please contact us.
Wekis is a professional custom sliding door hardware manufacturer. For 18 years, we have been focusing on the R&D, design and manufacturing of furniture hardware and sliding door hardware. The 10,000-square-meter factory has automated production lines including a laser cutting center and a robotic welding center. We provide professional customized solutions for various hardware products to customers from all over the world.