Sliding glass doors are designed to provide a seamless transition between the indoors and outdoors of your home. They allow for an abundance of natural light, save tons of space, are energy efficient, and are generally low maintenance.
Keeping your slide glass doors looking their best is something any homeowner can do relatively easily. All it takes is a bit of preparation.
Here’s a Quick Guide to Keeping Your Sliding Door Crystal Clear All Year Round:
Step 1: Our Tips to Cleaning the Sliding Door Tracks
Over time door tracks accumulate dirt, dust, and debris, which can affect how smoothly it operates. Additionally, this buildup of dirt and debris creates a breeding ground for insects and bacteria. So it’s important to clean the tracks to maintain both the hygiene and functionality of the door.
The easiest way to clean sliding door tracks is to wipe them with a slightly oiled cloth. This will help to keep it operating smoothly. If you notice some resistance when sliding it to open or close, you may need to remove the doors to clean it thoroughly. If this is the case, simply follow our recommendations below:
- First, remove the sliding door. You may either grab the door at either end and push it higher as you draw it toward you or use a screwdriver to take the bottom rollers off the tracks and then lift the door.
- Next, use a small vacuum to remove sand, gravel, and other dirt from the door tracks. Be sure to vacuum the door top and bottom.
- Check for and remove rust. Check for rust on aluminum sliding doors. This may stick to your door. Brush off the rust with steel wool and then remove any leftover metal particles with a tack cloth.
- Door tracks become grimy from temperature changes, natural factors, and constant usage of sliding glass doors. This will thicken and cause sliding door issues. We suggest brushing sliding door tracks to eliminate oil and dirt. Using acetone-soaked toothbrush bristles, clean the track’s top and bottom. Finish by wiping the tracks with a towel.
- Grease the tracks after every thorough cleaning. Lubricating the door rails and repositioning the door. Move the door several times to disperse lubrication on the wheels and tracks.
Step 2: Cleaning the Glass Surface
Based on experience, the door’s glass will accumulate dirt, dust, fingerprints, and other grime that will affect the appearance of the door, making it difficult to see through. Regularly cleaning the glass surface can help to remove these stains and keep the glass looking clean and clear.
It’s important to keep in mind that you shouldn’t use any type of scraping tool to remove stuck debris on the glass. Instead, repeat the steps below as many times as you need so you can get squeaky clean sliding doors without damaging them.
- Pick a side of the door dip any clean rag in soapy water and use it to wet the entire glass surface. This will help to loosen dirt deposits accumulated over time.
- After a few minutes, wipe off the soapy water using a clean cloth or a paper towel. Work your windows from top to bottom.
- Apply a mild washing solution for windows using a microfiber cloth, foam sponge, or any other non-abrasive cleaner.
- Once you’ve covered the surface with the cleaning solution of your choice, wipe it off immediately using a squeegee, as waiting too long can cause streaks or blotchy spots when removed.
Repeat the steps above on the other side of your sliding door.
Read more about the Steps to Maintain a Clean and Smooth Opening Sliding Door Track
Step 3: Cleaning the Door Frame and Hardware
Most door frames and handles are used extensively, making them most likely to accumulate bacteria, smudges and smears. You definitely don’t want to skip this part!
- We recommend that you wipe the frame around the glass and the edges using a damp cloth.
- Next, scrub the bottom of the door frame and threshold with a scouring pad to remove dirt that has likely built up from frequent use.
- Then, wipe off any dust at the top of the frame with a dry cloth. Switch to a damp cloth to wipe the entire frame afterward.
- If there are difficult spots to clean, dip a cloth in warm soapy water and scrub the stains carefully.
- Lastly, lightly polish the metal door hardware after cleaning it.
When you’re done cleaning your sliding glass doors, dry any surfaces that are still wet using a clean rag.
Maintaining your sliding glass doors is crucial as they serve as your window to the outside world. By regularly cleaning sliding glass doors, you are adding more natural light to your home.
If you are looking for professional help with your house cleaning tasks, you can always reach out to our House Cleaning Los Angeles Team. Our team at Maggy Maid is dedicated to providing you with the highest quality house cleaning services. Let the experts handle the cleaning for you! Book our professional house cleaning service today or call us directly at (888) 624-4962 to schedule an appointment. Ask for an obligation-free quote now.
