Sliding Door Maintenance and Other Good Tips

Sliding Door Maintenance (5 Good Tips)

Your sliding glass door doesn’t have hinges, which makes it somewhat simpler in design than some other types of doors. That doesn’t mean you don’t need to know how to take care of it. 

If you want your sliding glass door to last, you need to make sure you follow some basic maintenance protocols (and other best practices) that will be covered here. 

Keep the Glass Clean

The easiest and most straightforward aspect of sliding door maintenance is to keep the glass clean. 

Keeping the glass clean is not just a matter of aesthetics, although there is little more satisfying than clean glass. You can use household cleaners like Windex to remove fingerprints and other marks. You can also use a bit of white vinegar or rubbing alcohol to dislodge stubborn grime or grease. 

Keeping the glass clean will help prevent an accumulation of grime around the frame, which is also beneficial. 

Clean the Frame

Next up, we have to remember to keep the sliding door’s frame clean. In most instances, only a basic cleaning or dusting will be necessary, but in any event, keeping the frame clean will help protect the lifespan of the seal.

Dust the outside of the frame using a duster or compressed air, then wipe it down with a mild mixture of warm water and soap. Avoid harsh detergents and other chemicals that can damage synthetic polymers. 

If the door frame is wood, you will periodically need to refinish the frame with whatever was originally used on it; typically this is some form of wood oil, varnish or lacquer.

Don’t Ever Force the Door or Yank the Sliding Door Handle 

If your sliding door handle resists you, there is probably an issue with the sliding door track or the rollers. They need to be cleaned or lubricated or both. Either that or there is a worse issue making the door stick and it may need to be replaced. 

Clean the Track

Cleaning the sliding door track is arguably the most vital aspect of sliding door maintenance, as a clean track will allow the door to slide smoothly and will help prevent damage to the rollers or sliding door handle. 

The first thing you need to do is get any particulate matter off the track. For this, you can use compressed air or a vacuum. Once all the dust and debris is out of the track, take a look and see if there is any rust there. If there is, use a brass brush to scrape it loose and vacuum it up. 

If you notice your track is worn and has dips, you will need to add a stainless steel track cap.

Replace Old Door Weatherstripping

Lastly, when you are down there working on the sliding door track, take a look at the weatherstripping. Some door and window weather stripping is made of soft synthetic compounds that break down, fray and tear with use.

When the weatherstripping breaks down, the flaps can hang loose on the side or even under the door, which makes the whole situation worse. As you continue to open and close the door, you’ll rip the weather stripping even more, contributing to its decline. 

If the weatherstripping is in good shape, leave it be. If not, replace it. Remember, weatherstripping is not just about aesthetics, it also improves your home’s insulation, saving you money. Equally importantly, tattered weatherstripping can jam up the door track, and straining against it can leave you with a broken sliding door handle, which is something you want to avoid. 

Replacement Sliding Door Handles and Parts Are Here

Have you ever felt frustrated because you were looking for some specific part to make a repair, and just couldn’t find what you need? We are here to help. Just call us at 727-386-4629 and talk to a real person that knows what they’re talking about. We carry sliding door handles, tracks, rollers, and other parts and hardware including locks. Don’t guess at what needs to be fixed or if parts are compatible. Call us and we will help you find the exact part you need.