Your Ultimate Guide To Cleaning Sliding Glass Doors

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.Overall, they make a great addition to any home. But after a successful window and door replacement or installation, you’re going to have to follow the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions to keep them operating properly.Because these doors also act as windows, they tend to get dirty quicker than your average front door. It’s important to inspect them regularly for signs of wear and tear, especially in the tracks. Poorly cleaned and maintained sliding glass doors will eventually affect how smoothly the door opens and closes.So, how should you be deep cleaning sliding glass doors? Keep reading—we’ve got you covered.

Step 1: Clean the Sliding Door Tracks

Door tracks accumulate dirt, dust, and debris over time, which can affect how smoothly the door operates. Additionally, the buildup of dirt and debris in the tracks can create a breeding ground for insects and bacteria. Therefore, it's important to clean the tracks thoroughly to maintain the hygiene and functionality of the door.

What You’ll Need

For this part, you’ll need the following materials:

• A small vacuum
• A screwdriver
• Acetone
• Lubricating grease
• A toothbrush
• Steel wool
• A tack cloth
• A terry cloth towel

Instructions:

An easy way to clean sliding door tracks is to wipe them with a slightly oily cloth. This will help to keep it operating smoothly. If you notice some resistance to movement, you may need to remove the door to clean it thoroughly. If this is the case, simply follow the instructions below:

1. First, remove the sliding glass door. There are two ways to go about this: you either grasp the door at each end and lift it upwards as you pull it towards your body, or use the screwdriver to raise the lower rollers off the tracks and then pull the door towards you as you lift it.
2. Next, use the miniature vacuum to remove sand, gravel, bits of leaves and bark, or any other debris that has gotten into the door’s tracks. Remember to vacuum both the top and bottom of the door.
3. Clean up any traces of rust. If your sliding doors are made from a material like aluminum, you should check if there are any signs of rust. This could cause your door to stick. Gently use steel wool to remove the rust, and then wipe the surface with a tack cloth to get rid of any metal particles.
4. Changes in temperature, exposure to the elements, and regular use of your sliding glass doors can cause grime to appear on the tracks. This will eventually thicken and lead to a malfunctioning sliding glass door. Use a brush to clean sliding door tracks and remove the grease and grime, or dip a toothbrush in acetone and use the wet bristles to clean the tracks’ top and bottom. When you’re done, wipe the tracks with a terry cloth towel.
5. Lastly, make sure to grease the tracks once they have been thoroughly cleaned. Apply a small amount of lubrication on the door rails, and then put the door back in its position. Glide the door several times to spread the lubricant along the wheels and tracks.

Step 2: Clean the Glass Surface

Over time, the door’s glass will accumulate dirt, dust, fingerprints, and other grime that affects 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 crisp and clear.

What You’ll Need

To start cleaning glass doors, gather the following:

• Rag, clean cloth, or paper towels
• Microfibre cloth or foam sponge
• Soap
• Mild window-washing solution
• Squeegee
• Water

Instructions:

It’s important to keep in mind that you shouldn’t use any type of scraping tool to remove stuck debris. Instead, repeat the steps below as many times as you need so you can get squeaky clean sliding doors without damaging them.

1. Pick a side of the door and dip a clean rag in soapy water and use it to wet the entire glass surface. This will help to loosen dirt deposits.
2. After several minutes, wipe off the soapy water using a clean cloth or some paper towels. Work your windows from top to bottom.
3. Apply a mild window washing solution using a microfibre cloth, foam sponge, or any other non-abrasive cleaner.
4. Once you’ve covered the surface with the cleaning solution, wipe it off immediately using the squeegee, as waiting too long can cause streaks or blotchy spots when removed.
5. Repeat the steps above on the other side of your sliding door.

Step 3: Clean the Door Frame and Hardware

The door frame and handles are used extensively, which makes them most likely to accumulate bacteria, smudges and smears over time. You definitely don’t want to skip this part!

What You’ll Need

• Clean cloth
• A rag
• A scouring pad
• Mild cleaning soap
• Metal polish
• Water

Instructions:

1. Wipe the frame around the glass and the edges using a damp cloth.
2. Next, use a scouring pad to clean the door frame bottom and threshold, which are likely to be ingrained with dirt due to frequent use.
3. 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.
4. If there are difficult spots to clean, dip a cloth in warm soapy water and scrub the stains.
5. Lastly, polish the metal door hardware lightly after cleaning it.
6. When you’re done cleaning your sliding glass doors, dry any surfaces that are still wet with a clean rag.

Get Stunning Sliding Doors from Clera

Your sliding glass doors are your window to the outside world—that’s why it’s so important to make maintaining them part of your regular cleaning routine.By deep cleaning sliding glass doors, you can add more natural light to your home, avoid any costly repairs or replacements, and be assured that your home is safe and secure.If you have an old patio door that still doesn’t function properly after cleaning, consider replacing it with a more efficient one from Clera Windows + Doors. Since 1978, we’ve improved over 250,000 homes with our reliable products. We provide full customization and maintenance support after a successful installation.Contact our team today for a FREE estimate!