Window cleaning · 2 min read
How to clean sliding door tracks (and why your door sticks)
Gritty, stiff sliding doors are usually dirty tracks. A step-by-step guide to cleaning sliding-door tracks, plus how often coastal and Winelands homes should do it.
Quick answer
Most stiff sliding doors just have dirty tracks. Vacuum out the loose sand and grit with a crevice tool. Loosen packed dirt with a stiff brush, wipe with a damp cloth and let it dry fully. Clean the glass and frame while you're there. In windy or coastal areas, tracks need clearing every few months.
Why sliding doors get stiff
Sand, dust, leaves and pet hair collect in the bottom track. The rollers run over the grit, so the door drags and grinds, and over time the rollers wear out. In the Helderberg, the summer south-easter blows sand straight into tracks.
Step by step
- Open the door fully and clean one half of the track, then slide it closed and do the other half.
- Vacuum loose sand and grit with a narrow crevice nozzle.
- Brush packed dirt out of the corners with an old toothbrush or stiff detail brush.
- Wipe the track with a damp cloth and a little mild soap. Don't flood it, and make sure drainage holes are clear.
- Dry the track completely.
- Test the door. If it still drags, the rollers may need adjusting or replacing by a door specialist.
What to avoid
- Don't oil the track. Oil attracts more sand and makes it worse.
- Don't force a stuck door. You can damage the rollers or the glass.
How often
Coastal homes in Strand and Gordon's Bay: every one to two months in summer. Inland homes: every three months, or whenever you do the windows. Every window clean we do includes clearing and wiping the sliding-door tracks.
Rather have it done properly? Free quotations across Strand, Somerset West and Stellenbosch.
WhatsApp usQuestions
Is track cleaning included in your window cleaning?
Yes. Sliding doors are cleaned on both sides, with frames and tracks cleared and wiped.
Should I lubricate sliding door tracks?
Generally no. Lubricants attract sand and dust. Keep the track clean and dry instead.