Just as doors with hinges, those that slide on a track too have their share of problems. Sliding glass doors are commonly used for doors that lead to a deck, porch, or even a sunroom. These doors are especially loved for their ability to let in a lot of natural light, making space feel more open, airy, and bright.
However, as with any other part of your home, sliding glass doors also need routine maintenance to keep them operating as they should. A lack of routine care for your sliding glass door can cause difficulty when opening and closing the door. This can quickly lead to frustration.
Here’s what you need to know about properly maintaining the sliding glass doors in your home.
Keep the Glass Clean
One of the easiest parts of maintaining a sliding glass door is to keep the door clean. Glass is prone to showing oil and dirt collected from fingerprints, children, and pets. By taking the time to keep the glass clean, you can always enjoy an unobstructed view of Mother Nature’s beauty.
When cleaning the glass, use a household glass cleaner like Windex. For a more natural option clean the glass using a solution made of 1 part white vinegar, 2 parts lukewarm water. Using a damp cloth you can remove any dirt, oil, and other grime that has built up on the glass.
Make wiping down the glass part of your weekly chore routine. It’s also beneficial to get into the habit of using the handle to open the door versus using the glass. This way you can minimize the amount of dirt and grime that gets on the glass.
A Clean Track is a Must
Over time has your door become harder to open? Does it take a lot of effort to close your sliding glass door? If so, chances are the main culprit is a dirty track. Sliding glass doors need to have a clean track to glide on, otherwise, you will face some resistance when trying to open or close the door.
Thankfully it doesn’t take much effort to clean a sliding glass door track. Use a wire brush to scrape away any dirt and debris that has built up. You can then use a vacuum cleaner to suck up the dirt or use a damp cloth to pick it up.
Be sure to routinely clean the door’s track as foot traffic is bound to cause a buildup of dirt, pebbles, and other debris that will impact the doors ability to effortlessly glide.
Lubricate It!
Aside from cleaning the track, it should also be lubricated on a routine basis. You can use WD-40 or a silicone-based lubricant to ensure the door glides along the tracks. As soon as the door starts to show any form of resistance when opening or closing it, it’s time to lubricate. By properly and routinely lubricating the tracks, you can greatly lessen the effort needed to easily operate the door.
When lubricating, be sure to avoid spraying any surrounding surfaces. Lubricants can be quite slippery and can make the floor around the sliding glass door dangerous to walk on.
Adjust or Replace Rollers
All sliding glass doors have rollers that allow the door to glide on the track. Over time these rollers can be knocked out of place. Using the screws that hold the rollers onto the door, you can easily adjust the height of the rollers which also changes the height of the door. A few centimeters of adjustments can make a world of a difference when using the door.
But, if the door rollers are old, it makes more sense to replace them entirely. You can find new rollers at a local hardware store or online.
Avoid Slamming the Door
Sliding glass doors experience a lot of traffic, especially during the warmer months. With so many different people opening and closing the door, it’s inevitable that the door gets slammed shut every so often. While sliding glass doors are designed to be durable, over time slamming the door can reposition the rollers on the track, making the door hard to open and close.
When using the sliding glass door, reminds your family and guests to use the handle. It’s also important to stress the fact that the door doesn’t need to be slammed. If the door requires that much effort to close it, chances are the track is past due for a cleaning and lubrication.
Conclusion
Knowing how to maintain the sliding glass doors in your home means one less item to worry about. With routine maintenance, you can extend the lifespan of the sliding glass doors and enjoy them for years to come.