Housekeeping House Cleaning Cleaning Tips How to Clean Sliding Door Tracks Staying on top of this task can help to prevent an expensive problem down the line. By Jolie Kerr Jolie Kerr Jolie Kerr is a cleaning expert and the author of the New York Times bestselling book, My Boyfriend Barfed In My Handbag ... And Other Things You Can't Ask Martha. Her work has appeared in GQ, Cosmopolitan, The New York Times and Town & Country. A graduate of Barnard College, Jolie lives in a tiny Manhattan apartment with her five vacuum cleaners. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Published on April 19, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Project Overview Total Time: 1 hour Skill Level: Beginner Estimated Cost: $15 The tracks of sliding doors require regular maintenance to ensure they remain free of dirt and debris that can build up and impede the door's mechanism over time. When left unchecked, poorly maintained sliding door tracks can lead to expensive repairs or worse, the need to replace the track or door entirely. To avoid this costly home repair, it's best to perform both routine cleaning and deep cleaning of sliding door tracks. JULIE SOEFER Before Getting Started Before you begin cleaning the tracks of sliding doors, assess the area, noting how dirty the tracks are and any repairs or maintenance that need to be performed. Open the sliding door all the way and check the track for any dents, corrosion, leaks, misaligned wheels, loose or missing hardware, or broken locking mechanisms. If the sliding door tracks are very dirty, follow the instructions provided to deep clean them. What You'll Need Equipment / Tools Broom Vacuum Microfiber cloth Toothbrush Drying rag Materials 1 Dish soap 1 Silicone lubricant Instructions How to Clean Sliding Door Tracks Sweep the Area Use a broom to sweep dirt and debris from the tracks and the area around the exterior of the sliding door. Vacuum the Tracks Using a standard vacuum fitted with a crevice or hose attachment, a shop vac, or a handheld vacuum, vacuum the tracks and the area on both sides of the stationary door to remove dirt and other particulates. The 8 Best Handheld Vacuums of 2023, Tested and Reviewed Clean Sliding Door Tracks Wipe the tracks, including the area around the stationary door, using a damp microfiber cloth. If there is buildup that doesn't wipe easily away, apply a small amount of dish soap to the damp cloth, or use a toothbrush dipped in diluted dish soap to scour stubborn grime from the tracks. Rinse and Dry Once the tracks are clean, rinse them well to remove soap residue. Use a rag or an old towel to wipe water droplets off the tracks, then allow them to air dry completely. Lubricate Sliding Door Tracks Using a silicone lubricant designed for use on sliding door tracks, apply the recommended amount to the track and the wheels. Slide the door back and forth a few times, noting any places where it catches and spot checking for dirt that still needs to be removed, or for repairs that need to be made. How Often to Clean Sliding Door Tracks After you've completed the step-by-step for cleaning door tracks, plan to deep clean sliding door tracks at least every other month. Routine cleaning, including sweeping away debris from the tracks and vacuuming to remove dirt and other particulates, should be done weekly, and will delay the need for more time- and labor-intensive deep cleaning. Frequently Asked Questions Can you use WD-40 to lubricate sliding doors? Yes. After cleaning sliding door tracks, spray WD-40 only to the track, wheels, and rollers for doors that open and close smoothly. How do you clean the glass on sliding doors? Clean glass sliding doors using a window cleaner and microfiber cloth to remove fingerprints, smudges, and residue.