Do you remember the last time you cleaned out your sliding door tracks? If you’re like most people, the answer is “never.” Well, now is as good of a time as any to make those tracks sparkle, and we’ll show you how! This simple guide will have your sliding door tracks looking good as new in no time at all.
What You Need to Clean Sliding Door Tracks
- Brush with soft bristles (an old toothbrush works great)
- Vacuum with handheld hose attachment
- Warm water and dish soap in a spray bottle
- Microfiber towel
- Cotton swabs
- WD-40 (optional)
Cleaning Your Sliding Door Tracks
The nice thing about this chore is that you can get it done relatively quickly. Depending on how dirty they are, you will probably only need about 30 minutes to get your sliding door tracks clean.
Loosen the Dirt and Debris
The first step is to take your brush and scrub the tracks while they are dry to loosen any dirt and debris. Depending on where you live and where the sliding door is located in your apartment, you might have sand, mud, and even leaves on your track that create a layer of grime.
You can use the vacuum to suck up any dirt and debris that you remove with the brush; doing this will make the next steps much easier as you will already have removed some dirt.
Use Your Soapy Water and Make it Shine
Even if there was not much dirt or grime to begin with, you will still want to use a cleaning solution on your track to eliminate odors and prevent mold or mildew. An easy cleaning solution you can make yourself is by mixing warm water and dish soap in a spray bottle. You will only need a little bit of dish soap to make an effective cleaner. Shake the bottle well once the water and soap have been added.
Spray your solution on the tracks and let it sit for ten minutes before using your microfiber towel to wipe it away. Repeat this step as many times as needed to make it shine.
Don’t Forget the Hard-To-Reach Spots
Sliding door tracks have many small nooks and crannies, some of which will be unreachable with your microfiber towel. You can use a cotton swab or an old toothbrush to wipe these out. It is important to clean these areas for optimal door function, so don’t forget about these spots!
Clean Around the Track and the Outside Track
Most of what gets caught in your track and turns into grime start outside. It is important that you clean around the door track and the outside track; otherwise, you will be repeating this whole cleaning process again before you know it.
If you notice that your door isn’t sliding as smoothly as it should be, try adding a little WD-40 to the track, and your door should be working better than ever! How often you clean your sliding door track will be determined by how much dirt accumulates there, but it is recommended to clean it at least twice per year to maintain optimal function.
