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How To Clean Sliding Patio Doors
Adding the perfect door to give your house the ideal finish, from the front door to the patio, can be daunting, especially when keeping a clean sliding glass door. Your sliding patio doors need to look good, which means some maintenance occasionally.
Cleaning your sliding glass doors is an accessible business. You'll be good to go once you have a cleaning solution and all the tools to make it sparkling clean again. Here is everything you need to know about how to clean sliding patio doors:
Sliding door designer >Cleaning Your Sliding Patio Doors: Step-By-Step
You will need to clean everything from the glass to the rails. This ensures that your door stays operational and looks amazing!
Step 1: Give The Sliding Door Rails A Clean
Before starting to clean your sliding door rails, you will need to have the following:
- A screwdriver
- Lubricating grease
- A mini vacuum
- Acetone
- A toothbrush
- A clean cloth
- Steel wool
- A terrycloth towel
You should wipe the sliding door tracks with an oily cloth. This ensures that it will keep operating smoothly. If there is resistance to any movement, you will likely need to remove the sliding patio door to give it a proper cleaning. Do this by:
- Pull the sliding door out. You can do this in two ways. Grab the door at each end and pull it towards your body while lifting the door upwards. Or you could use your screwdriver to raise the lower rollers off their track and pull the door towards yourself while lifting it. You may also be wondering, can sliding patio doors be reversed?
- Use your mini vacuum to remove any gravel, sand, bark, bits of leaves, and any other debris that may have gotten into the tracks and is now preventing your sliding door from sliding easily. Vacuum the bottom and top part of the door too.
- Clean off the rust. Some sliding doors are prone to rust, depending on what material they are made of. Aluminium doors tend to rust. Rust can cause your door to start sticking. Use steel wool to get rid of it and then wipe the surface using a tack cloth.
- Your sliding glass doors may accumulate dust in the tracks due to temperature changes, exposure to the outdoors, and frequent use. Because of the thickening of the oil, your door won’t open easily. Brushing the inside of the tracks – bottom, top, and on the door – with a toothbrush dipped in acetone will help to remove the grease and filth. When finished, use a terrycloth towel to clean the tracks.
- Oil the tracks. Apply a little amount of lubricant to the door tracks only after properly cleaning the tracks, and then reinstall the door. To distribute the lubrication along the tracks and wheels, slide the door several times.
Step 2: Cleaning The Glass Surface
What you will need:
- Water
- Soap and a mild window-washing solution
- Clean cloth, rag, microfibre cloth, paper towels, foam sponge
- Squeegee
Lay some rags on the ground if you live in an apartment complex or condo to prevent soapy water from dripping down the building’s side and affecting the neighbours. Then you need to:
- Use a clean rag to wet the whole glass surface after dipping it in soapy water. This will aid in removing stubborn dirt buildup. You can start with the exterior or interior of your door.
- Use a fresh cloth or some paper towels to remove the solution after a few minutes. Work your way down the windows.
- Use a microfibre cloth, a foam sponge, or any other non-abrasive cloth or applicator to apply the mild window cleaning solution.
- Use the squeegee to remove the cleaning solution as soon as it has been applied to the full surface of the glass. If you wait too long, the solution can leave behind streaks or blotchy places when it’s time to remove it.
- Repeat this process on the other side of your sliding glass doors.
Tip: To get rid of stuck-on debris, avoid using any sort of scraping instrument. Instead, go through the process, again and again, to avoid scratching your door. Knowing how to clean sliding patio doors means doing it slowly and carefully!
Step 3: Clean The Hardware And The Frame
The handles and door frame are frequently utilised, which increases the likelihood that they may gather streaks and smudges.
- Wipe the edges of the sliding door and the frame around the glass with a damp cloth.
- Use a scouring pad or a rough damp cloth to clean the threshold and the door frame bottom. They are likely ingrained with tons of dirt and grime.
- Use your dry cloth to wipe off the dust on the top part of the frame.
- Wipe the whole frame down with your damp cloth.
- Use warm soapy water and a damp cloth to clean tough spots, and the door handles. Be careful when cleaning the inside of the handles. You may even decide to remove the patio door’s glass to really clean every part of the door.
- Polish all of the metal door hardware when done.
Step 4: Clean Everything Up
After cleaning the sliding glass doors, dry any still-wet surfaces, such as the floor or siding of your home, using a clean rag.
Your replacement windows and doors will be the most impressive if they have a spotless sliding glass door. It can help bring in more light, open up your home, and provide you with a warm view of your backyard. Consider replacing an old door with a more effective one if it still doesn’t operate effectively after cleaning.
And that is how to clean sliding patio doors! With doors like ours, you’ll want to keep them clean, especially if you are looking to paint your sliding patio doors.
Cleaning Solution Options
When cleaning your sliding glass doors, you can play around with different solutions. To clean a sliding glass door, mix the following with some water:
- Detergent
- White vinegar
- Denatured alcohol
- Cleaner
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FAQs
How do I make my patio door streak-free?
The bottom part of the frame, which is prone to collecting a lot of dust, should be cleaned using a damp microfibre cloth. With tough stains, a little spray oil, something like a 3-in-1, can assist. After that, clean the frame with a damp towel, being sure to pay particular attention to any challenging marks.
Final Thoughts
Keeping glass doors and any French doors, roof lanterns or bi-fold doors clean is essential for longevity and aesthetics. Luckily, it is fairly easy to clean sliding glass doors at home, and with a few simple tools and products, you will be ready. Follow these simple steps, and you’ll have new, shiny-looking doors.
