A sliding door is a special door that opens horizontally by sliding. Most homeowners love these doors because of the natural light they bring into the house. Also, because of the large open space they create, there is excellent fresh air circulation.
There are different types of sliding doors which may have single casement windows, double-casement windows, or triple-casement windows. These doors have many parts like rollers, jamb, sill, and others. When these parts accumulate dirt, the sliding door needs to be fixed. You could call a technician to repair your door or do it yourself when this happens. Here’s how to clean and fix your sliding door that is stuck.
What do you need?
When you decide to clean your stuck sliding door, you will need several tools to help remove all the dirt. Below are some of the things that you need:
ü Soapy water
ü Paper towels
ü An old toothbrush
ü Flathead screwdriver
ü Vacuum cleaner
ü Large blanket
Removing the sliding doors
To properly clean and fix your sliding door, you must remove the doors to clean each part separately. Below is a thorough guide on how to remove a sliding door from its track
How to prepare your working area?
The first step is ensuring that the area you are going to work in is not hazardous. You must move any furniture, clothes, and rugs on the floor. Lay a large blanket down where you will place the sliding door.
Detach the sliding door
Depending on your door type, screws can be on the top or bottom track. Also, some doors have screws on the top and bottom tracks. Use a screwdriver to loosen the screws. After all the screws are loose, grab the door on both sides or get someone to help you.
Lifting the door out
For this step, it is crucial to get someone to help. Lift the door so that it can detach from the bottom track. After it has disconnected, pull the door out carefully until it comes out entirely. Lay it down on a large blanket, or lean it against a wall.
Cleaning the sliding door tracks
Dust accumulating in the tracks is a major reason your sliding doors get stuck. The first step is to use a vacuum cleaner and eliminate any dust particles in the track. After vacuuming, soak your sponge in soapy water to properly clean the track. Using a toothbrush to scrub areas that are difficult to scrub with a sponge is also advisable.
Cleaning the sliding door rollers
The rollers on sliding doors are very fragile and break easily. So, you need to check whether the rollers are damaged or have dirt. If they are broken, replacing them is the best option to prevent your sliding door from jamming in the future.
If the rollers are not broken, scrub them thoroughly using a sponge and soapy water. Also, you can use a toothbrush to make sure they are clean. There is no point in cleaning the sliding windows at this point because they are fragile. It is best to clean them after installing the sliding doors back.
Installing the sliding door
First, you need to lift the door and get it into position facing toward the tracks. When doing this, it is advisable to get someone to help you. Fit the sliding door into the tracks and tighten the screws on the top and bottom tracks.
After installing the sliding door, you must test it to ensure it opens and closes. It is also good to test if the rollers are working well.
Sliding doors have many benefits and make our homes look good. If your sliding door is not working, these tips will guide you on carefully cleaning and fixing any problem.
