Glass doors add style and appeal to the home while allowing optimal sunshine into the space. However, it’s not long before the glass gets dreary with fingerprints and dirt smudges, and the door doesn’t slide as quickly as it once did. Learn how to clean between sliding glass doors to remove track debris and leave the glass with a sparkling surface.
Sliding glass doors are a nice addition to the home. Yet, just like glass shower doors, they need extra maintenance to perform correctly and look their best. Unlike a fixed window, a sliding door has moving parts, and a double pane window may suffer from condensation.
Fortunately, cleaning a sliding patio door is more straightforward than you might think. While it’s not as easy as washing a regular vinyl window or shower door and requires time and patience, there are ways to simplify the cleaning process.
How to Clean Sliding Glass Doors
What good is a sliding glass door if you cannot see through it and it no longer opens smoothly? Learn how to clean sliding doors by cleaning the track to remove debris and the glass and door frame for a clear finish.
How to Remove a Double-Pane Glass Door for Cleaning
The first step to clean sliding glass door is removing the door from the sliding door track. Though it’s not difficult, it requires more than one person to safely lift the door out and transfer it to an out-of-the-way location.
Remove the door before you clean in between sliding glass doors. Start by spreading out a large blanket in a safe area to lay the glass door. Then, check to see how the door is secured to the track. You may be able to lift it straight out or use a screwdriver to loosen the screws at the bottom.
Stand across from another person, lift the door, and pull it inward. Once you safely remove the glass door and screen door, place them on a blanket away from the cleaning area.
How to Clean Between Sliding Glass Doors
Once you remove the sliding door, you’ll notice the track has nooks and crannies filled with dust and dirt. Use a vacuum and cleaning solution for cleaning between sliding glass doors.
Suck up loose dust and debris from the track with a vacuum hose. If the dirt is crusty and does not move, loosen it from the metal with a wire brush before vacuuming.
Clean gunk and grease out of the track, and weep holes and rails with dish soap, water, and an old toothbrush. Wipe everything with a damp cloth and a dry towel, and grease the tracks with a small amount of lubricant.
After cleaning the tracking and reinstalling the door, it’s time to use a window cleaner to clean the glass and remove grime and hard water spots. We’ve found the best way to clean sliding glass doors without streaks is with vinegar.
Get Smears off Sliding Glass Doors With Soapy Water
Once the track is clean and you’ve replaced the door, you may notice smudges on the glass. The best way to get smears off sliding glass doors is with mild dish soap and water. Discover how to get streaks off sliding glass doors with soapy water.
Fill a container of bucket with water and add some dish detergent. Get a clean rag wet with the liquid and apply it to the glass. Let it sit for a minute or so as it loosens the grime, and clean the window with a rag from top to bottom. Once the entire window is clean, use a microfiber cloth or paper towel to wipe away streaks.
How to Get Streaks off Sliding Glass Doors
While soapy water removes tough dirt, white vinegar is better for getting streaks off glass doors and leaving a crystal-clear shine. Find out how to get streaks off sliding glass doors with a vinegar solution.
Combine ten parts of warm water with one part of distilled white vinegar in a spray bottle and shake it well to mix. Spray the window cleaner on the glass by starting at the top and working in sections.
Use a lint-free cloth to remove the cleaning solution and dirt. Once the entire patio door is clean, step back, check for streaks or smears, and reapply the spray if necessary.
Final Steps for Cleaning Glass Patio Doors
After cleaning the track and using soapy water or vinegar to get smears off sliding glass doors, it’s time to clean the frame and hardware. Doing this gives the entire door a finished look, and it only takes minutes.
Run a damp cloth over the inside sliding glass door frame to remove dust. If the frame or bottom of the door is extra dirty, use soapy water and a scrubbing sponge to clean the surface.
Don’t forget to clean the hardware and door handle, and try to avoid getting cleaner on the glass. Then, repeat the process on the outside of the patio door and use a paper towel to dry the entire surface.
Patio doors are convenient and add aesthetic appeal to a house – until the door tracks accumulate dirt and no longer operate as they should. Fortunately, regular sliding glass door maintenance and cleaning keep the patio door looking new and working as it should.
We hope that learning how to clean between sliding glass doors keeps your patio door operating smoothly, and we’d love it if you’d share our tips for cleaning a sliding glass door with your family and friend group on Pinterest and Facebook.