Sliding doors are a beautiful option for rooms that need a little more light. They also help with the lack of space for a more traditional hinged door. These beautiful doors function more like windows, but with the extra benefit of effortlessly sliding open. But what happens when these sliding doors become something more like sticking doors? If you are finding it to be more and more challenging to slide your sliding doors open, it might be time to take a closer look at what might be the problem, and examine how you can easily fix a sticky sliding door.

First, The Door Has To Go

No, not in the sense that you have to get rid of the door entirely. But, if you want to effectively clean a sliding door that is always sticking, you are going to have to remove the door so that you can properly clean both the bottom and top of the door, as well as the track that it slides on.

For this step, you are going to want to familiarize yourself with the process. Find a strong friend or family member to help, and gather the basic tools. Thankfully you only need a screwdriver and a couple of heavy blankets. Or use some foam to protect your floors from the door. In order to properly remove the door, it may be in your best interest to call a professional. Many sliding glass doors remove in different ways. Alternatively, you can consult one of the many online tutorials filmed by experts and have the door out of the track in almost no time. 

Inspect The Hardware

Once the door is removed you get to become an inspector. Take a look at the rollers that are on the sliding door itself and make sure that they are not damaged and are spinning properly. If these rollers are broken or stuck and not spinning properly, you will need to replace them. Luckily, these rollers are readily available at most hardware stores. You need to take the old rollers to the store and find a matching one. While this project may seem easy, it can be labor-intensive and dangerous. Especially because you are working with a large sheet of glass. So, if you are not DIY savvy, it may be best to hire a handyman or a sliding door professional. 

Clean, Clean, Clean

If your rollers do not need to be replaced, it is best to attack the project with lots of hot soapy water and a stiff bristle brush. Make sure to vacuum the sliding door track, then scrub down with soapy water, and dry thoroughly. Repeat this process on the top and bottom edges of the sliding door to ensure that the whole door setup is as clean and free of stickiness as possible. 

Make It Extra Slippery

To fix your sliding doors, it is best to apply some sort of slippery lubricant to assist in the process. For vinyl door tracks, a silicone lubricant provides the best result, as opposed to the candle wax or beeswax that is used for wooden door tracks. Many hardware stores sell sliding door-specific lubricants that get the job done as well. Make sure to apply a thin layer of the lubricant to the track, as well as the top and bottom of the door itself to allow for the smoothest opening and closing of the door. 

Put The Door Back In And Slide Away 

After cleaning and applying the lubricant, all you need to do is reinstall the door. Make sure to wash your hands between steps. Slippery lubricant and heavy glass doors make quite the dangerous combination. Following a tutorial, or hiring a professional for this step is also highly recommended. The reinstallation process can be a little tricky if you have never done it before. If you don’t want to hire a professional, make sure to watch plenty of tutorials and have one or more helpers on hand to assist you just in case.

While most sliding doors can be fixed in just a few steps, some are so badly damaged and rusted that they aren’t worth fixing. If you are looking to replace your old, creaky, sticky sliding doors with new ones, the first call you make should be to Folkers Window Company. With over a million windows installed, Folkers has the expertise to make your sliding door installation a breeze. Call or contact Folkers Window Company today.