Sliding door tracks tend to get all gummed up and dirty over time, which makes sliding the door open and closed difficult and annoying. You can prevent this problem by regularly performing maintenance and cleaning on the track, but if the damage has already been done, then your job is a little bit bigger. Here’s what to do.


Clean the sliding door track

Before you do anything else, you’re going to have to clear the dirt and grime from the track. The best way to do this is first to vacuum with a crevice attachment and then use an all-purpose cleaning spray. Spray all along the tracks and give the cleaner a few minutes to work its way into the dirt. Then, come back and try to clean away all that stuff with a cloth. If the cloth doesn’t seem to get at everything, use a toothbrush.

If there are any spots of dirt that refuse to go away, you may want to take more drastic measures. First, make sure the spot is wet, and then use something sharp like a nail or a putty knife to dig at it. You may also want to try a scouring pad all along the track. Don’t stop cleaning the track until it looks good as new.

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