Sliding Door Maintenance

Tools:

brass brush
screwdriver
small paintbrushes
medium-grit sandpaper
graphite powder lubricant
weatherstripping

1. Lift the sliding door off the track and carefully set aside.

2. Clear built-up debris out of the track. Use a screwdriver to scrape off stubborn deposits and scrub the length of the track with a brass brush (figure A).

3. Clear dust and debris away with a paintbrush.

4. Feel along the ridge of the sliding track and check for small bumps and ridges that may prevent a door from sliding smoothly. If you find a rough spot, sand it down with some medium-grit sandpaper (figure B).

5. Now check the rollers on the bottom of the door. If they're rusted or corroded, clean them up with the brass brush (figure C).

6. Clean the top track of the doorway as well as the top of the sliding door with the brush.

7. Dust the top of the bottom track with powdered graphite lubricant (figure D). Re-apply graphite each time you clean the track, which should be done about twice a year.

8. If necessary, replace weather stripping along the bottom of the door. Just pop the stripping into place with a screwdriver (figure E).