How to Remove Sliding Glass Door for Cleaning
Most people don’t consider how much time is spent on cleaning the glass on their sliding door. The most difficult part is removing it from the track to clean the frame and then putting it back in place when you’re done. With a few quick steps, this process can be made easier so that you spend less time scrubbing at your doors while also getting better results. In this article, we will discuss how to remove sliding glass door for cleaning so it can be easier for you to do this task.
Things You’ll Need for Removing Sliding Glass Door
- Brushes, Scrubbers, and Sponges
- Glass Cleaner
- Towel or Rag
- Screwdriver
- Flat prying bar
Step by Step Guide: How to Remove Sliding Glass Door for Cleaning
Step 1: Prepare Your Work Area
You will need a few things to remove your slider door. You’ll need a screwdriver, and you’ll also want some scrap wood pieces of about 2 x 4 inches apiece. Have a few of these pieces ready to put under the door when you remove it. You’ll also want a helper, or someone to hold the door for you.
Step 2: Remove the Screen
Take off the sliding screen that is behind the glass panels. If it uses zippers, take them off and fold them up, then set them aside. Remove the glass panels. These will be heavy, so ask for help if you need it. Set them aside somewhere that they won’t get scratched or broken.
Step 3: Remove Panels of Glass
You will need to remove the sliding glass panels that you use as doors. You will have two options for removing these. If your slider has a handle on one side and hinges on the other side, it should be fairly easy to simply remove all screws from the hinges, lift the glass, and set it aside.
Step 4: Removal of Handle and Pin
Open the door halfway. Pull strongly on the handle to disengage it from its track. Do not force this process, as it will cause damage that you will have to repair later. If the sliding glass door is in poor condition, a pin installed below the handle needs to be removed.
It is typically a small nail or screw that holds the pin in place and attaches it to an arm of metal that pulls the handle toward you. The handle will need to be moved back and forth until this pin comes out, then the door can be removed from your home with minimal hassle. Now that you have removed the door, it’s time to clean it up! You can choose to either take it apart and polish each piece individually or leave it together and give it a general cleaning.
Step 5: Taking Out Hinges
After the handle and sliding glass door, the pin has been removed, and you can take the hinges off. There will be screws that hold them in place, so unscrew them using a screwdriver and set them aside. Now, you will need to put the door down. Make sure it is facing up and that you have plenty of space for it. With the help of a friend, place the sliding glass door on the ground.
Step 6: Remove the Tracks
The other option is if your slider has its tracks on one side and a handle or a hinge on the other side. You will need to remove all screws from the handles or hinges and remove any screw that you can see inside the track channel. Do this to all the tracks on both sides. The slide should then come out easily.
Step 7: Remove the Stationary panel.
If there was a stationary panel for the glass door, it would need to be removed. This can be done in two ways. Either you can leave it alone and remove the entire door from its hinges or take out all screws on one side of the panel and lift to remove it. Be sure that you have removed any screws holding this piece into place.
Step 8: Final Touches
After removing the panel and disconnected all of the screws on all sides, it is time to take off your slider door. You will need to lift slightly while moving away from the frame until you can get your hands underneath it. After this, move very slowly until you have taken off the door and can set it aside.
Step 9: Cleaning Your Glass Sliders
After you have taken your door off, clean all of the dirt, debris, or cobwebs that may have been collected on the track used to guide your panels. Use a broom and vacuum cleaner to do this properly. Once the tracks are clear and you can slide your sliding glass door back and forth, you can reassemble them into the same spot they were in before.
Step 10: Reinstallation and Testing
Test the movement of your slider after putting it together again. Test out how easy the door is to move back and forth and whether or not it sticks when moving. If you find any problems, be sure to go back through this article and see if you can solve them before calling in a professional. Once the slider is sliding as easily as it should be, you are ready to reinstall your door. Replace any panels of glass that need replacing and put the tracks into the same place they were in before.
Step 11: Use a Level
After putting the glass into place, use a level to make sure that it is straight. Ensure that there are no gaps or misalignment before proceeding with installation and using your slider once again. Once it is good to go, you can put your door back on its hinges and replace all screws if necessary.
Step 12: Enjoy!
After taking care of your slider, you should be able to enjoy it for another year or more. Just remember to keep up on the maintenance so that nothing goes wrong and everything functions as it should. You may have to replace a few things over the years, but you will not have to do much upkeep if you do not need to use lubricants or other tools.
8 Tips To Clean Sliding Glass Door
- Clean the tracks of sliding glass doors with a sponge or rag dipped in warm soapy water. If the tracks are dirty with pet hair, use a cleaning brush to remove them. The tracks should also be kept free from dirt and debris by vacuuming them occasionally.
- When dealing with stubborn deposits, fill an old toothbrush or toothpaste tube with an abrasive cleanser and gently scrub the tracks.
- Scrub glass doors with a solution of 1/2 cup of baking soda, 1 tablespoon vinegar, and one cup of warm water once a week to get rid of stains caused by dirt and accumulated grime from your fingers. Let it sit for 10 minutes before wiping it with a sponge.
- To remove tough spots caused by mold and mildew, make the solution above stronger by adding another tablespoon of vinegar to one cup of baking soda-vinegar mix in a spray bottle; spray on soiled areas and wipe clean with a sponge or rag. It is also advisable to add some white vinegar to the regular glass cleaner to remove mold and mildew.
- Mix 1/2 cup of chlorine bleach with one gallon of water in a bucket, then use a sponge or rag to clean the doors’ exterior. Avoid using bleach on colored sliding glass doors because it can discolor them. Also, do not mix chlorine bleach and ammonia because this produces toxic chloramine gas.
- Spray glass doors with a lubricant like WD-40 after vacuuming to make it easier for them to slide.
- Clean sliding glass doors with regular glass cleaners or citrus-based cleaners, and rinse well with clear water. The manufacturer’s instructions should be closely followed.
- Use a dry sponge to wipe streaks off clean sliding glass doors; do not use paper towels, which leave lint and may scratch the surface. If streaks bother you, dampen a clean cloth with vinegar or lemon oil furniture polish to remove them. Lemon oil neutralizes mineral deposits and gives glass doors a glossy finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How Do I Remove a Sliding Glass Door From Its Track?
A: To remove a sliding glass door, you’ll need to remove the inside stops from both sides of the door. Then, use your hands to slightly pull out on one corner of the door while lifting it about 1 inch at a time. When you have lifted the door about 2 inches, grab it with your hands and pull it completely out of its track.
Q: What is a Torsion Spring?
A: Torsion springs are an important part of a sliding door. They help the door open and close without needing to be pulled up or pushed down. Torsion springs can be found on both side doors as well as top full-view doors. If you need to replace your torsion spring, you will need a professional installer to do so.
Q: How Can I Use the Track to Keep My Sliding Screen Closed?
A: There are two methods you can use to keep your sliding screen door securely closed, even when there is no one in the room to hold it shut. First, place a dowel rod along each side of the track. Then, put furniture on top of the rods to hold them in place.
Next, screw a hook on the door itself and hang a string from it long enough to rest just above or below the track. Finally, during periods of high wind, use large bookends along each side of your sliding screen door to keep it securely closed.
Final Thoughts
After you have removed the sliding door panel, it is time to clean. You can use a mild soap and water solution for this task, or if your goal is to remove more stubborn dirt particles, we recommend using an all-purpose cleaner that won’t leave streaks on the glass panes. Either way, be sure not to place any objects on top of the door frame while cleaning as they may fall into the opening gap between the two panels.
Once finished with scrubbing down each pane from both sides, rinse them off thoroughly before reassembling everything back together again in reverse order. If you are unsure about how to proceed or have questions, be sure to contact us during this process for help. We can’t wait to hear what you think of our blog post on how to remove sliding glass door for cleaning
Angela Ervin
Angela is the executive editor of DIY quickly. She began her career as an interior designer before applying her strategic and creative passion to lifestyle and home. She has close to 15 years of experience in creative writing and online content strategy for housekeeping, home decorations as well as other niche efforts. She loves her job and has the privilege of working with an extraordinary team. She lives with her husband, two sons, and daughter in Petersburg. When she's not busy working she spent time with her family.
