Aluminum sliding door tracks are a convenient feature of many homes and businesses, allowing for easy movement and access between rooms. However, these tracks can get clogged with dirt and debris over time, leading to difficulty opening and closing doors.
Fortunately, cleaning aluminum sliding glass track is simple—all you need is a few household items.
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How To Clean Aluminum Sliding Door Tracks
Cleaning aluminum sliders don’t have to be complicated or expensive; just follow these easy steps for an effective clean!

1. Vacuum Cleaner
The first step in cleaning your aluminum sliding door bottom track is to remove any dirt or debris that has built up over time. The best way to do this is using a vacuum cleaner with an attachment designed to reach tight spaces.
2. White Vinegar
This will ensure that all dust and other particles are removed from the track before you move on to the next step.
Once all the dirt has been removed from the aluminum slide track, it’s time to make a solution of white vinegar and water. Using a clean spray bottle, mix equal parts white vinegar and water, then spray along the track.
3. Wipe Off
Let it sit for about 10 minutes before wiping it away with a dry, soft cloth. Ensure all moisture is wiped off the track, as you don’t want any liquid seeping into the cracks between the door panels.
4. Apply Lubricate
After cleaning your aluminum sliding tracks with vinegar, lubricate them with WD-40 Specialist Long-Lasting Grease Spray along the sliding door track, wheel, and rollers.
This dense formula allows long-lasting lubrication so your door will open smoothly without sticking or squeaking noises each time it moves across its track.
Following these steps will help keep your aluminum slider tracks working like new!
Best Lubricant For Sliding Door Tracks
Choosing the best lubricant for sliding door tracks may seem like a small decision but it can make a big difference in how smoothly and quietly your doors move. White lithium grease is one of the most commonly used lubricants for sliding doors, and there are plenty of reasons why it is a fantastic choice.

White Lithium Grease
White lithium grease is a lubricant made with mineral oil, lithium soap, and petroleum distillates. The main benefit of white lithium grease is its greasy consistency, as it is thick enough to adhere to the surface, keeping the door track well-lubricated. The white coloring acts almost like a dye, allowing its user to see if it is spread evenly and easily.
Why White Lithium Grease
White lithium grease is also an ideal choice for many different types of sliding door tracks, including wooden, metal, and plastic.
1. Water Resistant
As it is water-resistant, it prevents the door from making sticky, squeaky sounds or jamming as it moves, ensuring uninterrupted, quiet operation.
Protection Against Corrosion
The lubricant also offers superior protection against corrosion and rust, making it especially suitable for outdoor use.
Affordable
White lithium grease is also highly affordable and easy to find at many home improvement stores.
Protective Layer
It improves with age, forming a protective layer over the door rails that prevents dirt and debris from gathering inside and causing further damage.
Easy to use
Lastly, it can be easily removed and reapplied on the same track.
White lithium grease is an obvious choice for keeping your sliding door tracks well-lubricated.
Ways To Prevent Squeaky Sliding Door Tracks
If you’ve ever had a sliding door, you know that one of the biggest annoyances can be keeping your tracks clean. Dirt and debris can quickly accumulate in the sliding door’s track, causing it to stick or not move properly. Keeping your sliding door tracks clean is essential for optimal performance, but it doesn’t have to be a chore!
We’ll take you through some easy preventative maintenance steps that will save you time and hassle in the long run.
Routine Cleaning
The easiest way to ensure your sliding door tracks are free from dirt and debris is to clean them regularly.
For routine cleaning, start using a broom to sweep away dust, dirt, or other particles around the exterior of your door. This will help prevent large particles from entering the track and making their way inside.
Once you’ve swept up around the outside of the door frame, use a vacuum with an attachment hose specifically made for vacuuming tight spaces (like between car seats) to get into the crevices of the track itself. Vacuuming will remove all small dirt that may have found its way there.
Lubrication
If your sliding doors tend to squeak or stick when opening/closing, lubrication may be necessary. You can use WD-40 as a lubricant on squeaky hinges and tracks on interior and sliding glass doors – just make sure not to spray too much!
Alternatively, Vaseline works great as a substitute for WD-40 – apply a thin layer on any sticking hinges or tracks and watch them glide smoothly once again!
Sliding door maintenance can be easily accomplished with some simple cleaning techniques. Keeping up with preventative maintenance will save you time and hassle down the line – so remember those tracks!
Conclusion
Knowing how to clean our sliding door tracks properly is an essential, though often overlooked, part of home maintenance.
Not only can dirt and dust create an unsightly appearance and even impede the performance of your doors, but for those who live in areas prone to rust and corrosion, failing to clean these tracks can have serious long-term consequences.
However, with a bit of time and patience, we can save ourselves some headaches by regularly cleaning away any assumed grime before it has a chance to cause damage.
All it takes is some thorough vacuum work and a cloth — no need to bring in big guns like abrasive metal cleaners or nylon brushes — and you should be good to go!