How To Clean Patio Doors, Sliding Glass Doors & Door Tracks

apartment with city view through patio doors

Patio doors are the highlight of any home they’re in, making the room look bigger and brighter. They can even help add value to your home! However, they are likely to have a lot of foot traffic in the warmer months. This can make cleaning them a tall order, as they’re prone to fingerprints, dust and the odd troublesome streak. However, there’s no need to worry – we’ve put together the ultimate guide to help you keep your patio doors sparkling clean and streak-free all year round!

How to clean patio doors

1. Gather the right tools

Before you get started, it’s important to make sure you’ve got the right tools for the job. You will need:

A glass cleaner – this can be shop-bought or homemade using dish soap, water and vinegar
Microfibre cloths (or paper towels that are lint-free)
A bucket of warm water for rinsing if you’re using soap
A squeegee to get rid of streaks
An old toothbrush or brush with soft bristles to clean the edges and tracks
A dry cloth to mop up excess water from the sill as you go

You may want to consider rubber gloves to protect your hands from cleaning products, as well as a stool to help you reach higher edges.

2. Protect the windowsill

This is a vital step if you want to prevent water damage, stains from cleaning solutions or scratches on your windowsill. Ways to protect it include:

Covering it with a thick towel to stop water from pooling there. You could even put a tarpaulin underneath it to protect the sill further
Covering it with plastic or painter’s tape to protect against chemicals
Using a spray bottle and microfibre cloth instead of pouring or splashing the water onto the door
Wiping off any excess as you go with a dry cloth
Working in sections of the door to manage excess water

3. Clean the handles

A fair amount of grime, dirt and fingerprints can build up on these areas from prolonged use. To clean these, you’ll need to:

Dust the areas with a dry microfibre cloth to get rid of any dust and loose dirt
Mix up a solution of water with a few drops of dish soap. Dip your cloth or sponge in it, wring it out and then use it to thoroughly wipe down the handles
Use a toothbrush to clean in crevices or tighter areas, such as around screws and hinges
Dampen a clean cloth with plain water, and use it to get rid of any soap residue
Dry the handles with a dry microfibre cloth. This will help prevent rust or water spots (this is especially key on metal handles)
If your handles are metal, you can use a metal polish, or a small amount of olive oil to add shine

Sliding patio doors with black frames, overlooking an outdoor table and chairs

4. Clean the glass

Dust the glass with a duster or dry microfibre cloth to get rid of loose dust, dirt and cobwebs
Lay down towels to protect your floors and windowsill from stray water drops
Spray your glass cleaner or homemade alternative onto the glass. Make sure to avoid overdoing it, taking it one section at a time to limit drips
If the glass is particularly dirty, you can leave it to sit for a minute so the dirt loosens
Wipe the glass in circular motions with a soft sponge or cloth to remove smudges, fingerprints and dirt
Use an old toothbrush to clean the edges and corners of the glass. This is where dirt can gather
Use a squeegee to remove the cleaner, starting at the top and pulling it down in a straight line. You should wipe the squeegee with a cloth after each pass to avoid streaks
Use a lint-free paper towel or clean microfibre cloth to get rid of streaks or leftover moisture, focusing on the edges and corners of the door.
You can use white vinegar and water, or a commercial hard water remover for any hard water spots
Stubborn stains can be cleaned by putting baking soda on them and spraying vinegar on top. Leave this to fizz for a few minutes, and then scrub it gently
If there’s any sticky residue or tape marks leftover, you can dab rubbing alcohol onto a microfibre cloth and gently rub them
Repeat the same process for exterior glass. If it’s particularly dirty you should spray it with water to get rid of loose dirt before putting your cleaner on. A slightly stronger solution of vinegar and water (2:1) can help get rid of particularly bothersome dirt

5. Avoid streaks in your patio doors

There are a number of ways you can look to keep your patio doors streak-free, such as:

Making sure to use a lint-free cloth
Cleaning on a cloudy day, as direct sunlight can make the cleaner dry too quickly, leaving streaks
Inspecting the glass from different angles to find any remaining streaks

How to clean door tracks

Cleaning your door tracks can help make sure your doors open and close smoothly, as well as looking their best. You will need to:

Gather the right materials

A vacuum cleaner with a crevice attachment to help clear dirt and debris from the gaps
Old rags or towels for drying the tracks
Baking soda or mild detergent for any tougher grime
A soft brush or sponge for scrubbing

You may also want to consider some WD-40 or silicone spray to lubricate the door tracks if you find them to be sticking.

Clean the tracks

To clean the tracks, you will need to:

Hoover up the loose dirt, debris and dust in the tracks
Prepare a cleaning solution with a few drops of dish soap in warm water
Dip your brush, sponge or cloth in the water and scrub the tracks thoroughly
For any stubborn dirt, sprinkle baking soda over it and spray it with white vinegar. Let it fizz for a few minutes before scrubbing. You could also use a non-abrasive all-purpose cleaner
Use a clean, damp cloth to wipe the tracks and get rid of cleaning residue.
Dry the area thoroughly with a paper towel or microfibre cloth. This helps prevent mildew or rust
You can then go in and lubricate the tracks with a small amount of silicone-based lubricant. This will help prevent squeaking and ensure smooth movement

Dining table surrounded by sliding doors

How to clean the door frame of your patio doors

To clean the frame, you will need:

Some all-purpose cleaner (you can use a damp cloth for light dirt)
A scrubbing brush with soft bristles for more stubborn stains
A dry microfibre cloth to dry and polish the frame

Similar to the above, you may want to consider rubber gloves to protect your hands from cleaning products, as well as a stool to help you reach higher edges.

Once you have everything you need, you should follow this process:

Use a vacuum or soft brush to dust or hoover the frame. This helps to get rid of any cobwebs or loose debris. You should use a damp cloth and soapy water. If you have wooden frames, you should use a damp cloth sparingly, wiping the frames gently and then drying them straight away
Use a toothbrush to scrub corners and grooves where grime tends to collect
If you have any stubborn stains, apply a baking soda and water paste, scrub gently and then wipe clean afterwards
Wipe the area with a clean damp cloth to get rid of residue, and then dry thoroughly

How to clean sliding glass doors

For sliding doors, the steps are largely the same. However, there are a few extra considerations due to their tracks, movement mechanisms and also their potential to have double-sided use. These include:

Making sure to clean out the tracks

The best way to clean sliding door tracks is by:

Hoovering or brushing out the tracks before you clean the glass, to help remove any loose debris
Focusing on cleaning the tracks, and making sure to deep clean them (see above)
Lubricating the tracks so that the doors open and close smoothly

Cleaning both of the glass panes

It’s often the case that sliding doors have two overlapping glass panes, which means it’s important to clean both the indoor and outdoor sides. You should:

Slide the door so that it’s fully open, cleaning the exposed frame and edges. This should include the bit that’s hidden while the door is closed
You’ll then want to close the door fully so you can access the other side
You should use a small brush or toothbrush to clean out any dirt trapped in the edges, or in the part where the panes overlap with each other
The outside of a sliding glass door is likely to be dirtier, containing water stains etc. You may need to spray the outside glass with water (with a hose, for example), to loosen up any stubborn dirt. White vinegar or glass cleaner may help remove any water spots
Overlapping glass sections can be more prone to streaks, so you may want to use a squeegee from top to bottom, making sure to wipe the squeegee between strokes

living room with sliding doors overlooking the garden

Patio Door maintenance tips

To keep your patio door looking and performing at its best, there are a few regular maintenance activities you can do to make longer-term cleaning a less taxing task:

Regular cleaning, such as weekly wiping of the doors, or monthly track and frame cleaning, can help stop dirt building up
Also, inspecting for damage can help you spot and deal with issues such as cracks, peeling paint, weather damage and rust a lot faster
You should also make sure to apply a silicone-based lubricant to sliding door tracks or hinges after you clean them for smooth movement
A track cover could potentially help keep the area free of debris
Wiping down the glass every 2-4 weeks can help reduce build-up and make the task more manageable
Check the door seals for damage when you clean to make sure they’re still energy efficient and draught-proof, to avoid losing heat from your home.
Avoid using scouring pads or any harsh chemicals, as they can scratch or damage your glass

Looking for a new patio door?

Here at Toughened Glass Systems, we offer a range of external patio doors, including bi-fold and sliding options, to fill your home with natural light and give you access to the outdoors.

Browse our range of energy-efficient, elegant glass doors, or get in touch for help finding the one that’s right for you.

You can learn more about how bi-fold doors can help transform your space and how to choose between bi-fold and sliding doors in our guides.

FAQs

What’s the best thing to use to clean patio doors and sliding glass doors?

This depends on factors such as the type of dirt you’re dealing with, as well as the materials of the different components of the door:

For Glass

Glass cleaner or a mix of vinegar and water, or dish soap and water, are great for dirty and greasy glass. Rubbing alcohol is great for tough glass stains.
Microfibre cloths and squeegees help ensure a lint-free, streak-free finish.
A soft sponge helps remove stubborn dirt from glass.
If your glass is tinted, you should avoid cleaners with ammonia, as they could damage the coating.

For frames

If you have vinyl frames, you should use soapy water or an all-purpose cleaner on them
Wooden frames are best suited to a sparing amount of soapy water on a damp cloth. You should dry it immediately to avoid any water damage on the wood
Aluminium frames benefit from cleaning with a mild detergent, avoiding anything abrasive

For handles

Handles benefit from warm water with dish soap, with vinegar and water for any grease or fingerprints
Metal polish can help restore shine to brass handles or stainless steel

For tracks

Toothbrushes help for cleaning around screws, or getting into tough spots
Hoovers are great for removing loose dust and debris from door tracks
Soapy water helps with light grime
Baking soda and vinegar help with more stubborn dirt.
Microfibre cloths are great for drying and getting rid of any excess moisture from the cleaning process.
Use silicone-based lubricant after cleaning them to help keep your door moving smoothly

In general, you should avoid harsh chemicals or scrubbing products that may scratch the glass, handles or frames

How to clean inside double pane patio doors?

Accessing the space between the double pane patio doors isn’t normally possible without professional assistance. If there’s dirt or condensation inside the panes, this suggests a breach in the seal. A short-term fix to improve visibility/ fogging would be:

To place a dehumidifier or moisture absorber (such as silica gel packs) near it. This will help to draw out excess moisture that’s trapped between the panes
A car window defogging spray may also provide a temporary visibility solution
A hairdryer or space heater on a low heat could also help evaporate some of the moisture in the short-term

A longer-term solution would be to get a specialist to reseal it, or replace the affected pane without needing to replace the whole door. You should avoid using abrasive cleaners or any cleaning tools that could damage the seals. Regular inspection and control of indoor humidity levels can help lower the risk of condensation.

Find out more about how to know when to replace your windows in our guide.

How to Clean Patio Doors, Sliding Glass Doors & Door Tracks