If you have a glass door, you might wonder, "How do I take care of my glass door?" After all, every part of the home needs some upkeep to avoid replacement before their time. Aside from regularly cleaning your glass door, there are several steps you can take to maintain your glass door. If you’re asking yourself, "What’s the right way to maintain a glass door?", read on for the answer.
Glass Door Maintenance
As gmdoorwindowandscreen.com shares, you’ll want to inspect your glass door regularly throughout the year for parts that need to be repaired or deep cleaned. Don’t just wipe down the glass with the glass cleaner – tidy up the tracks of windows and sliding glass doors, too. You can take a dry brush to sweep out debris and dirt or use a vacuum such as a shop vac to suck up the gunk. If there are shrubs or trees close to the window, do this regularly.
Once you clean out the tracks, use a mild cleaning solution to finish the job with a soft sponge or cloth. Finally, use a clean, dry towel to remove excess moisture in the track. In addition to cleaning your tracks, you’ll want to clean the window panes or doors.
After cleaning the tracks and the glass, you should lubricate your glass door with an oil-free, silicone-based lubricant. Check your local home improvement store if you’re struggling to find lubricant for windows. Lubricating your windows and glass doors will help them slide smoothly and avoid potential issues, such as jams or getting off track.
While cleaning and lubricating your glass doors or windows, open and close them to ensure they open correctly. If a glass door or window remains shut for an extended period of time, it may be harder to open.
Depending on where you live, you may have to take extra steps in maintaining your glass windows and doors. When your house is located near the ocean, the salty breeze can wear down on windows and sliding glass doors. This is why it’s important to clean windows and sliding glass doors several times a year on a schedule if you live in this kind of environment.
Finally, ensure your windows and sliding glass doors have no leaks. If they are no longer weather-tight, they’ll open themselves up to various issues. Therefore, it’s crucial to fix the problem right away if you notice discoloration and other signs of leaks. Caulk failing joints and repair windows as soon as you notice the issue to avoid long-term rising costs in your energy bill. It’s easier to make a quick fix now than replace the window later.
As brennancorp.com points out, you should also check the alignment of your sliding glass doors while inspecting them. You may need to reset your door if it isn’t properly aligned, but again, this is a better option than fully replacing it from failing to maintain it.