9 tips for cleaning sliding glass doors

That sliding glass door to outside provides a nice view but also collects a lot of sand, dust and debris in its tracks. How you clean the door depends on its frame — wood, aluminum or, more common in new construction, vinyl.

• Run the vacuum over the tracks at least once in the spring and autumn — or weekly if you use the door frequently (at a beach house, for instance).
• A timesaving tip is to regularly sweep or vacuum the area just outside the sliding door to help reduce the amount of dirt that gets dragged into the tracks.

• Spray a teflon-based lubricant or a similar product on a soft, dry cloth and wipe it onto the track. The lubricant will not harm wood surfaces or the weather strip.
• Lubricate rollers with a light machine oil, such as sewing machine oil.

• Use a mild dishwashing liquid. Add a couple of squirts of detergent to 4 litres (4 quarts) of hot or warm water and apply the soapy solution with a soft sponge or cloth.
• Rinse with clear water.
• Make sure you clean the frame before you wash the window so that you won't get your clean window wet and smeary again. Start at the top of the frame and work down.

• Wipe with a damp cloth at the time that you clean the window.
• Don't use abrasive cleaners, abrasive scouring pads or sandpaper in an attempt to buff or shine the vinyl frame or to remove marks.

• Fill a misting bottle with warm water and a squirt of mild dishwashing liquid.
• Spray the sliding door frames and wipe off any dirt with a soft cloth.
• Finish by gently drying with another soft cloth.
• Never use a hose or any high-pressure washer on the door.
• Likewise, if your wooden door frame is painted, never use abrasive cleaners, as they can soften acrylic paint. A few will even soften oil-based paint.
• If the residue won't come off with water or a mild detergent, consider lightly sanding it and then re-finishing.

It's important to make a thorough inspection of your wooden door frame at least once a year — monthly in coastal or harsh climates. That's because wood is highly susceptible to attacks by fungi and other deterioration. Prevent this from happening by careful monitoring.

• Once again your best bet is mild dishwashing liquid and water applied with a sponge or soft brush from top to bottom.
• Rinse the frames immediately.
• Air-dry or wipe with a soft, dry cloth.
• For a protective coating, apply a fine car wax to the aluminium.
• You should plan an annual cleaning for all your exterior aluminium frames.

Any window cleaner will be fine, but avoid getting the cleaner on the window frames, because ingredients in some glass cleaners will damage the frame materials.

• Vacuum it gently with a brush attachment, as this will not harm the mesh.
• Remember to vacuum both sides.