Sliding Closet Door
Caring for a sliding closet door correctly can help extend the life of these nifty little creations. When a door is well maintained, it can last a long time. Those that are not cared for often fall into disrepair, and unfortunately, replacement can be a bit of a nightmare.
With this in mind, following a good maintenance routine for a sliding closet door, or pocket door, can be rather wise. How exactly to care for the door will depend a lot on the type of material it is made out of. There are, however, some general tips for door care. They include:
Keep the surface clean.
Make sure doors are dusted and cleaned as needed. This will just keep them looking better most of the time. Figure about a good weekly dust down for most sliding closet door designs.
Keep the tracks free of debris.
Small objects can and do get caught on the tracks. If the objects get in the way, it is possible the tracks or the sliding mechanism on the doors can become jammed or broken. Make sure tracks are kept free of all objects. If something does get stuck in the tracks of a sliding closet door, a broom behind the wall part of the mechanism should help. Powerful shop vacuum attachments can help, too.
Inspect parts regularly.
At least once every few months, inspect the parts. If the sliding mechanism needs lubrication, give it some. Never force a sliding closet door.
How exactly to clean and maintain a sliding closet door will depend on the surface material. Some materials are a little easier to deal with than others. Basic cleaning for different types of doors involves:
Mirror. A simple glass cleaner should do the trick for these sliding closet door designs. Just wipe off dust and fingerprints as needed.
Wood. A good dusting and polishing goes a long way on most wood sliding closet door designs. If slats or lattice is included, consider using a dust repellant spray once in a while to keep the elbow grease required at a minimum.
Plastic. This can be the easiest to clean. Just a basic rub down with a wet cloth should do it to keep this kind of sliding closet door design clean.
Fabric. Some sliding closet door creations include fabric fronts. Dust these with a hand vacuum, feather duster or other similar device. Consider using a protective spray, too. Do spot test though to make sure the fabric can handle it.
A sliding closet door isn't an uncommon creation, but it is one that does require special care. A little routine maintenance and cleaning can go a long way.