Sliding doors, folding doors and up-and-over garage doors save space, but their mechanism is more complex than an ordinary hinged door. The panel hangs from roller carriages running in a top track, and at the bottom there is often a guide that runs in a floor channel. Dust, pet hair and grit settle in the tracks, and the door starts to rumble, jerk or drag.
Service these systems at least once a year, and garage doors before winter. The right lubricant reduces roller wear and restores a quiet, smooth action.
What you will need
Important: Secure the door panel while you work so it cannot move and trap your fingers. For powered garage doors, isolate the operator first. Cover the floor under the top track, as excess may drip.
Step 1
Clean and lubricate the top track
Unscrew the trim covers that hide the top track and carriages. Vacuum the dust and debris out of the profile. If old thickened grease has built up on the rollers, apply WD-40 Multi-Use, leave it a minute and wipe off with a paper towel. Then apply WD-40 Specialist White Lithium Grease along the track channel and onto the roller wheels and axles. White lithium grease does not drip, clings to metal and reduces friction for a long time, so it suits parts that are rarely serviced. Run the door back and forth a few times and refit the covers.
Step 2
Sort out the floor channel
Wash the floor channel with soapy water, vacuum it and dry it with paper towels. Sand and crumbs act as an abrasive here. If the bottom guide or track is plastic, apply a little WD-40 Specialist Silicone: silicone is safe on plastic and does not attract dirt the way a heavy grease does.
Step 3
Service folding doors
Folding doors stack to one side on hinges between the panels. Clean the top track as above and apply WD-40 Specialist White Lithium Grease to the metal hinges between the panels. Treat plastic hinges and rollers with the silicone lubricant, as for the bottom guide. Open and close the door several times and wipe off any excess.
Step 4
Lubricate an up-and-over garage door
Up-and-over doors, manual or powered, have pivots, arms, springs and rollers. First remove old, dirty grease: apply WD-40 Multi-Use through the thin straw, let it work and wipe clean. Once the parts are dry, treat the pivots, rollers and axles with WD-40 Specialist White Lithium Grease. Wipe the rubber seals with WD-40 Specialist Silicone so they do not freeze in winter.
Step 5
Do not forget corner tracks
Corner sliding systems that open without a corner post have several tracks at different heights. Clean and lubricate each one in the same way as the main track. When you have finished, run the doors along their full length several times and wipe away any visible excess.
Tip: If the door still hangs crooked or rubs the floor after lubrication, grease will not fix it: adjust the carriage height with the adjusting screw. The same rules apply to sliding wardrobe doors, but use silicone lubricant on plastic rollers.
What next
Service sliding and folding doors once a year and garage doors twice: in autumn and in spring after winter. The rollers will last longer and the mechanism will run quietly.
These uses come from the experience of WD-40 users in many countries. Always follow the instructions and warnings on the product label.
More guides in «How to use».