Window Track Cleaning: Why Your Windows Stick and How to Fix It
If your windows stick, your sliding door drags or you hear grinding when you open the back door, the track is the first thing we would check. Tracks are some of the dirtiest spots in a house, and around here they fill up with pollen, red clay dust, dead bugs and leaves.
At Window Warriors, we clean tracks on every window job. On a first clean, we get the heavy dirt out from under the sliding sash by hand. This post covers how to do it yourself and when to call someone.
Why tracks get so dirty
A track works like a small gutter at the bottom of the window. Rain washes dirt down the glass into it, bugs die in it, and pollen settles in it every spring until it packs into gritty mud that dries hard in the corners.
The grit wears things out. On sliding doors, it wears down the rollers and the track itself, which is how a door that used to glide ends up needing a shove. On windows, it can keep the sash from closing tightly, so you get drafts and the locks don’t line up.
How to clean window tracks yourself
What you’ll need
- A vacuum with a crevice tool
- An old toothbrush or a small stiff detail brush
- A spray bottle with warm water and a little dish soap
- Paper towels or microfiber cloths
- A butter knife or plastic putty knife wrapped in a cloth, for the corners
Step 1: Vacuum the loose stuff
Open the window or slider all the way and vacuum out everything that’s loose: dead bugs, leaves and dry dirt. Don’t add water yet, or you’ll turn it into mud.
Step 2: Loosen what’s stuck
Spray the track with your soapy water and let it sit for a few minutes. Dried clay and packed pollen soften if you give them a few minutes.
Step 3: Scrub the corners
Use the toothbrush to scrub along the track, especially the corners where dirt packs in. For the really stubborn spots, wrap a cloth around a butter knife and work it into the corners.
Step 4: Wipe and repeat
Wipe out the dirty water with paper towels. If the track still looks grimy, spray, scrub and wipe again. Badly neglected tracks can take two or three passes.
Step 5: Check the weep holes
Many windows and sliders have small drain openings, called weep holes, on the outside of the frame to let water out. If those are clogged, water sits in the track and the dirt comes right back. Clear them gently with a pipe cleaner or a thin piece of wire.
Step 6: Let it dry
Leave the window open until the track is dry. If your slider still drags after the track is clean, the rollers may be worn, and that’s a repair rather than a cleaning job.
What not to do
- Don’t pressure wash tracks. You can force water into the wall or past the seals.
- Don’t spray oil-based lubricant into a dirty track. It just turns the dirt into sticky sludge. Clean first. If your manufacturer recommends a lubricant, use a dry silicone type, sparingly.
- Don’t use metal scrapers on vinyl or painted tracks. They scratch, and scratches hold dirt.
How often to clean tracks
Once or twice a year keeps most tracks in good shape. Spring, after pollen season, is the big one. If you have a slider to a deck or patio that the family and the dogs use all day, check it more often.
When it’s worth having it done
Track cleaning isn’t hard, but it is slow work on a house with a lot of windows. People usually call us when:
- They’re already getting the windows cleaned and want the whole thing done right.
- The tracks haven’t been touched in years and are packed solid.
- Upstairs windows are hard to reach from the inside.
- They’re getting a house ready to sell or moving into one.
Frames, sills and tracks are included in our standard cleaning. The before-and-after photo of a window track on our gallery page is from a job in Jefferson, and it is typical of what years of Georgia pollen and dirt do to a track.
If you would rather not do it yourself, tracks and sills are part of every window cleaning We do, inside and out.
Booking in Jefferson, Hoschton, Braselton or Buford? Track cleaning is included on every window cleaning. Call (706) 870-3769 for a price.
Track questions we hear a lot
Why do my tracks have black spots? Tracks that stay damp, especially on the shady side of the house, can grow mildew. A soapy scrub usually takes care of it. Clearing the weep holes helps keep it from coming back.
My slider still sticks after cleaning. Now what? If the track is clean and the door still drags, the rollers are likely worn or out of adjustment. Many sliders have adjustment screws at the bottom of the door, but if you’re not comfortable with that, a door repair company is the right call.
Do vinyl and aluminum tracks need different care? Both clean the same way with soap, water and a brush. Just avoid metal tools on vinyl, which scratches more easily.
If you want your windows, screens and tracks done in one visit, call us at (706) 870-3769 or send a quote request. Window Warriors is owner-operated and insured, and every window job comes with a 7-day rain guarantee.