# Track Lubrication

- Link: https://selectslidingdoors.com/glossary/track-lubrication/
- Published: 2024-08-16T07:00:42+00:00
- Author: Rowdy

[Home](https://selectslidingdoors.com/)/[Glossary](https://selectslidingdoors.com/glossary/)/
Track lubrication

Moving parts

# Track lubrication

**Quick answer:** track lubrication means cleaning a sliding door track and putting
a thin, dry lubricant on it, usually silicone spray. It cuts friction so the rollers
glide. Oil and grease do the opposite over time, because they hold dirt.

Clean first

Lubricant on grit turns into a paste. Vacuum and wipe the track before anything 
goes on.

What to use

A [silicone lubricant for sliding glass doors](https://selectslidingdoors.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-silicone-based-lubricant-for-sliding-doors-keep-your-dallas-home-rolling-smoothly/),
or a dry PTFE spray. Both dry to a thin film that does not hold dust.

How often

A light coat every few months suits most doors. Pets, dust and spring pollen call
for more.

Where the lubricant goes

 1. **Rail top**, where the wheels ride: a thin line here is enough
 2. **Channel floor**, keep it clean and dry, never fill it
 3. **Top track**, wipe its inside edges with a sprayed cloth
 4. **Weatherstrip**, a little silicone keeps it supple

Slide the door end to end a few times to spread the coat, then wipe off the extra.

## When lubricant helps, and when it stops helping

Lubricant only fixes friction from a dry track. Work down this list in order.

 1.  A squeak, or a dry, draggy feel on a clean track
 2.  Vacuum, wipe, then a light coat of silicone spray.
 3.  Safe to do yourself
 4.  Stiffer weeks after you oiled it, with black gunk
 5.  Degrease with rubbing alcohol, dry it, then switch to silicone.
 6.  Safe to do yourself
 7.  Still heavy after a full clean and a fresh coat
 8.  The rollers are worn or set too low: adjust or replace them.
 9.  Take care: two people
 10. Grinding or metal scraping
 11. Failed rollers are rubbing the rail. Stop forcing the door.
 12. Call a pro

## Fix it yourself or call a pro

 * **Safe yourself**Cleaning the tracks, a light coat of silicone or dry PTFE spray,
   and wiping silicone onto the weatherstrip. The door stays in place.
 * **Take care**Overspray makes tile and wood floors slippery and smears glass. 
   Shield them, or spray onto a cloth, and keep a window open.
 * **Call a pro**The door still drags after a full clean and a fresh coat, it grinds,
   or it has to come out of the frame.

Step by step: [what to put on a sliding door track, and what never to use](https://selectslidingdoors.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-silicone-based-lubricant-for-sliding-doors-keep-your-dallas-home-rolling-smoothly/).

![A hand spraying lubricant along the bottom track of a sliding glass door](https://
selectslidingdoors.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/lubrication-track-door-768x768.
webp)

A light spray along the track. Shield the floor from overspray.

## What goes on the track, in short

Silicone or dry PTFE spray

Dries to a thin, slick film that sheds dust and water

Overspray makes floors slippery, so shield them

Wax, candle or bar soap

Works in a pinch, rubbed along the rail

Wears off fast and needs redoing often

Oil, grease or WD-40

Quiets a squeak at first

Holds dust and hair, and turns into a black paste

## Still sticking after a clean and a fresh coat?

When lubricant stops helping, the rollers or track are usually worn. Select Sliding
Doors handles [sliding door roller and track repair](https://selectslidingdoors.com/sliding-door-rollers-repair-and-replacement/)
across Dallas-Fort Worth. Mon to Sat, 7am to 10pm.

[Call 469-915-5230](https://selectslidingdoors.com/glossary/track-lubrication/4699155230)
[Roller and track repair](https://selectslidingdoors.com/sliding-door-rollers-repair-and-replacement/)

## Questions people ask

Can I use WD-40 on a sliding door track?

Not regular WD-40. It is mainly a cleaner and water displacer, and the oily film
it leaves collects dust fast. Use a silicone or dry PTFE spray instead.

Why is my door stiffer after I oiled the track?

Oil and grease trap dust and hair, which builds up into a sticky paste. Clean it
off with rubbing alcohol or a mild degreaser, dry the track, then use silicone.

Should I spray the lock too?

No. Keep silicone out of the lock. Use a dry lubricant made for locks.

## Related terms

[Patio door rollers](https://selectslidingdoors.com/glossary/patio-door-rollers/)
[Weatherstripping](https://selectslidingdoors.com/glossary/weatherstripping/)[Sliding door alignment](https://selectslidingdoors.com/glossary/sliding-door-alignment/)
[Sliding screen door](https://selectslidingdoors.com/glossary/sliding-screen-door/)

Photo: own media library. Diagram: Select Sliding Doors.