The short answer
Vacuum out loose grit, soften packed dirt and red rain mud with a little warm water, scrub with a soft brush and mild soapy water, wipe out the dirty water and dry the track. Then clear the drainage holes so winter rain can escape. Seafront homes should rinse tracks regularly to keep salt down. If the door still sticks or grinds after cleaning, the rollers may need attention from a window fitter.
Why tracks fill up so quickly in Malta
Aluminium sliding doors and windows are everywhere in Maltese apartments and houses, especially onto balconies and terraces. Their tracks sit right where dirt collects:
- Dust and sand, blown in through the long dry summer and from building work nearby.
- Red rain mud, which dries hard in the corners after a Saharan dust episode.
- Salt, on seafront homes exposed to the majjistral.
- Dead insects, leaves and hair.
Every time the door slides, the rollers grind through it. The door gets stiff and noisy, and the grit slowly wears the rollers and track.
What you need
- A vacuum with a narrow crevice nozzle.
- A soft brush and an old toothbrush.
- A bucket of warm water with a little washing-up liquid.
- A sponge and microfibre cloths.
- A wooden skewer or toothpick for drainage holes.
- A plastic scraper for dried mud, if needed.
Avoid wire brushes, steel wool, metal scrapers and harsh chemicals, which scratch the aluminium and damage the finish.
Step by step
1. Vacuum out loose grit
Open the door fully and vacuum the whole length of the track, inside and outside channels, including the corners. Then slide the door to the other side and vacuum the part it was covering.
2. Soften dried mud
If there is red rain mud or packed dirt, wet it with a little warm water and leave it for a few minutes to soften. Do not try to scrape it out dry.
3. Scrub
Dip a soft brush or toothbrush in warm soapy water and scrub along the track, working into the corners where dirt packs tightest. A plastic scraper helps lift stubborn dried mud.
4. Wipe out the dirty water
Use a sponge or cloth to soak up the dirty water and loosened dirt. Use small amounts of water so it does not run onto the floor or into the frame.
5. Dry the track
Wipe the track dry with a microfibre cloth. Leaving it wet just turns the next layer of dust into mud.
6. Check the door
Slide the door back and forth a few times. It should move more smoothly. If you see dirt on the rollers, wipe them gently with a damp cloth.
Clear the drainage holes before winter
Most sliding door frames have small drainage slots or holes along the bottom, usually in the outer track or on the outside face of the frame. They let rainwater that gets into the track drain away outside.
When they block with dirt, water has nowhere to go. During heavy winter rain, it can fill the track and come over into the room.
- Find them by looking along the bottom of the outer track and frame. Your window fitter can show you if you are unsure.
- Clear them gently with a wooden skewer or toothpick.
- Test them by pouring a little water into the track and checking it drains away.
Do this at least once a year, ideally in autumn before the first heavy rain.
Seafront homes and salt
On the seafront, salt settles in tracks along with dust. Salt left on aluminium for long periods can leave white, powdery marks and wear the rollers and seals faster.
- Rinse tracks with a little clean water regularly, then dry them.
- Wipe rubber seals with a damp cloth.
- Rinse after winter storms, which leave a heavy salt layer.
Our guide to removing salt from sea-facing windows covers frames and seals in more detail.
Lubricants
Most sliding doors run on rollers and do not need oil or grease in the track. Oily products attract dust and turn into a sticky paste. If your door still feels stiff after cleaning, follow the window maker’s advice, or ask your window fitter what, if anything, to use.
When cleaning is not enough
Call a window fitter if:
- the door still sticks, grinds or jumps after the track is clean;
- the door sits unevenly or rubs against the frame;
- the track is bent, cracked or corroded;
- rollers are broken or wobbly;
- water still comes in with clear drainage holes.
Rollers and adjustments are a job for a window fitter, not a cleaner.
Part of a proper window clean
Tracks, frames and sills are part of a thorough window clean, and clean tracks help glass stay clean for longer, because dust in the tracks gets blown and washed back onto the glass. clear.mt arranges window cleaning across Malta and Gozo, frames and tracks included. See also our guides on cleaning windows without streaks and how often to clean windows in Malta.