How to Fix Noisy Sliding Closet Doors

Did you practically wake the neighbors the last time you went for a sweater in your closet? Over time, dirt, grime and dust accumulate in a sliding closet door’s track, creating an irritating noise each time you open the door. Cleaning and lubricating the door’s track is an inexpensive, fast solution for this irritating issue. Use the correct lubricant but not vegetable oil or automotive grease to create a slick surface without the mess or smell.

Step 1

Push the door completely to the right to expose the left side of the track. Run a hand vac or a standing vacuum’s hose attachment over the track to remove any loose dust, dirt or debris.

Step 2

Create a mixture of 1 tablespoon liquid dish soap and 3 cups warm water. Stir the ingredients to create a sudsy mixture.

Step 3

Dampen a rag with the mixture, and wipe down the inner walls, bottom and outer walls of the track. Allow the soapy mixture to remain for at least 10 minutes to loosen any difficult dirt, debris or grime.

Step 4

Wipe down the inside of the track with a separate damp rag. Wrap the rag around your index finger and vigorously rub the track to remove the loosened dirt and debris. Wipe out the track with a separate rag.

Step 5

Lubricate the track with mineral oil. Cover the corner of a rag with the oil, and wipe down the track to provide lubrication. Be careful to not touch the surrounding carpet or flooring with the rag.

Step 6

Push the door completely to the left, and repeat the procedure to clean and lubricate the right portion of the track.