Sliding wardrobe doors keep opening? Do this!

I’ve noticed that one of the most common problems for sliding wardrobe doors is when the doors can’t seem to stop opening. It’s happened to me and so many others as they deal with the hassles of home repair. What is the best route to deal with this issue?

Sliding wardrobe doors may keep opening because of the excess debris on the tracks of the doors. The best rule of action is to take off the sliding wardrobe doors, clean off the debris, and troubleshoot to see if anything else is awry.

We will continue to discuss the most effective method to troubleshoot your sliding doors and how to fix the most common problems as to why they are not functioning properly.

Troubleshooting Wardrobe Sliding Doors:

Windsor Windows, an installation company, provided an easy step by step method for troubleshooting wardrobe sliding doors. The process is too good not to share, and if done frequently this process can help reduce the need to treat sliding doors in the future in general.

1. Remove the door from the track. First, remove the screws from the track by pushing the door against one side of the wall and taking off the screws, then repeating the process on the other side of the tracks. Sometimes, the tracks can be on the top of the sliding doors, so be aware of that.
2. Check the rollers. “Place the door on a pair of sawhorses for easy access to the rollers on the bottom. Use a screwdriver to gently pull the rollers out. If they appear to be damaged, that may be your problem — they’ll have to be replaced. If they’re simply dirty, scrape any dirt off, then rub them clean with denatured alcohol. You may want to re-oil them using silicone spray, which repels dirt.
3. Reinstall your clean rollers. Align each adjustment screw with the access hole and tap into place using a hammer and a wood block to prevent damage to the wheels. When they’re properly in place, retract the rollers as far as possible.
4. Clean the tracks. As with the rollers, wipe the tracks with alcohol and spray with silicone. Vacuum loose debris from the bottom track (if applicable), then clean with alcohol. However, you’ll want to lubricate the bottom track by rubbing it a few times with a block of paraffin wax instead of silicon — paraffin is more substantial and will hold up to the wear and tear the bottom track tends to take.
5. Reinstall your door. Align it in the bottom track and then tilt it up. Reattach the head stop first — otherwise, it could fall out. Roll the door toward the latch-side jamb, then align the door with the track.” Source

Common Issues:

Debris Issue

This is the most common issue for wardrobe doors that keep opening.

Is dirt or any other material blocking your door from coming loose? Be sure to thoroughly clean your sliding wardrobe door and the tracks right below and above (if applicable) because that is most likely the issue. Source

Alignment Problems

Alignment issues are a close second as to why your doors keep opening. To realign your door, remove the doors and check the tracks to be sure that they are in an appropriate position. It is best to get another individual to help as well to stabilize the doors from collapsing. Source

Broken Latches

Does your sliding wardrobe door have any latches to it? If so, that may be the issue. If simply oiling it doesn’t work, you will likely have to replace the whole thing. Remove the lock, being careful not to drop it down into the body of the doors, and take it with you to the hardware store to ensure that you purchase a compatible version. Follow the instructions listed on your new latch, and you will be set! Source

Weight Issues:

Sometimes, individuals (especially those who have recently installed their sliding wardrobe doors with wheels) have noticed that the reason why their door kept opening was because of the lack of weight between the nuts, bolts, and wheels to the large wooden door(s).

Make sure that you have installed appropriate wheels that can carry the weight of your doors but aren’t also too heavy for your project. Source

Simple Solutions!

These solutions are easy, cost-effective ways to deal with the situation until you can handle the problems directly. This won’t fix the windows entirely and are meant to be temporary.

Of course, the best way to cut back on sliding wardrobe door problems is to install quality products, which will last longer and stand up to more wear and tear.

1. Put a felt dot on the sliding door! This solution is meant for doors in which the tracks are on the upper level. This method does not work on the bottom track.

Felt dots are very cheap, and you can find them pretty much anywhere. Place the felt dot against where you would like the wheel to stop, and the door will be a natural blocker. The video below perfectly describes how the process is done and how to position the dot appropriately to help the door from coming loose.

2. If you are dealing with bottom tracks, put an object on the tracks to prevent it from coming loose. When this happened to me, we just used a circular piece of wood that covered both sides of the sliding door. This was able to stabilize the door from moving at all when not in use.

3. Go old school and use a chain, rope, or a link and fasten it all together! This may not be the most aesthetically pleasing look, but it’s an easy, cost-effective option for the time being. Source

4. Completely replace the sliding doors. If you are having consistent issues with your sliding doors or you none of these solutions seem to work, it is a sign that your doors will need to be retired. Most sliding doors go for around $300, but newer sliding doors will cost at most $2,000. The price of your door will depend on the length you need to cover and the style you need for your home.