Bifold Door Maintenance: How To Look After Your Bifold Doors

Aluminium bifold doors are a great addition to your home - they’re attractive, thermally efficient, and designed to last for decades. But to ensure they keep your home looking bright, you'll need to make sure you have a proper cleaning routine in place and perform regular maintenance.

Check out our list of to-dos for how to look after your bifolds and keep them looking the part.

Cleaning bifold glass

While sunny days can really show up the streaks on your bifolds' panels, this isn't always the best time to clean them. Sunlight can dry your cleaning agents too quickly, leaving your glass even streakier than before. To properly clean your bifolds' glass, you should:

• Wipe it down on a cloudier day for more control over drying. Letting your glass air-dry can cause unwanted spots and streaks.


• Use gentle cleaning solutions. A homemade vinegar-water mix is an effective cleaner. Filtered or distilled water combined with washing-up liquid or a glass cleaning solution is also a good choice.


• Use a soft, clean, and non-abrasive cloth to apply the solution. Be sure to remove any excess with a squeegee, leaving no suds or water behind.


• Buff the glass with a clean microfibre cloth to really make it sparkle


• Wipe your glass panels down at least once a week and perform a deep clean every 2-3 months

Cleaning bifold frames

Using the right products is also essential when cleaning your bifolds' frames. Regular cleaning will keep them looking pristine, whether they've just had them installed or they've been part of your home for many years. To keep your aluminum bifold door frames clean, you should:

• Use a brush, feather duster, or vacuum cleaner to clear away any loose dirt or debris


• Use a gentle cleaning solution to remove dirt and grime, working your way from top to bottom


• After you've finished wiping, switch to a clean cloth to dry your frames completely


• Avoid abrasive cleaning products and equipment, such as Brillo pads and wire brushes, as these may scratch the frames and cause lasting damage

Cleaning the seals and tracks

Keeping your bifolds' seals and tracks in good condition will ensure that your doors continue to perform as expected. To achieve this, add the following tasks to your bifold door maintenance schedule:

• Regularly inspect the runners and tracks for small obstacles such as stones. Remove these with a vacuum cleaner or soft brush to prevent damage to the mechanism.


• Wipe down tracks and seals with a mild cleaning solution and a damp cloth. Stubborn track stains can be tackled by applying a baking soda-vinegar mixture to the affected areas, leaving this to bubble, and clearing away with a brush.


• If your seals have a buildup of mould or mildew, use a suitable mould-removal spray


• Once you have cleaned your tracks and seals, wipe them dry with a clean cloth


• You should also take care to lubricate your tracks every few months to ensure smooth operation

Maintaining hinges and locks

The final thing to think about when it comes to looking after your bifold doors is their hardware. If not properly maintained, your doors' hinges, tracks, and locks will not work as smoothly and may even begin to seize up. To avoid this, you should:

• Lubricate rollers, tracks, and hinges every few months, using a silicone-based lubricant


• Apply a small amount of lubricant to each area, ensuring even distribution by moving the parts backwards and forwards


• Wipe away excess lubricant with a clean, dry cloth


• Lubricate locks and keys regularly, adding a small amount of lubricant to each part and testing the mechanism to keep it in good working order

Ready to brighten up your home?

Now you know how to clean and maintain bifold doors, why not explore our full collection? At Lite Haus UK, we are renowned for excellence and 50 years of experience supplying and installing a wide range of bespoke aluminium bi-fold doors to homeowners throughout Coventry, Warwickshire, and the West Midlands.  Give us a call today on 024 7646 0115, get an online quote, or email us to discuss your ideal solution.