How to Unstick a Sliding Closet Door

Sliding doors that drag or jump the track are almost always a wheel or alignment issue — not a damaged door.

Bypass closet doors hang from rollers on a top track. When they stick, vacuum the track first — pet hair and carpet fuzz pack into the channel and bind the wheels long before the wheels themselves wear out.

If cleaning doesn't help, lift the door slightly and angle the bottom out to dismount it. Inspect the rollers — most have a small adjustment screw on the back that raises or lowers each side independently. Adjust until the door hangs plumb and the bottom clears the floor by about 1/4".

Worn nylon wheels are about $8 a pair at any home center; bring the old one in to match the bracket. The whole repair takes maybe 20 minutes.

For mirrored bypass doors, two people make this much safer — those panels weigh more than they look, and a slipped grip cracks the mirror instantly.