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If you have a reason to remove sliding closet doors, here are the instructions on how to do it. We offer some ideas on what to replace them with too. Read on!
Why would you want to remove the sliding bypass doors from your closet anyway? There may be several reasons:
- The doors look outdated and ugly.
- You want to revamp the room.
- You want to remove the closet entirely.
No matter the reason, you want to start with removing the actual door. First things first, here are some things you have to consider before starting this project:
- Is the door heavy? Especially if it’s a mirrored door, you may need a second pair of helping hands. Either way, removing them with a little help is much easier.
- The top rail wheels are what hold the door in place. This means you will have to work up high. Consider if you have a convenient ladder to climb up. Don’t rely standing on a chair. Get someone to keep the chair secure while you’re on it, at the very least.
- Getting the door out of the top rail might require some wiggling so be prepared to do it in a few tries before you succeed. Again, this is where more helping hands will be very useful.
Table of Contents
Removing the Sliding Door
This is how you can easily remove the door using only a screwdriver. Start with the first door and then repeat the process on the second door. As you are well aware, the bypass doors are on their rails in front of each other. So you will start with the first door closer to you.
- Move the door to the middle of the closet and unscrew the screws holding the wheels to loosen them up. Don’t unscrew them entirely.
- You will be able to lift the door up so the bottom wheels jump out of the rails. At this point, you can engage the help if you have any. Move the second door behind the one you’re removing for support.
- Hold the door and tilt it away from the closet at an angle. You shouldn’t need to tilt it more than 35 degrees or so.
- Now you should be able to pull out the top wheels from the rail and take off the door entirely. You may need to wiggle it a bit to get it moving.
How to Cover a Closet without Doors
Now that the door is gone, what do you do to cover the closet? Do you have to do it at all? Here are your options:
- You may leave your wardrobe exposed for decor value. It has to be neatly organized.
- You may decorate open shelves.
- Use beautiful bins to store things.
- You may use the extra space to add pull-out furniture.
- Create a home office space.
- Turn a small closet into a headboard with storage.
And here are some closet door alternatives:
- Add curtains
- Use beaded strings
- Hang macrame
FAQ
If the doors have mirrors, the process of removing them is the same. You only have to consider their weight (mirrors are heavy) and do it with assistance.
Knowing how they work may be helpful when removing or fixing the doors. Sliding closet doors hang on wheels secured on the top rail. The bottom rail is there only to guide them. The wheels can be adjusted to the required height. By doing it you can remove them or fix them.
Whether it’s to keep the door closed away from children or pets, or simply to solve a stubborn rail problem, you can install a simple latch. It’s made of plastic and usually used in RVs to keep the door closed while driving. It’s barely noticeable when installed and keeps the door closed.
Fixing the sliding doors is a matter of cleaning the rails and adjusting the wheels properly. After removing the door vacuum, and clean the rails with a cloth and a cleaning solution. Then lubricate it with a hinge lubricant. Adjust the wheels as needed.
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