How to Replace Sliding Glass Medicine Cabinet Doors

medicine cabinet
  • 2-3 hours
  • Beginner
  • 35-50
What You'll Need
Flat head screw driver
Glass doors
Replacement track
What You'll Need
Flat head screw driver
Glass doors
Replacement track

Anyone who has a glass medicine cabinet will know that they suffer plenty of abuse over the years. We are constantly leaving fingerprints on them, breathing on them, splashing them, and cleaning them. Sooner or later, they are going to show signs of wear and tear. After years of use, the glass will also shows signs of age. When it comes time to replace them, it is important to carefully remove them and install a new replacement.

Step 1 - Removing

Each cabinet has different features and styles, depending on where it was made. Some will have screwed on fascias and others will have strips or tracks that need removing in order to access the glass doors and take them out. If your bathroom cabinet has a removable strip, it will need to be removed. You can use a flat head screwdriver to wedge underneath the strip and lever it off. Be careful not to snap the strip or cause damage to the parts that need to affix back onto the cabinet. If your bathroom cabinet doors are secured with a screwed on strip, unscrew it to gain access.

Step 2 - The Old Doors

Once you have removed the holding strip, carefully lift the glass doors out of the tracks. They are designed to fall into their tracks, so you might have to either lift them a little or tilt them to get them to move out of the tracks. Place them carefully down somewhere safe while you replace them with the new pieces.

Step 3 - Cleaning

Before you entertain the idea of popping the new glass doors back into the cabinet, clean it thoroughly. Vacuum the tracks and ensure they are thoroughly clear of any debris. Small items, like razor blade caps and tiny tablets can break off and get inside the tracks, causing the doors to either stick or move sluggishly.

Step 4 - New Doors

Measure the old doors before you buy replacement, mirrored, doors for your cabinet. Making them too small will cause them not to hold in the tracks and they will tilt forward and fall out. Too tight and you have a similar issue with being able to move them at all, so measure them precisely.

If your new door fits properly, you can install it by settling it in place carefully before testing the slide motion. It should be uninterrupted and smooth. If that works properly, slide in the other door. Again, test it for movement. Once you are done, reattach the strip or fascia that came off the cabinet.

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