I am having the same problem as I only bought the expensive Hunter Douglas Soft Vertical Blinds due to being afraid my dogs would ruin the Luminettes that I really wanted. Now I am thinking of using Sheers on a rod that can easily be washed and if that doesn't work out, I I will see what others suggest. I really hate how the curved vertical blinds I bought in 2006 that block the light on the sides so light from that window does not go into my open family room. They do not insulate and are only pretty when closed. I love the Luminettes and if I did not have little dogs, that is what I would have gone with as they are very expensive to clean. My kitchen and family room would be so much brighter if I removed the expensive blinds that match the wall color so well and are really pretty but they were not the right choice.

What are your needs for the WT? Looks, privacy, light filtering, block out? Since it's the dining room, a pic might help to visualize the space and your own style. I have 2 sliders backyard facing. The one in the kitchen/family has no treatment and I prefer it that way; in our master bedroom we did layered treatment with a double traverse rod with center opening pinch pleats on top and sheers below for light filtering/privacy--above that I plan to hang a valance when DH gets around to it. As I wanted the center opening, I took them about 15" beyond the door frame so when open they stack back behind the door. Before I had them all go to one side, but I like the symmetry of this arrangement better. If you do decide on a fabric treatment you can tie it in and dress up the wood blinds with a coordinating valance or roman shade. There are other options for vertical blinds (some with sheer material in between), bamboo, etc. Check out the JC Penny website for other options. Here is a link that might be useful: JC Penny draperies

You are welcome. I'd use WoW if they were here (same area) for my own house LOL. Anyway, the sliding door is under-serviced no doubt. And it's been replaced a few times as well in the last 20 years. Basically, there is something going on where a lot of debris and water get into the track. I think the exposure directly to the outside and a lot of yard debris (leaves, dirt from the ditch that blows up in windy weather, etc). And that starts the downward decline. Perhaps the last install was bad. But we really want to do away with a slider completely this time and simply avoid having to keep cleaning the track and servicing it. Even with a new sliding door, the shoulder surgeries have left their arms weak and I think it's best to avoid that type of door going forward

What purpose would the door covering serve? Privacy? Light control? Decorative only? I would never use vertical blinds--I just don't like them. So that leaves either curtain panels on a rod with enough fullness to cover the entire span of glass, or some sort of Roman shade installed high up on the molding or wall (if you need privacy and/or light control). If it's decorative only, then curtain panels that cover part of the glass/frame, but that can be pulled back far enough to open the door.