TIL a trick for fixing old windows from a guy at a salvage yard in Detroit

Was there last fall looking for door hardware. He saw me struggling with a stiff sash. Told me to rub a bar of plain soap on the channels. Not wax, just soap. Did it on my 1920s windows at home. The difference was instant. Anyone else have a simple fix for old, sticky windows?

2 comments

2 Comments

joseph_roberts15d ago

That soap trick is genius (and cheap). For painted-shut windows, a utility knife run along the seam can sometimes break the seal without damaging the wood.

ericb6614d ago

Oh man, that knife trick is a lifesaver! I had to do that on every window in my old apartment. The key is using a fresh blade and going really slow, so you don't gouge the frame. It takes some patience but it beats forcing the window and cracking the glass.