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?

3 comments

3 Comments

joseph_roberts1mo 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.

ericb661mo 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.

morgan_butler14d ago

I used to be one of those people who thought the knife trick was overkill. I'd just yank on the window and hope for the best, which usually ended with me chipping the paint and swearing under my breath. But after ruining a nice wooden frame on a rental, I finally tried your method with a fresh blade and slow, steady cuts. You're absolutely right, it's night and day. The patience pays off big time when the window slides open without a fight and the frame stays looking clean.