troubleshoot my squeaky windows please!

April 12, 2021 9:40 AM

We are prepping our townhouse to sell and were told to use silicone spray to get rid of the squeaking/screechy noise when we open them. We followed the directions but the sound almost seems to have gotten worse even though they're moving more smoothly. These are vinyl windows, possibly from the original build in 1998. Any suggestions would be wonderful.
posted by brilliantine to Home & Garden (3 answers total)

Not sure if you mean the mechanism or the window gasket is squeaking but you could try rubbing a candle (like a white tea candle) around the perimeter of the window.
posted by bonobothegreat at 9:02 PM on April 12, 2021

Bar soap works to lubricate rubbing surfaces too.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 9:38 PM on April 12, 2021

Graphite is a pretty magical lubricant that often works in cases where liquid lubricants fail. (it's hard to get it into places that require defying gravity, however).
posted by autocol at 12:32 AM on April 13, 2021