What can be used as a suitable lubricant for wooden curtain poles?

January 19, 2007 9:26 AM

We have some wooden curtain poles on which the wooden rings move really smoothly, but also have a couple where the curtains "judder" and sometimes stick quite badly when pulling them open or closed. How can I get the non-compliant curtains to move smoothly?
posted by Davis McBain to home & garden (8 comments total)

Rub the top of the curtain pole with paraffin.
posted by Seamus at 9:28 AM on January 19, 2007

Rub a candle along the tops of the rods. The wax will make things work smoothly.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 9:30 AM on January 19, 2007

It just needs to be waxed-- an ordinary candle will do. Just rub it over the contact areas. (This also works for a sticky wooden drawer.)
posted by thehmsbeagle at 9:30 AM on January 19, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

Yes, wax is the magical lubricant for wood.
posted by OmieWise at 9:35 AM on January 19, 2007

A great link on Lifehacker says spray the poless with WD-40.
posted by KRS at 10:05 AM on January 19, 2007

A bar of soap will do if no wax is available. You could go through all the trouble of burnishing the wood, but you won't get better results than soap or wax.
posted by kc0dxh at 10:37 AM on January 19, 2007

Rubbing plain bar soap on will also work.
posted by yohko at 10:41 AM on January 19, 2007

WD-40 is not a great lubricant in the long term; it gets gummy.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 11:04 AM on January 19, 2007