What is the best lubricant for doors and windows?

Author: Shanie Hodkiewicz III  |  Last update: Monday, October 6, 2025

Ultra Glide's smooth, greaseless properties are well suited for sliding doors and windows, as the dry lubricant repels dirt and thus prevents buildup of grime and debris. Use Ultra Glide for every door in the house, including sliding glass doors, pocket doors, patio doors, and garage and storage shed doors.

Is silicone or WD-40 better for door hinges?

Silicone would be a reasonable choice, but you might have more luck getting it into the hinge in spray form with WD-40 300g Specialist High Performance Silicone Lubricant. The can comes with a little straw nozzle, which is handy when directing the spray to internal parts like hinges.

What is the best lubricant for doors?

What Is the Best Lubricant for Door Hinges? The best lubricant for squeaky door hinges would be either a silicone spray or lithium grease. Silicon spray is cheaper, easier to apply and potentially less messy than lithium grease, which makes it the winner for us.

What is the best lubricant for windows?

  • Silicone Spray : This is a popular choice as it provides a long-lasting lubricant that repels moisture and dirt, reducing friction in the window tracks.
  • Lithium Grease : This is effective for metal tracks and can provide a thicker, more durable lubrication.
  • White Lithium Grease
  • Graphite Powder

Can I use WD-40 to lubricate windows?

If your window has multiple sashes, remember to clean and apply lubricant to the other tracks as well. TIP: Don't use WD-40 to lubricate sticking windows.

Lithium grease vs silicone grease: Which to use?

How to get windows to slide easier?

How to Make Window Slides Smoother
  1. #1 Clean the window tracks. Simple dirt and grime can increase friction and cause windows to get stuck in their tracks. ...
  2. #2 Lubricate the Wooden Tracks of The Window with Wax. ...
  3. #3 Do not use lubricant oil. ...
  4. #4 Broken Leaf Cords.

What is the best lubricant for old wood windows?

You can use a solid block of beeswax or a mixture of beeswax and other natural ingredients such as coconut oil or olive oil. Simply rub the wax onto the tracks and frames of the window, making sure to cover all the moving parts.

What is the best thing to use to dry windows?

Using a squeegee, start at the top of the window and pull it down in a straight motion. Repeat until you've covered the entire window. Use a dry cloth and wipe the edges and corners of the window to remove any remaining moisture.

Can you use Vaseline to lubricate windows?

(The above procedures also work on full-size doors that stick or rub the jamb). By the way, a good short-term remedy for windows or doors that rub the jamb lightly is to apply a thin coat of Vaseline to the contact point(s) as a lubricant.

What lube is best for glass?

One of the most recommended lubricants for sliding glass doors is silicone-based sliding door grease. This type of lubricant offers excellent durability and water resistance, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications.

What is the best oil for interior doors?

When it comes to traditional wood oils for interior use, the most commonly used are Danish Oil, Tung Oil, and Linseed Oil. Traditional oils generally need a minimum of three thin coats or more depending on the wood type and application usage. They can also take days to dry, especially Linseed Oil.

How do you lubricate interior doors?

A popular choice that many choose to stop doors making a squeaking sound is to spray the hinge with some silicone. Available at most good hardware stores, it's free from grease and oil and is safe to use on wood, metal, plastic, and rubber.

How do you make a door not squeak without WD-40?

Rub Bar Soap on the Hinges

Bar soap has a lot of fat and oil in them that make them a great lubricant for treating a squeaky door.

When not to use silicone lubricant?

At Nye, we do not recommend silicone greases for electrical automotive applications. It has been found that lower quality, light base oil viscosity silicone lubricants present the possibility of outgassing, potentially contaminating nearby switch contacts leading eventually to switch failure and continuity problems.

Where should you not use WD-40?

7 places to never use WD-40 — you'll be surprised
  • Hinges. (Image credit: Shutterstock) ...
  • Bike chains. (Image credit: Shutterstock) ...
  • Locks. (Image credit: Shutterstock) ...
  • Polycarbonate and clear polystyrene plastic. ...
  • Sensitive electronics. ...
  • Wax polishes and some wax coatings. ...
  • Anything that comes into contact with food.

What are the best lubricants for windows?

The answer is clear: 2Slick™ Lubricant Spray. Its superior lubrication, safety for vinyl, long-lasting protection, ease of application, and versatility make it the top choice for maintaining the smooth operation of your windows.

What is a good substitute for silicone spray?

If your job involves lubrication of metal-on-metal surfaces that are exposed to the elements and potentially harsh weather conditions, reach for WD-40's White Lithium Grease.

What lubricant to use on window hinges?

We recommend silicone-based lubricant. Oil can build up in hinges and locking mechanisms over time, so a small amount of silicone-based lubricant on a cloth is best. Wipe it along tracks and around each seal to keep all the windows opening and closing. A wet cloth should also clean window handles and hinges.

Is Windex or vinegar better for windows?

Spray a stronger mix of 1:1 water and vinegar (or Windex, or glass cleaner) at your window, so that the solution covers most of the glass. (I found Windex to work better, but if you have pets—or kids—who frequently lick outdoor windows, vinegar may be the best route for you.)

How do I stop moisture build up on my windows?

Lower the humidity in your home.
  1. Use a dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers suck up water vapor from the air, so they can help reduce the amount of condensation on your windows. ...
  2. Use fans to circulate air throughout your home. ...
  3. Open windows when it's cold outside and close them when it's hot outside—but not all at once!

Why do my windows look smeared after cleaning?

Too Much Soap in the Solution

Well, window cleaner, this can absolutely apply to your soap solution. Your windows could be looking murky because you're using way too much of the good stuff. When it comes to concentrate, a little goes a long way, even if you're using regular dish soap.

What can I put on wooden windows to make them slide easier?

For wooden windows, a simple solution is to rub a white candle along the wood surfaces. This will provide a light coat of wax that will help the window move smoothly. Open and close the window several times to distribute the wax evenly.

How to get windows to open easier?

Fully open the window. Clean the hinges, frame and operator from any loose dirt. Spray a silicone lubricant on the crank operator, hinges, tracks and basically any other moving metal parts. Open and close the window several times to work the lubricant into the parts and spread it evenly.

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