There was one window in my house that took two hands and a grunt to open. I was convinced it was warped and needed replacing. A ninety-nine cent candle fixed it in under a minute.

Why windows stick

Wooden window frames swell with humidity, and the paint or varnish grabs. Even vinyl windows stick when the track is dry and full of grime. The fix is usually lubrication, not a new window.

The candle wax trick

1. Open the window as far as it will go.
2. Rub a plain candle along the track and the side channels.
3. Slide the window back and forth a few times to spread it.

The wax acts like a dry lubricant. It lets the sash glide without attracting dust the way oil or spray would.

What to do first

Before you wax, wipe the track clean of dirt and old paint. I scraped a bead of dried paint out of the channel with a putty knife, and that alone made a huge difference. Then the wax made it smooth.

I used to yank on that window and brace for it to break. Now it opens with one hand. My wife still does not believe the candle did it.