I painted my window trim in June and did not close that window again until September. When the first cold night hit, the window would not shut all the way, and the gap let in enough cold air to make the whole room drafty. I called my landlord in a panic. He laughed and talked me through a fix that took ten minutes.

Why windows jam after painting

Fresh paint on the window sash and the frame dries into a seal that is stronger than it looks. The window feels stuck because paint is acting like glue along the edges. Sometimes it is not paint at all, just years of grime and a swollen wood frame.

The fix that works

Here is the order I use:

1. Run a utility knife along the seam between the sash and the frame, top and sides. This cuts the paint film so the window can move.
2. Press on the frame, not the glass. Pushing the glass can crack it. Use the palms of your hands on the wood and push straight.
3. Work the window up and down gently a few times to break the seal before trying to close it fully.
4. If it still binds, rub a candle or a bar of soap along the track. The wax lets the sash slide.

That last step fixed my window completely. The soap trick sounds too simple to work, which is exactly what I said before trying it.

When it is more than paint

If the window still will not close, the frame may have swelled from moisture. Check the weather stripping and the track for buildup. Clean the track with a stiff brush and wipe it dry, then try again. A swollen wood frame sometimes just needs the humidity to drop, so run a dehumidifier for a few days.

If the sash is truly crooked or the mechanism is broken, that is a repair, not a trick. Call someone. But nine times out of ten, the stuck window is paint, grime, or a dry track, and all three are home fixes.