How to Increase The Effectiveness of the Sliding Windows

Sliding windows are amid the most popular modern window styles being used in residential and commercial spaces alike. Sliders not only increase the style quotient but also enhance the functionality of your spaces.
Have your sliding windows become difficult to open, close, and operate? Here are some tips to get your windows to slide more easily.

1. Clean the Window Tracks Regularly
   Dust, dirt, grime, bug juice, small insects, wall debris, and pollen lodged in the tracks, often increase friction and can cause your windows to bind and stick in their tracks. Cleaning the windows and their tracks once a month can help reduce the amount of built-up dirt, thereby, making your sliding window easier to maintain.
   Close the window completely and clean along the track, trim, and window sill with a soft, dry cloth to remove hard pollutants like dust, dirt, and bugs. You can also use a vacuum cleaner to reach remote corners of the window tracks. After that, open the window and wipe the parts of the window that you could not reach. You can use a lightly wet and damp cloth to clean the tracks thoroughly.
   To properly remove dirt and bugs remaining in the track, you can use a soft bristle cleaning brush. Be careful not to scrub the surface too hard, because you won’t be required to. Sliding windows are pretty low-maintenance and don’t require extra cleaning if regular tidying and upkeep are ensured.
2. Keep the Window Tracks Lubricated
   If the track is clogged due to use or your window has a broken latch, the sash will not slide smoothly. In such cases, lubrication can be your best bet. For sliding windows, silicone-based lubricants work the best since they usually do not harm the window framing material. They draw less dirt and hold even lesser, offering smooth movement of sashes. Greasing the joints, hinges, latches, locking systems, window sill, or springs are extremely critical for the proper functioning of sliding windows. Before lubricating different parts of your window, ensure that they are dry.
3. Adjust the Sash and Rollers
   If you think the sliding sash is the problem, align it again with the track. For this, remove the sash and re-insert it in the track. Ensure that you fasten and bring into line all the screws and rollers that you come across throughout the process. You can also try and adjust the rollerblades of your sliding window on the track.
   Aligning and adjusting the sash and the rollers are doable but trickier than what you may be assuming. Hence, seek professional help at any point you feel like you are overstaying your maintenance capabilities.
4. Get Expert Help
   While cleaning and lubricating tracks of your sliding windows might be your forte, removing sashes and servicing them may not. In case your sliding window malfunctions and does not slide as easily as it should, the tips mentioned above can be useful. However, if the condition stays or further deteriorates, it is better to seek professional help. By taking things in your own hands, you may cause more harm than good. Because let us face it: sliding window mechanisms are mostly complex and way beyond a quick DIY-fix.