I’ve always wondered if there’s a trick to making silicone last longer, though. Anyone ever tried mixing silicone with anything else or layering it over PTFE? Or is that just asking for trouble...
I get where you’re coming from. I tried layering silicone over PTFE once on my old sliders, thinking I was being clever—honestly, it just turned into a gummy mess after a few months. Didn’t seem to help longevity at all, and the cleanup was even worse than usual. In my experience, silicone’s great for a quick fix but it just doesn’t have staying power, especially in dusty tracks. That said, I totally agree about the PTFE cleanup pain... but once it’s done, it really is “set and forget.”
Mixing stuff always sounds clever in theory, but I’ve never had much luck either. Tried something similar a while back on the tracks in my sunroom. Ended up with sticky residue and more dust than before—like it just made a magnet for grime. I keep coming back to graphite powder, even though it’s messy at first. At least my windows actually slide after, and I’m not scrubbing weird gunk off every few months. Honestly, sometimes simple is just better...
Mixing stuff always sounds clever in theory, but I’ve never had much luck either. Tried something similar a while back on the tracks in my sunroom.
I hear you on the sticky residue—been there with some of those “miracle” sprays. But I actually had the opposite experience with silicone spray, at least in my drafty old kitchen. Graphite always left black streaks on the white sills, and the powder seemed to blow everywhere. The silicone’s a bit slick at first, but after a day or two it dries and doesn’t seem to collect much dust, at least for me. Maybe it’s the humidity here? Funny how what works in one room is a mess in another.
That’s interesting about the silicone spray drying out for you. I tried it on the windows in my basement—definitely less dust than graphite, but I still got a bit of a film that seemed to attract dog hair (maybe just my luck). Graphite’s a mess on white trim, I’ll give you that. I do wonder if climate plays a part… my place is pretty dry most of the year, so maybe that’s why the silicone never fully cured. It’s wild how much difference a room or season can make.
I've actually had the opposite—silicone usually dries up fast for me, but I’m in a pretty humid area. I wonder if how much you shake the can makes a difference? Also, did you try wiping off the excess after spraying? Sometimes that helps cut down on that sticky film. I’m with you on graphite being a pain for white trim though... had to repaint a few times because of it.
I’m with you on graphite being a pain for white trim though... had to repaint a few times because of it.
Totally get this. I tried graphite once and instantly regretted it—little black smudges everywhere, and my trim is that off-white that shows every mark. For silicone, I’ve found it helps to spray lightly, let it sit for a minute, then wipe with a clean rag. If you go too heavy, that sticky film really lingers. Not sure if shaking the can changes much, but I usually give it a good shake out of habit. Humidity might be a factor too; my place is pretty dry most of the year, so maybe that’s why I haven’t had issues with drying. It’s definitely a bit of trial and error.
I get the frustration with graphite—those smudges are no joke, especially on lighter trim. That being said, I’ve actually stuck with graphite for my old wood windows, even with the mess. Silicone seems easier, but in my experience, it attracts dust like crazy over time. I’ve had tracks get gunky way faster with silicone, especially in the summer when windows are open and pollen’s flying in.
If you go too heavy, that sticky film really lingers.
That’s been my main gripe. Even with a light touch, I still notice a bit of residue, and after a few months, it looks grimy. Maybe it’s just my house (built in the 60s, lots of draft and dust), but I’d rather deal with a little graphite cleanup than have to scrub out silicone gunk every season. Guess it comes down to what kind of mess you want to deal with. I keep a small paintbrush handy to sweep out extra graphite, which helps... but yeah, neither option is perfect.
I totally get the trade-off. I used silicone spray on our old aluminum sliders a few years back, hoping for less mess, but you’re right—dust and pollen just glued themselves to the tracks. It actually made the windows harder to move after a while, which was the opposite of what I wanted. I’m curious—has anyone tried those dry Teflon sprays? I’ve heard they’re less sticky than silicone but not as messy as graphite. Wondering if they’re worth a shot or just another thing to clean up later...
Teflon sprays do a decent job, honestly. They’re not as sticky as silicone, so you won’t get that gummy buildup, and they don’t attract dust the same way. I’ve used them on some older vinyl tracks—windows slid smoother for a while, but you do need to reapply every few months. Still less hassle than cleaning out graphite powder everywhere, in my opinion. Just watch out for overspray; it can make the floor slick if you’re not careful.
I get what you’re saying about Teflon sprays, but I’ve actually had better luck with silicone over the long haul. Maybe it’s just my old wood windows, but silicone seems to last longer between applications. The dust buildup hasn’t been a huge issue for me—maybe it’s just the climate here? Graphite powder drove me nuts though, especially when it got tracked onto the carpet. Anyone else notice silicone holding up better in humid areas, or is that just me?