Help. I've got WD40 all over the inside of my window.

[yardwork]

I have an old double-hung kitchen window with storm windows. It's been dirty since I bought this place several years ago. Somebody put glass shelves in front of it (now I know why) that hold knick-knacks. Yesterday I got motivated and took it apart to clean all the surfaces - eight glass surfaces on all the windows, and the three glass shelves. I let the removable storm window and all the metal runners dry overnight and put it back together this evening. As I was putting the glass storm window in place one of the metal tabs jammed with the storm window open several inches, and then one side of the window sash itself kind of fell apart - what appears to be an old pulley system fell out. This window is over the kitchen sink. So I'm sitting in the kitchen sink to get leverage, trying to unjam the little metal tab so that I can close the storm window, and I can't close the sash either because it's got some kind of metal and rope thing hanging out one side. I'm sweating. It's a hot summer night and the kitchen window is wide open and june bugs are flying at me.

So I get the WD40 and squirt some at the little metal tap and it works. I unjam the storm window and get it in place and then I take a hammer to the mess on the side of the window sash and get it smashed back together and the window is closed and locked! Yay! I'm never going to open that sucker again. I put the glass shelves back up and all the little knick-knacks and stand back to admire my work......and see a spray of what can only be WD40 all over the inside glass of the upper window sash, the surface that's inside the upper storm window, now hermetically sealed.

So, will that WD40 droplets inside the window stay there forever or will it eventually be pulled down by gravity and pool invisibly at the base of the upper window sash?

The way I figure I have two choices. Learn to love it or replace the entire window.

[juajen]

1. Paint a miniature landscape with oil paint or a green English ivy vine. I believe it should be

oil, as I don't think acrylic would hold up. This should just cover up where the oil is.

[juajen]

2. Paint a small landscape scene or an ivy vine with oil paint.

Be sure and wipe the window clean with vinegar before painting and use care when cleaning the window.

Sorry for the double post. Lost the other one, and then discovered it where it should have been.

[yardwork]

3. Very interesting and creative suggestion! Thank you!

The oil doesn't look that bad this morning, especially behind the glass shelves and knickknacks. If it starts to attract dirt and mildew, though, I will consider your suggestion. Thank you!

[Warpy]

4. Oh, just cover those glass shelves with pots of herbs

and pretend it's not there. It will volatize inside the space eventually, covering everything with a very slight WD-40 haze and eventually it will simply evaporate. Until then, the plants will obscure the problem.

Plus, you can use them in your food.

[Hotler]

5. Grain alcohol (Everclear) I always.......

keep a pint around for cleaning. Keep it away from open flames. You might try Dawn dish soap.