I learned the graphite lesson the hard way—ruined a perfectly good hoodie, still salty about it. Silicone spray's been my go-to since then, quieter for sure, but last winter it seemed to need reapplying more often. Maybe it's just my luck or the brutal Midwest cold...
"Silicone spray's been my go-to since then, quieter for sure, but last winter it seemed to need reapplying more often."
Yeah, silicone spray can get finicky in colder temps—been there myself. Ever tried white lithium grease? Bit messier initially, but holds up better through brutal winters...at least in my experience.
Silicone spray's alright til it gets cold...then it acts like my knees on a January morning, stiff and complaining. Tried lithium grease myself last winter, and yeah, it's messy at first—got it all over my hoodie—but once it's settled in, you're golden. Haven't had to reapply nearly as much, even through some nasty snowstorms. Only downside is the first few days after applying it, gotta watch your sleeves or you'll end up looking like you've been wrestling a tub of margarine (ask me how I know...).
"Only downside is the first few days after applying it, gotta watch your sleeves or you'll end up looking like you've been wrestling a tub of margarine (ask me how I know...)."
Haha, been there myself—ruined a perfectly good flannel that way. Curious though, anyone tried graphite powder instead? Heard it's less messy and holds up pretty well in cold weather. Wondering if it might be a cleaner alternative for those of us prone to accidental hoodie disasters...
Graphite powder works pretty well, actually. A few quick points from experience:
- Definitely cleaner than grease—no more sleeve casualties.
- Holds up nicely in cold temps, doesn't gum up or stiffen like some lubricants.
- Just be careful applying it; graphite dust can get everywhere if you're not careful (think toner cartridge mishaps...).
- Also, heads-up: graphite isn't ideal if your opener has plastic or nylon parts—it can cause premature wear.
Overall, solid alternative if you're mindful of the materials involved.
