When it's time to replace batteries on some of my contact sensors, the sliding plastic cover gets super stuck over the years and it takes so much pulling to remove it I'm afraid to break the sensor (or my fingers). I need to put a tinny tiny drop of lubricant on the rails so it slides off easier a couple years later. Which would be safe on this kind of plastic, a mineral oil or something else? Need to make sure it would not dry out or rubberize.
I've used this stuff on other things besides o-rings.
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Candle wax is used on drawers, so it's probably useful for this too.
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How about silicone grease used on plumbing fixtures? Sold in hardware stores.
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Do not use mineral oil, it will degrade many plastics. Variations of silicone work the best or you could use wax from a candle.
I would recommend either wax or a spray silicone. The O-ring lubricant for pools will work but it gets messy and is a pain to clean when it gets on an unwanted surface.
For wax, I use an old candle and simply rub it on the surface to be lubricated.
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I typically use paraffin wax for this purpose. It is solid and can be rubbed on the surface. It use to be sold in grocery stores with supplies to make jam or canning (mason jars).
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Thanks everyone for all the suggestions! A candle or paraffin wax seems to be the easiest solution...
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I just replaced some window alarm batteries. They last forever.
Anyway, I think another factor is UV deterioration-they were becoming brittle.
I wonder if there's a formulation that would help with that...except maybe covering it with electrical tape, lol.
Good question, I'd be interested about a solution also. Window sensors get all the sun. The sun also hits the side of the sensor, and I don't want to cover that with tape since it's where the magnet sensor is...
For outdoor motion sensors which I want being less visible i have carefully cut out a tape mask to cover what I don't want painted....and then hit it with puffs of flat (no reflection) plastic-compatible spray paint until the device shell is covered. Don't use metallic fleck for obvious reasons 
This DOES lower the amount of UV the plastic takes. And yes, the first time going back in to change the battery may take some knife work to cut a little paint, but not if you "gently waft" the paint vs heavy handed layering.
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