Design Vogue

A squeaky door is a constant annoyance. While a little bit of lubrication might quiet a squeaky door temporarily, constantly having to lubricate it is a telltale sign that something is wrong. If you frequently have to oil door hinges and pins, a lack of lubrication likely isn't the cause of your door's squeak.

Below, we've explained the common causes of squeaky doors and what you can do to fix the problem for good.

What Is Causing Your Door to Squeak?

There are many ways that door components can fail and begin squeaking. Here are some common causes of squeaky doors:

• Dry Hinges. One of the most common reasons doors begin to squeak is that the hinges are dry and need lubrication.
• Worn or damaged hinges and hardware. Hinges can also begin to squeak if they become worn or damaged.
• Misaligned hinges. Hinges are fairly simple to install, but if they are slightly misaligned, they can cause a door squeak that can be hard to pinpoint.
• Loose hardware. As a door is used, it can cause the screws to loosen or strip the wood.
• Warped and aging wood. A wood door may warp due to humidity changes, leading to noisy rubbing.
• House settling. As a home's foundation naturally settles, doors can sag and become misaligned. Without adjustment to account for the settling, doors may begin to squeak or fail to latch.

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How to Oil Door Hinges and Pins

1. Remove the Hinge Pin

   To remove the hinge pin, place a small screwdriver on the bottom of the pin and tap it with a hammer. The pin should lift from the barrels of the hinge.

   If the hinge pin won't come out, spray a light amount of penetrating oil and return to it after a few minutes of soaking.

   Tip

   To keep from having to remove the door, work on one hinge at a time.

2. Clean the Hinge Pin

   Clean the hinge pin thoroughly with a degreaser and a light-duty scouring pad. To remove rust, steel wool and white vinegar may be more effective. Once clean, thoroughly dry the hinge pin.

3. Clean the Hinge Barrels

   Clean the hinge barrels using a degreaser. If they are considerably dirty or rusty, unscrew them from the door frame for easier cleaning.

   To remove rust from the inside of the barrels, follow these steps:

   1. Soak the hinge in a 1:1 mixture of water and vinegar.
   2. Roll up a piece of sandpaper and slide it into the hinge barrels.
   3. Work the sandpaper back and forth to clean off the rust.
   4. Rinse the hinge and thoroughly dry it.
      

   Warning

   Vinegar may damage certain types of metal. If you're unsure what metal your hinges are made of, test the vinegar out on a small hidden area before proceeding.

4. Oil the Hinge Pin and Barrels

   Once the pin and barrels are completely dry, apply a thin layer of silicone oil.

5. Reinstall the Hinge Pin

   If all the steps above were completed, the hinge pin should easily slide back into the hinge barrels.

6 Ways to Fix a Squeaky Door

Here are some lubricants you can use to fix a squeaky door. You may have some around the house, while others may warrant a trip to the hardware store.

Silicone Spray

Silicone spray is one of the best lubricants you can use to quiet a squeaky door. For best results, remove the hinge pin and spray it thoroughly.

Lithium Grease

Lithium grease lasts longer than silicone spray as a door hinge lubricant, but it's generally much messier to apply. Additionally, whereas silicone is safe for hinges with nylon and plastic parts, lithium grease is not.

Hairspray

Want a quick fix to silence that squeaky bathroom door before it wakes your kids up? Grab some hairspray out of the cabinet and spray the hinge. Work the hinge back and forth and give it another spray.

The polymers in the hairspray will minimize the movement of the hinge and quickly quiet it but don't count on hairspray as a long-term solution for fixing a squeaky door.

Petroleum Jelly

Another squeaky door solution you may find in your bathroom cabinet is petroleum jelly, more commonly known as its branded namesake Vaseline.

Because petroleum jelly lacks any penetrating power, you'll want to remove the hinge pin, give it a good cleaning, then coat it with a thin layer of petroleum jelly before reinstalling.

Paraffin Candles

Yes, you can even use a candle to grease your door hinge. Simply melt a paraffin wax candle, slide out the door hinge, and thinly coat it with melted wax.

Olive Oil

No time to run to the hardware store? Head to your kitchen pantry instead. Olive oil works wonderfully to silence squeaky door hinges.

To minimize the mess, utilize an oil can or a small syringe, such as the kind included with children's medicine. The olive oil should penetrate the hinge, but it may be helpful to slide the hinge pin out slightly.