An easy guide to silencing the squeak.
Apparently, a door's loud squeaking serves a purpose beyond getting on your last nerve. Next time your door begins to screech at you, don’t just shut it out. Your door might be trying to tell you something important, says expert handyman Lillian Graning. portable door lock
Usually, the message is that your hinges are dry or screws are loose. According to Graning, doors get squeaky because of hinge wear and tear, wood deformation, and metal rubbing together—all of which naturally happens over time. In some cases though, that squeaking can indicate bigger problems.
“A squeaky door isn't just annoying; It's an audible neon sign saying ‘Something’s not right,'" Graning reveals. “Sometimes a squeaky door is just the tip of the iceberg. It could be a sign of uneven floors, warped frames, or even structural issues. Don't ignore the squeak.”
Instead of slamming the door in annoyance, address the problem head-on—both for the sake of your sanity and to avoid further damage. Here’s how to silence the squeak.
What you’ll need depends on what exactly is making your door squeak. To prepare for practically every scenario, Graning says that she keeps these materials in her “squeaky door toolkit.”
Plus, this is a great opportunity to whip out some of those home remedies. Turn to your kitchen and bathroom for DIY remedies such as:
Before leaping into action, start by inspecting your door and sleuthing out the squeaky perpetrator. According to Graning, figuring out the exact reason for your door’s squeaky problem is essential to a quick fix.
“Identifying the root cause is your ticket to peace and quiet,” she says. “Once you know what's causing the problem, the fix is usually pretty straightforward. Just masking the sound can lead to larger concerns down the line.”
Clean the hinges then give them a closer look. Are any rusted or has their paint been stripped away from friction? Have their screws come loose? Listen close as you open and close the door slowly and see if you can identify the culprit.
“It's really a game of detective each time,” says Graning. “Instead of a magnifying glass, you’re relying on your ears and uneven wear. Give those hinges a good inspection, looking for rust, spots where the paint has rubbed off, or any loose screws. Once you’re looking and listening, the squeak won't hide for long.”
Start by tightening any loose screws. Next, go in with a lubricant. Apply the lubricant with a light hand, adding more as necessary but careful not to drown your poor hinges. Some spray lubricants come with a straw attachment to help you get into the nooks and crannies, down to the bottom of the squeak.
While WD-40 is a tried and true household hero, other lubrication would certainly work in a pinch. Plenty of household materials are greasy enough to hold your hinges over until you can implement a more permanent solution.
“Soap, wax, or even a spritz of hairspray can work wonders. Just remember, moderation is key—your doors aren’t winning any beauty pageants and don’t blame me if your door smells like a spring meadow,” laughs Graning.
Tightened screws and a touch of lubricant might be enough to solve your pesky problem, especially if your hinges don’t show signs of additional roadblocks such as rust or chipped paint.
If your door is still squeaking away, it’s time to dig a little deeper and disassemble the hinge. Think of it like surgery for your door.
To remove the hinge pins, start by placing a nail at the bottom of the hinge. Use a hammer to gently tap the nail until the pin can be removed from the top. Depending on the construction of your door’s hinges, you may need to turn this process upside-down and hammer from the top.
With your hinge pin removed, clean the whole thing down for any stuck grime and try greasing again. Then, slide the hinge pin back into place from the same direction it came out. Use your hammer to lightly tap it back into place.
Be mindful not to take all your hinge pins out at the same time, or the door will fall out of place. Instead: remove, grease, and replace your door pins one at a time until the squeaking is obsolete.
If your door is still mimicking a haunted house as it opens and shuts, there's still hope.
At this point, rusted, chipped hinges may have to go the way of the dodo. Consider replacing the hinges altogether. To do so, remove the hinge pins once again, then go one step further and use a screwdriver to detach the hinges from the door and door frame. Then, reverse the process, re-attaching new screws and new hinges.
“If the door keeps on squeaking despite your best efforts, take a step back, breathe, and maybe call in a professional,” says Graning. “Sometimes a squeaky door is a sign of a deeper issue, like uneven floors or warped frames.”
After taking those steps, we wish we could tell you that squeaky hinges would never darken your doors again. Unfortunately, use over time makes wear and tear inevitable, leading to squeaking. However, some simple maintenance once a year can hold off the squeaking.
cabinet sliding door rollers “Prevention is the name of the game,” says Graning. “Keep those hinges well lubricated, tighten screws regularly, and give your door some TLC every now and then. This task goes on our ‘every year’ list. A little maintenance goes a long way!”