How to fix a squeaky door

What causes a squeaky door?

Friction

The source of squeaks in your doors is almost always down to the hinges. Over time, the moving parts in your hinge can become dry and rub together, causing that annoying squeak. Keeping your hinges adequately lubricated is usually the first step when trying to fix a squeaky door.

Dirt and dust

Through daily use, it’s easy for dirt and dust to accumulate in your door hinges, which can lead to squeaking. This is accelerated if there’s excess oil or grease left over, so be sure to clean as you go if you’re working on your hinges.

Worn parts

When you have a squeaky door, you realise how often it’s used. It may be that your hinges have worn down over years of use, in which case it may be better to replace them entirely.

Loose screws

The screws that attach the hinge to the door and doorframe are likely to come loose over time. Wonky hinges are much more likely to squeak, and can make your doors difficult to open and close, so make a point of giving the screws a good tighten every couple of years or so.

Poorly fitting door

A door which isn’t sitting in its frame properly can put undue stress on its hinges, leading to squeaking and potential damage.

If you’re not confident in adjusting the door yourself, you should get a pro in to level and plane the door so it sits in the doorframe properly.

Swelling

You’ll often find your doors a little harder to open in close in warmer months as they’re more likely to swell. With more pressure put on the hinges, squeaks can occur!

Sanding the door down to fit the doorframe is a quick fix, but be careful of sanding too much; when the door contracts again in winter, you may end up with draughty gaps if you’ve sanded too aggressively.

What’s the best lubricant for squeaky doors?

Lithium grease

A small amount of this on the hinge pin does a great job at making your hinges move smoothly together.

Silicon spray

Spraying some of this in between the hinges can help to avoid squeaking – just make sure to have a cloth handy to wipe up any excess.

WD40

A decent temporary fix, however, WD40 isn’t actually designed as a lubricant – it’s more effective at water displacement and cleaning. It certainly does have its uses in improving your hinges, though – more on that later.

Petroleum jelly or hairspray

You probably have these in your house already! A cheap and cheerful way of getting rid of squeaks, applying some of this to your hinges can help lubricate them with minimal effort and low cost.

How to quickly fix a squeaky door

Firstly, protect the floor by laying down a dust sheet underneath the door.

Use a hammer and a nail to drive out the pin from the bottom of the hinge, hammering upwards. Once this is out, you can work some lubricant onto the pin as well as all the moving parts of your hinge before popping the pin back in place. Wipe off any excess and check again for squeaks.

It’s worth getting someone to hold the door while you do this to avoid putting undue pressure on the other hinges, and only ever do one hinge at a time.

A more thorough fix

If the quick fix didn’t work, or if your hinges are particularly dirty or rusted, it’s time for a deep clean.

Carefully remove the door from its hinges and then remove the hinges from the door frame. Put the hinges into a bowl of distilled vinegar and use either fine wire wool or aluminium foil to scrub away at any rusted parts of the hinge. Leave them to dry completely and spray with WD40 to displace any water and protect the parts. Apply lubricant to keep things working smoothly.

Reassemble your door, making sure you put the hinges back in their original place.

A permanent solution

For very old hinges that won’t stop squeaking no matter how much you oil them, it’s time to upgrade your door hinges completely. Ball bearing hinges are stronger and smoother than standard pin hinges, and are far less likely to squeak.

FAQs

Is WD-40 good for squeaky doors?

As a water displacer and cleaner, WD-40 is okay for a quick fix, but you’re better off using a purpose-made oil or lubricant to keep things moving smoothly.

What household item stops a squeaky door?

Petroleum jelly can be an effective lubricant for squeaky doors, as can hairspray and olive oil.

How do you oil door hinges without removing them?

Spraying a lubricant or applying oil directly onto the moving parts of the door hinge can help to get rid of squeaks. However, if the problem persists, you may need to remove them to give them a thorough clean.