How to fix a squeaky door

[MitchellMc]

Difficulty: Beginner

Dirty, rusty or ungreased hinges often lead to squeaky doors. Lubricating and cleaning them reduces friction and prevents the door from squeaking.

Here is a simple guide on how to fix a squeaky door hinge using a silicone lubricant. Please follow all usage and safety instructions on the product label.

Steps

Step 1

Lubricate the door hinge.

Examine the door hinge and locate any loose screws. Tighten them using a screwdriver to ensure a secure fit.

Now apply a small amount of silicone spray to both sides of the hinge. You can place a clean cloth underneath the hinge to catch any excess lubricant. Lubricating the hinge reduces friction and prevents the door from squeaking. 

Move the door back and forth to check whether it is still squeaking. If you don’t hear any noise, you have successfully fixed your door and can stop here.

    

Step 2

Remove the door hinge.

If your door is still squeaking, place a doorstop or wedge at the bottom of the door. This will prevent the door from falling once you have removed the hinge.

Carefully uninstall the hinge from the door frame by removing the screws.

If your hinge screws have been painted over, scrape the paint out. This gives the screwdriver more grip to turn the screws. Use the pointy tip of the screwdriver and scrape the paint out of the screw head.

  

Step 3

Remove rust or dirt.

Inspect the hinge for any rust or buildup of dirt.

Use a piece of fine-grit sandpaper to remove these deposits gently. Be thorough in your approach, ensuring the hinge plate and pin are clean. A cleaner hinge reduces friction and functions better, preventing squeaking.

Some hinge types also allow the hinge pin to be removed. Remove the pin if you can and clean it thoroughly before reinstalling.

Step 4

Clean the door hinge.

Place the removed hinge in a small container.

Now thoroughly coat the hinge with the silicone spray, allowing any excess liquid to drip into the container.

Move the hinge back and forth within the container to work the lubricant into the various components, effectively removing any remaining dirt or debris. This will help ensure the hinge functions smoothly.

Wipe off any excess lubricant on the hinge using a paper towel.

      

Step 5

Reinstall the door hinge.

Carefully reinstall the hinge in its original position on the door frame. Align the screw holes and use a screwdriver to fasten the screws back in place securely.

Open and close the door several times to ensure that the hinge is properly installed and the door swings smoothly without squeaking.

You have now successfully fixed your squeaky door.

  

Materials

• Silicone spray
• 240-grit sandpaper
• Clean cloth
• Paper towel.

Tools

• Screwdriver
• Doorstop or wedge
• Small container.

Images

                      

[Akanksha]

Thanks Mitch. 

Those looking for more information on repairing different parts of their home can find similar guides underneath the topic labelled Repairing in our How To section. These include step-by-step guides like How to fix a squeaky floor.

Don't hesitate to reach out if you need help with repairing your home. We'd be happy to assist.

Akanksha

[Dave-1]

@MitchellMc 

I have a question. I have a door that was reefed out of the timber frame at the top of the door. I have temporary fixed the door with longer hinges (Its been like that for a few years) but I am getting close to fixing up the room. I dont really trust the longer screws as I do not know how far the damage into the timber is. and it dosnt feel particulary solid. I was going to drill out the hole and then insert some dowl/glue to bring it back and then put in screws. 

I dont like the idea of shifting the hinges as it has been done once before and the notch can be seen.

Would you have any other suggestions? And of course I dont have a photo lol. If needed I can take one but it looks like a hinge on a door due to the temp fix.

Dave

[MitchellMc]

No suggestions; that's the appropriate way to repair the damaged timber @Dave-1. 👍

Mitchell