How to fix a squeaky door for your mom. #homeimprovement #homerepair #diy, by Jack & Me Wood Working on YouTube. 1 min 7 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 7 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Open and close the door slowly, listening at each hinge. The squeak usually comes from the top hinge, where the pin carries the most weight.
Wipe dust and old grease from around the hinge with a damp rag and let it dry. Grit trapped in the knuckle causes most squeaks.
Put on eye protection and support the door with a wedge or a helper. Keep your fingers clear of the gap between door and frame.
Place a nail set or thin screwdriver under the hinge pin and tap it upward with the hammer until the pin lifts out. On some hinges you can simply push the pin up from below.
Wipe the pin clean with a rag, then coat it thinly with white lithium grease, mineral oil or silicone spray.
Slide the pin back into the hinge and tap it down until it sits flush with the knuckle.
Open and close the door five or six times, then wipe away any grease that pushed out so it does not stain the frame.
If the squeak continues, tighten every hinge screw with a screwdriver. If a screw spins loose, pack the hole with wooden matchsticks and wood glue, then drive the screw back in.
Tips and common mistakes
Skip standard WD-40 for this job, because it evaporates and leaves a sticky film that collects dust.
Grease the pin rather than spraying the outside of the hinge, so the lubricant reaches the metal that rubs.
A squeak that comes back within weeks usually means a loose hinge or a door that is out of alignment, not a dry pin.
Questions
Can I fix a squeaky hinge without removing the pin?
Yes. A few drops of mineral oil or a short burst of silicone spray worked into the top of the knuckle often quietens it. Removing the pin gives a longer lasting fix.
What if the door squeaks but the hinges look fine?
Check the hinge screws first and tighten any that are loose. If the door rubs on the frame or floor, the problem is alignment rather than lubrication.
Will grease damage the paint or carpet?
White lithium grease can stain, so wipe up drips straight away and lay a cloth under the door while you work.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
