Door Squeaking? Do THIS to Fix It Permanently!, by Reluctant DIYers on YouTube. 2 min 11 s.
- Video length
- 2 min 11 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Open and close the door slowly and listen. Move your ear past the top, middle and bottom hinge to find which one creaks, since fixing the wrong hinge wastes grease.
Wipe dust, hair and old grease off the noisy hinge with a dry cloth. Grease cannot reach the pin if the barrel is coated in grit.
Shake the can of white lithium grease well, then fit the thin straw nozzle. Point it at the gap where the pin sits inside the hinge barrel.
Spray a short burst into the top of the hinge, then a short burst into the bottom. Two or three seconds each is plenty, and a little goes a long way.
Open and close the door about ten times. This works the grease down the pin and spreads it around the inside of the barrel.
Wipe away any grease that drips onto the hinge, the door edge or the floor with your cloth. Grease left on paint or carpet marks it.
Check the hinge screws with a screwdriver and tighten any that turn easily. Loose screws let the door sag and the hinge rub, which brings the squeak back.
If the creak continues, tap the hinge pin upward from below with a hammer and screwdriver, coat the pin with grease and push it back down. Hold the door steady while the pin is out.
Tips and common mistakes
Use white lithium grease rather than thin spray oil, which runs off the pin quickly and attracts dust.
Do not use cooking oil or butter as a shortcut, as they go sticky and smell over time.
Grease all the hinges on the door, not just the noisy one, so you do not have to repeat the job in a week.
Keep fingers clear of the hinge gap when the door swings, as the pinch point is sharp.
Questions
Will standard WD-40 stop the squeak?
It silences the hinge for a short while, but it is a light oil that evaporates and attracts dust. White lithium grease stays put and lasts much longer.
How often should I grease door hinges?
Once a year is enough for most interior doors. Doors that get heavy use, like a front door or a bathroom door, may need it every six months.
What if the door still squeaks after greasing?
The noise may come from a loose hinge or a rubbing door edge rather than a dry pin. Tighten the screws and check that the door does not scrape the frame.
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.
