How to Quiet a Squeaky Door | Ask This Old House, by This Old House on YouTube. 6 min 27 s.
- Video length
- 6 min 27 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Open and close the door slowly and listen for the squeak. If you cannot tell which hinge it is, have someone press lightly on the door while you listen at each hinge.
Slide a thin nail under the bottom of a hinge pin and tap it upward with the hammer. Hold the door steady and catch the pin as it slides out.
Remove one pin at a time and open and close the door after each one. When the door swings silently, the pin you just pulled is the squeaky one.
Wipe the pin clean with a rag and put a few drops of multi-purpose oil along its full length. Coat the pin, not the door.
Push the pin back into the hinge and swing the door open and closed a few times. Wipe away any oil that runs down the hinge or onto the door face.
If the squeak stays, puff powdered graphite onto the pin and into the hinge knuckle. Work the door back and forth again to spread it.
If the squeak returns or the door rubs on the frame, the hinge may be out of line. Tap the hinge knuckle gently with the hammer to nudge it back, testing the door after each light tap.
Refit the pin and test the door. Make small adjustments until it swings quietly and still closes flush against the frame.
Tips and common mistakes
Tap the pin gently and straight so you do not bend it or chip the hinge.
Oil attracts dust and can stain wood, so use a few drops and wipe the excess straight away.
Powdered graphite is a better choice for hinges that get cold or dusty, since it does not gum up.
Never force a pin that will not move. Stop and check that you are pushing from the narrow, bottom end.
Questions
How do I know which hinge is squeaking?
Pull the pins one at a time and test the door after each. The door goes quiet once the noisy pin is out.
Why does the squeak come back after a while?
The hinge is probably out of alignment, so the metal rubs even when lubricated. Gentle taps on the hinge knuckle can bring it back into line.
Can I use cooking oil or grease instead?
It works briefly but goes sticky and collects dust. A proper multi-purpose oil or powdered graphite lasts much longer.
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.
