How to Stop Doors from SQUEAKING Forever, by Silver Cymbal on YouTube. 5 min 40 s.
- Video length
- 5 min 40 s
- Time to do it
- 15 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Open the door and swing it slowly, listening at each hinge to find the noisy one. Mark it with a piece of tape so you do not lose track.
Wipe dust and old grease off the hinge with a dry cloth. Grit trapped in the barrel is a common cause of squeaks.
Spray a little lubricant into the top of the hinge barrel, or dab on synthetic grease with your finger. Keep it off the door and frame.
Open and close the door 10 to 15 times so the lubricant works down into the pin and barrel.
Wipe away any drips with a cloth straight away. Grease that runs down a painted frame can stain it.
If the pin is stiff or rusty, tap it out from below with a hammer and a nail or punch held in pliers.
Clean the pin, coat it thinly with grease and tap it back into the hinge. Ask a helper to hold the door steady.
Swing the door through its full range and listen. If it still squeaks, the noise is likely the latch or a rubbing edge, not the hinge.
Tips and common mistakes
Never lift a door off its hinges on your own, since a solid door is heavy and can fall on you.
Skip thin spray oils like WD-40 for long-term fixes, as they dry out and attract dust; a grease lasts far longer.
Use only a small amount of lubricant, because excess grease collects grit and makes the hinge grind later.
Check all the hinges on the door, not just the loud one, so the squeak does not simply move along.
Questions
What is the best lubricant for a squeaky door hinge?
A synthetic grease or white lithium grease lasts longest because it stays put inside the barrel. Silicone spray also works and is cleaner to apply.
Why does my door hinge keep squeaking again?
Thin oils dry out and dust mixes with them, so the metal starts rubbing again. Cleaning the pin first and using grease gives a much longer fix.
Can I fix a squeaky hinge without removing the pin?
Yes. Most squeaks stop after lubricating the top of the barrel and working the door back and forth. Removing the pin is only needed when it is rusty or stiff.
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.
