Best Lubricant for Door Hinges - How to Stop a Noisy Door Squeak - Easy DIY, by RealHouseDIY on YouTube. 2 min 48 s.
- Video length
- 2 min 48 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Open and close the door slowly and listen. Look at the top and bottom hinge to find which one squeaks, since treating the right hinge saves you spraying all three.
Wipe dust and old grease off the hinge with a clean rag. Dirt trapped in the pin is part of what makes the noise.
Pick your lubricant. Silicone spray is clean, quick and good for light squeaks. White lithium grease lasts longer on stiff or heavy doors.
Lay an old towel or newspaper under the door. Overspray and drips are hard to remove from wood floors and carpet.
Spray silicone into the gaps at the top and bottom of the hinge, aiming at the pin. Use short bursts rather than one long soak.
For white lithium grease, put a small dab on a rag or brush and work it into the top of the pin. A little goes a long way.
Swing the door open and shut several times so the lubricant spreads down the pin. Add one more short burst if the squeak is still there.
Wipe off any excess lubricant around the hinge and the door edge. Leftover spray attracts dust and can drip onto the floor.
Check the hinge screws with a screwdriver. If they turn freely, tighten them, because a loose hinge plate can creak even when it is oiled.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep lubricant off the latch, handle and floor, since silicone makes surfaces slippery.
Test the door after ten minutes and add a second light coat if the squeak returns.
If a hinge still squeaks after oiling and tightening, the pin is likely worn, so replace the hinge.
Avoid thick household oil on outdoor hinges, as it collects grit and turns sticky.
Questions
Should I use silicone spray or white lithium grease?
Silicone spray is cleaner and dries fast, so it suits indoor doors and light squeaks. White lithium grease stays put longer, which helps on heavy doors and hinges that squeak again quickly.
Can I use cooking oil or WD-40 instead?
Cooking oil goes sticky and smells over time, so it is a poor long-term fix. Standard WD-40 displaces water but is thin, so the squeak usually comes back within weeks.
Do I need to remove the hinge pin?
Not usually. Spraying into the gaps while you swing the door works the lubricant down the pin. Only tap the pin out if the hinge is rusty or badly worn.
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.
