How do I stop a door from squeaking?
Lubricate the hinges
Open the door and locate the hinge pins (the vertical pins in the middle of each hinge). Tap the pin up from the bottom with a hammer and a nail set or screwdriver, then pull it out. Wipe the pin clean and apply a light oil, silicone spray, or white lithium grease to the pin and the hinge knuckles. Tap the pin back in and open and close the door a few times to distribute the lubricant.
If the squeak persists, the hinge may be worn or bent. In that case, replace the hinge with a new one of the same size. For a quick fix without removing pins, you can spray lubricant directly into the hinge gaps, but it's less thorough.
Other causes of squeaks
Sometimes the squeak is not the hinge but the door rubbing against the frame or the latch rubbing the strike plate. Check for wear marks on the door edge or frame. If the door rubs, tighten the hinge screws or shim the hinges slightly. If the latch is noisy, apply a little lubricant to the strike plate or file it smooth.
A squeaky door can also come from a loose hinge screw that moves in the wood. Remove the screw, squirt wood glue into the hole, insert a golf tee or wooden matchstick, and re-drive the screw. That tightens the hinge and can eliminate the squeak.
- Light machine oil or silicone spray
- White lithium grease
- Hammer and nail set
- Replacement hinges (if needed)
- Wood glue and golf tee for loose screws
Common mistakes
- Using cooking spray or WD-40 as a long-term lubricant; they can attract dirt and dry out, making the squeak return quickly.
- Forgetting to lubricate all hinges, not just the one that seems loudest.
- Overtightening hinge screws and stripping the wood, which creates a bigger problem.
