FixItCity.com

Walls, doors & windows

How to fix a squeaky door

A squeaky door is almost always a dry or dirty hinge. A few drops of the right lubricant fix most of them, and cleaning the pins handles the stubborn ones.

Updated · 6 min read

  • DifficultyEasy
  • Time10–30 minutes
  • If you need helpHandyman

That long, creaking squeal every time a door opens usually comes from one place: the hinge. Metal rubbing on metal, with dried-out grease or a layer of dust and grime in between, makes the noise. Sometimes a loose screw lets the hinge shift and rub too.

This is one of the easiest fixes in the house. Most squeaks stop with a little lubricant and a few swings of the door. A stubborn one may need you to pull each hinge pin and clean it, which still takes less than half an hour.

You do not need to take the door off its hinges. You will work on one hinge at a time while the others hold the door up.

What you'll need

Shopping links may earn us a small commission at no cost to you. Disclosure.

Most of these are in a basic home toolkit.

Find the squeaky hinge

Swing the door slowly and listen. Put your hand on each hinge in turn. You can often feel a tiny vibration on the noisy one. If you cannot tell, treat all of them. It only takes a minute more.

While you are there, look at the hinge screws. If any are sticking out or the hinge plate moves when you push the door up and down, tighten those too (see below).

The quick fix: lubricate in place

Try this first. It works on most doors.

  1. Protect the floor. Lay a towel or cardboard under the hinge.
  2. Apply lubricant. Spray or drip a small amount of white lithium grease or light oil at the top of the hinge, where the pin goes in, and along the seam where the two hinge leaves meet. WD-40 recommends its white lithium grease for squeaky hinges because it dries to a film that does not drip or run.
  3. Work it in. Swing the door all the way open and closed 10 or 15 times so the lubricant runs down along the pin.
  4. Wipe away the extra. Clean any drips off the hinge, door and frame right away, before they collect dust or stain the wood or paint.
  5. Listen again. If the squeak is gone, you are done. If it is quieter but still there, repeat once. If nothing changed, move on to cleaning the pins.

The lasting fix: clean each hinge pin

When old grease has turned to sticky grime, new lubricant cannot reach the metal. Pull the pin, clean it, and start fresh. Do one hinge at a time with the door closed, so the latch and the other hinges hold it in place.

  1. Close the door. Make sure it is latched so it cannot swing while a pin is out.
  2. Pop the pin up. Set a hinge pin tool, or a large nail, against the bottom of the pin and tap upward with a hammer. Once the head lifts, pull the pin out the rest of the way. Some decorative hinges have a cap or a set screw on top; remove that first.
  3. Clean the pin. Soak it in warm, soapy water for a few minutes, then scrub off the gunk with a soft brush. This Old House suggests a soft brush rather than steel wool, which can scratch the finish. Dry it completely.
  4. Clean the barrel. Wipe out the round hinge knuckles with a rag or a pipe cleaner if you can reach them.
  5. Lubricate and replace. Coat the pin lightly with lubricant or dust it with graphite powder. Slide it back in and tap it down until it seats.
  6. Repeat. Move to the next hinge. Then open and close the door several times and wipe off any excess.

If a pin is rusted, pitted or bent, a matching replacement pin, or a whole new hinge, is easy to swap. Take the old pin to the hardware store to match the size and finish.

Tighten loose hinge screws

A loose hinge lets the leaves shift and rub, which can squeak and also make the door sag or rub on the frame. Check every screw on both sides of each hinge.

  1. Tighten by hand. Use a screwdriver, not a power drill, so you do not strip the hole. Snug is enough.
  2. Fix stripped holes. If a screw just spins, take it out. Dip a few wooden toothpicks or a golf tee in wood glue, push them into the hole, and snap them off flush. Let the glue dry, then drive the screw back in.
  3. Use a longer screw at the top. If the top hinge keeps working loose, replace one screw on the frame side with a longer screw that reaches the wall stud behind the frame. Our guide on a door that won't latch covers this in more detail.

When to call a pro

A squeak is rarely serious, but call for help if:

  • The door drags on the floor or frame even after you tighten every screw.
  • The hinge or the wood around it is cracked or split.
  • The door is very heavy, like a solid exterior door, and needs to come off to replace hinges.
  • The door is between the garage and the house and needs new hinges. That door may have special self-closing hinges, so ask a pro to match them.

Renters, a quick note to the landlord is a good idea before replacing hardware. A handyman can rehang or adjust a door quickly. Still unsure? Try the fix-or-call quiz.

Keep it from happening again

  • Give hinges a light shot of lubricant once a year. A fall maintenance checklist is a good place to add it.
  • Wipe off extra lubricant right away so it does not collect dust.
  • Check hinge screws whenever you notice the door rubbing or sagging.
  • Use a doorstop so the door does not slam open and strain the hinges.

Common questions

What is the best thing to put on a squeaky door hinge?

A lubricant that stays put works best, such as white lithium grease spray or a light household oil. Dry graphite powder is a good choice if you want to avoid drips. Start small and wipe away any extra.

Should I take the door off to fix the squeak?

No. Pull one hinge pin at a time and leave the others in. The door stays hung on the remaining hinges while you clean and lubricate each pin.

Why did the squeak come back after a few weeks?

The hinge pin was probably coated in old grime, so the new lubricant washed off or gummed up. Remove each pin, clean it and the hinge barrel, and lubricate again. Also check for loose screws that let the hinge rub.

Sources

Related