In this article, it’s all about treating squeaky door hinges and making them work the way they should. Squeaking door hinges usually indicates that there is a problem, and it’s very annoying to have to deal with it consistently. If not treated properly, there could be a case of much bigger issues down the road.
How to stop door hinges from squeaking? The first thing you should do when fixing squeaky door hinges is to take the pin out of the hinge and thoroughly clean the pin and inside the hinge with soap, water and a Q-tip. Use silicon to lubricate the pin and hinge and clean any access silicon.
Here are a few more ways to fix your door hinge from squeaking!
1. Tighten the Screws to Stop Squeaky Doors
First, try tightening the screws that hold the hinge in place. Some people are very shocked to hear just how often these need some tightening to keep everything in place.
If the door is used quite frequently, there’s a better likelihood that they need to be freshened up with some tightening overall.
One of the reasons why screws become loose is that they were never tightened that much in the first place. Try to get them pretty tight once they are on, because that will reduce the chances of this being an ongoing issue.
If a particular screw doesn’t seem to be staying in, it might be worth replacing that particular hinge and seeing if something else can work as a replacement.
Sometimes you need to soundproof the door, luckily here, thighning the screws can make your door silent again!
2. Bar Soap on the Hinge Pin
Something as simple as using bar soap can be very beneficial for lubricating hinges and making them sound a lot quieter overall. In fact, the right amount of bar soap can effectively eliminate any squeaky hinges whatsoever.
The process is very simple, as all the person needs to do is rub the bar soap on the hinges until everything receives an even coat.
Adding a little bit of water will make using the bar soap easier than going straight on. At the same time, don’t make it too liquidy, or it will become a sloppy project overall.
There’s also a risk of warping the wood around the door if too much water is added to the bar soap.
3. Petroleum Jelly on the Hinge Pin
The proper way to use petroleum jelly to remove any squeakiness with a door hinge is to take the pin out and cover it.
There doesn’t need to be a ton of petroleum jelly on it, but just enough that it’s fully covered and can be used just the same.
As time goes on, there might need to be some additional petroleum jelly added to the pin from the hinge to keep things lubricated.
Petroleum jelly works in a lot of the same ways as some of the other options using household products, so it comes down to what is available in the house already.
4. Olive Oil Inside Hinge and on Hinge Pin
A little bit of olive oil will help significantly with handling a squeaky hinge on the door. It’s messy to simply pour on the hinge, so grab a cotton swab or a paper towel and put some olive oil on. Apply it to the top of the hinge and let it soak in a bit.
Not only is it a natural product that most people have, but it’s pretty affordable as well. There might be a need to reapply the olive oil later on, but most people feel pretty confident that it will last a while.
5. Paraffin Candles on the Hinge Pin
Use the hot wax from paraffin candles the same way as petroleum jelly when treating door hinges.
This lubricant will still stay somewhat like a liquid so that the hinge works exactly as it should.
People who already have these candles around will be shocked to see just how much of a difference some wax makes.
6. Hairspray Inside Hinge and on Pin
It really doesn’t get much easier than using some hairspray to stop a door hinge from squeaking.
While it’s not going to last a super long time without getting applied over and over again, some hairspray polymers can seal around a standard door hinge. With a seal, there is less of an opportunity to squeak.
7. Silicon Spray/Lithium Grease
These two options aren’t the exact same, but they get lumped together because they are both more premium lubricant options available to treat door hinges.
A silicone spray (Amazon) can be found online and in stores, and being completely free of mineral oils and grease allows it to work safely on different surfaces.
Silicon spray has a variety of uses, as it works well on plastic, rubber, and metal specifically. The best way to utilize it is to remove the hinge pin and spray it inside the hinge. Also, make sure to get the pin covered and wipe off any excess.
Lithium grease works practically the same way, and some stores carry this but don’t carry silicon spray. It’s a little messier, but nothing too crazy.
What’s the best Lubricant for Squeaky Door Hinges?
The best two overall options are either silicon spray, or lithium grease. Both are relatively inexpensive, and buying just a little bit will last a long time.
Silicon spray is a little bit cheaper, and it’s very easy to apply. That’s why most people will start with the silicon spray first and see if it works perfectly fine for them.
Lithium grease tends to last a little bit longer, so that’s why people will spend the extra bit of money to use it.
Do Door Hinges Become Dry?
In many cases, door hinges start to dry out. That’s why a lubricant often makes sense as a fix. This can happen if the door isn’t used often or if the air in the home is particularly dry.
To fix this, apply a small amount of lubricant to the hinge. Just open the door and put a few drops of oil on the hinge, then close the door and open it again a few times to work the oil in.
A person will need to do this every few months to keep the hinges from drying out and squeaking.
View lubricants as a temporary solution for a problem that could linger for quite a while. The good news is that those door hinges won’t dry out too much, but there might be one or two problematic ones inside of a home.
It’s much easier to have those treated properly instead of doing every hinge in the entire home.
Can a Door Squeak For Being Installed Incorrectly?
If a door is making loud squeaking noises around the hinges and it is relatively new, there could be a bit of a fitting issue overall. This may be a case of the installer not doing everything properly when setting up the door.
If everything was just recently wrapped up, contact the company or individual who put the door up and see if they can take a look.
In most cases, they will offer insurance that they will fix everything and have it working the way it should in no time.
If the door is a little bit older and in a vulnerable area, fitting issues could be a case of some warping with the entire setup.
There are doors exposed to many different types of elements, and that can cause some warping issues that change the way the door operates.
It becomes pretty obvious to tell if a door is not fitting the way it should. The hinges are the same, and a sudden change in noise usually gives people a pretty good idea on what is happening.
In the future, try to look for doors that are a little less prone to warping if they are in a particular area. Also, do whatever possible to keep moisture away from the door if that’s controllable.
When is it Time For Brand New Hinges After it Begins Squeaking?
If the door hinges are still squeaking after trying all of these fixes, it may be time to replace them.
People can usually find replacement hinges at a local hardware store or online. Make sure to get the right size and style of hinge for a door, since certain doors operate differently.
There comes a point in time when a lot of people try different things that might temporarily fix hinges, but nothing works permanently. If that’s the case, going for a brand new hinge solution might be a perfect idea.
Buying new hinges might seem like a pretty straightforward process, but there are plenty of options available so that people can pick exactly what they want and allow it to fit into what they are going for.
There are two reasons why people replace hinges: to improve functionality and to switch up the look to something different.
In most cases, people don’t think about hinges unless they are replacing the door. However, if the door is used very frequently, there might be a need to replace hinges sooner than the door needs replaced. In that case, the easiest solution might be to go with the same look as before.
How To Fix Squeaky Doors DIY?
Most of the relatively easy fixes can be done without the need for a professional helping out.
Since the fixes include using household products or other solutions that aren’t exactly designed solely for fixing hinges, all it takes is a little bit of knowledge and manpower to go around and apply the product.
There is the instance of replacing door hinges entirely that professionals might need to step in and help out with.
This is especially true if it’s a door that faces the outdoors. People want to get this door right on the first try.
What NOT To Use For Fixing Door Squeaks?
With so many tips out there available to fix squeaky door hinges, it’s also important to know what options just don’t work.
Some people might think they are doing something that makes it change, but they end up doing more harm than good.
Not only can it waste money buying repair products, but it could do some damage to the existing hinges.
WD-40
There are many different uses for WD-40. It’s one of the most versatile products a person can own, and there should be WD-40 in every single household if possible.
With that said, it’s used to control moisture and lubricate any moving pieces. That might work in a lot of situations, but not on a door hinge.
The lubricant will easily start to attract dirt and dust on a door hinge. This means that the chances of the hinge pin turning black is pretty high over time.
It’s always better to go with a lubricant that is a little less likely to attract dirt and dust so that it lasts a long time.
Yes, WD-40 in small doses could work in a pinch, but try some of the other lubricants first. Chances are, people will find more success with them.
Cheap Replacement Hinges
Hinges are relatively inexpensive, so there’s no reason why a person should ever go the route of getting super cheap options to make a replacement.
It’s a move that just doesn’t make a lot of sense for the vast majority of people, because the last thing they want to do is put themselves in an incredibly vulnerable situation where the door no longer works.
Incredibly cheap hinges also could pose a problem for people as far as safety is concerned. A door can be ripped right off the hinges and broken into if they are not strong.
Skimping on hinges for a door that faces the outside is asking for problems down the road.
Why Squeaky Door Hinge Issues Shouldn’t Be Ignored
When a door hinge starts to squeak, it’s a warning that there could be more potential issues down the road. No one likes having to deal with any type of random squeaks in the home, and this is no different.
The good news is that hinges are relatively inexpensive if they need replacing. In most cases, they don’t need to be replaced, they just need a little bit of attention.
Making a few simple changes can make a home much quieter and more peaceful than in the past.
The best part is that most won’t have to ever reach out to a professional to get the job done since there are plenty of household items that work perfectly fine.