My Floor Keeps Creaking

Walk on the floor in bare feet to determine the exact location of the creaks. When you go barefoot, you will feel the floor creaking under your feet more easily than when you are wearing shoes.

Sprinkle a dusting of cornstarch or talcum powder into the cracks between the hardwood floorboards that seem to be creaking. Use a damp rag to wipe up any excess powder.

Use screws designed to eliminate floor squeaks, available at the hardware store. Attach a screwdriver bit to a power drill, then drill a specialty screw into the floorboard that is creaking. The screw brings the floorboard to meet the floor joist, to make a tight seal and eliminate squeaking. Snap off the head of the screw with your fingertips. Rub a wax filler stick over the screw to camouflage the hole.

Check for new creaks twice a year, when the seasons change. When the weather gets abruptly hotter or colder, you might notice new creaks in the floor. Reapply cornstarch and add new screws to keep your floor squeak-free.