What Can I Use to Fix a Squeaking Door?

Penetrating Oil

• The most basic fix for a squeaking door hinge is penetrating oil. Swing the door open and shut to determine which of the hinges is squeaking. As you spray a light coat of the penetrating oil onto the squeaking hinge, take care and aim when you spray so that the oil affects the moving parts, reaching the pin inside the hinge. You don't want to spray so much that excessive oil runs down onto the floor and carpet, potentially creating a slippery mess.

Steel Wool

• If the penetrating oil doesn't do the trick, you can go a step further and slide the pins out of any squeaking hinges. Concentrate on one hinge at a time, and don't remove all the pins at once. Placing the edge of a flat screwdriver against the pin bottom, tap the head of the screwdriver lightly with a hammer to slide the pin up out of the hinge. With the pin removed, rub it, along with the hinge leaves, with steel wool. Spraying penetrating oil on both the pin and the hinge provides lubrication against the squeaking. Slide the pin back into the hinge, tapping it with the hammer to get it fully in the hinge. Once all the squeaking hinges are remedied, test the door for any continued squeaking. Instead of steel wool, you can also use very fine sandpaper, such as 220 to 240 grit.

Silicone Spray

• After you remove the squeaking with penetrating oil and possibly steel wool, continue to lubricate the hinges so that the squeaking won't return. Use silicone spray as a regular lubricant on the hinges. Once again, aim the spray so that it reaches the pins inside the hinges instead of simply running down the hinge and spilling onto the floor. Silicone spray is a rust retardant that allows the hinge to keep allowing the door to swing open and shut smoothly without squeaking.

Cotton String

• In addition to cleaning and lubricating the pin, you should also clean out the hole through the hinge in which the pin sits. Use cotton string to clean out this hole. Cotton string is normally made of multi-ply cotton and sold in a ball or spool. While you have the pin removed from the hinge, slide the end of the string through the hole and out the other end of the hinge. Work the string up and down and around inside the hole to clear out any grime or debris.