Squeaky door – what helps?
Difficulty: Easy · Time: approx. 5 minutes
A squeaky door is almost always a dry hinge. The noise comes from metal rubbing on metal – a drop of oil in the right place fixes it instantly.
The right lubricant matters: resin-free oil or petroleum jelly last a long time. Please don't use cooking oil – it goes rancid and sticky.
What you'll need
- Resin-free oil (e.g. sewing machine oil) or petroleum jelly
- Cloth
- Optional: hammer + nail/screwdriver (to lift the hinge pin)
Step by step
- 1
Find the source
Move the door slowly open and shut and listen for which hinge squeaks – often it's just one.
- 2
Apply oil
Put a few drops of oil onto the hinge point from above, where pin and hinge meet. For petroleum jelly, a small dab with your finger.
- 3
Work it in
Move the door fully open and shut several times so the oil works into the hinge and spreads.
- 4
Wipe off excess
Wipe away any oil that has run down with the cloth, so dust doesn't stick and nothing drips onto the floor.
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Upload a photo →Frequently asked questions
- Can I use WD-40?
- Short-term yes, it stops the squeak instantly. But it's more of a penetrating oil than a lasting lubricant – for long-term quiet, resin-free oil or petroleum jelly is better.
- Which oil should I avoid?
- No cooking or vegetable oil. It goes rancid, gums up and attracts dust – then it soon squeaks worse.