How to Fix a Squeaky Door

Slowly open and close the door while listening carefully. Most interior doors have three hinges — top, middle, and bottom. The squeak usually comes from one specific hinge. Have someone slowly swing the door while you put your ear close to each hinge in turn, or lightly touch each hinge with your fingertip while the door moves — you'll feel the vibration in the noisy one. Mark the culprit hinge with a piece of painter's tape so you know which one to treat.

This is the fastest fix and works about 80% of the time. Attach the straw nozzle to a can of silicone-based lubricant spray and aim it at the top of the hinge pin — the seam where the pin enters the hinge barrel. Give it 2-3 short bursts, then swing the door back and forth several times to work the lubricant into the joint. Hold a rag behind the hinge to catch any drips. Test by opening and closing the door normally — if the squeak is gone, you're done.

If lubrication alone didn't fix it, the squeak may be caused by a loose hinge vibrating under the door's weight. Using a Phillips-head screwdriver, tighten every screw on both the door-side and frame-side hinge plates. Turn each screw clockwise until snug — don't overtighten, as this can strip the screw hole in the wood. If a screw spins freely and won't tighten, the hole is stripped. Remove the screw, push two wooden toothpicks dipped in wood glue into the hole, snap them flush, and re-drive the screw.

If the squeak persists, you need to clean the hinge pin directly. Close the door most of the way and wedge a book or shim under the bottom edge to support the door's weight. Position a nail or hinge pin punch against the bottom of the hinge pin and tap upward with a hammer until the pin pops up enough to grab with your fingers. Pull the pin out completely. Only remove one hinge pin at a time — the remaining hinges will hold the door in place.

Examine the hinge pin — you'll often see a dark, gritty buildup of old lubricant mixed with rust and metal dust. This is what causes the squeak. Scrub the pin from end to end with 0000-grade steel wool until the metal is shiny and smooth. Pay special attention to any rough or pitted spots. If the pin is severely corroded or bent, replace it — you can buy individual hinge pins at any hardware store for under $3. Wipe the pin clean with a dry rag when you're done.

Apply a thin coat of petroleum jelly or silicone grease along the entire length of the cleaned hinge pin — a fingertip's worth is plenty. Also spray a short burst of silicone lubricant into the hinge barrel (the cylinder the pin slides into) to lubricate the inside. Petroleum jelly is thicker than spray lubricant and stays in place longer, making it the best choice for a lasting fix on a pin you've already removed.

Slide the greased pin back into the hinge barrel from the top, aligning it with the knuckles. Tap it down gently with a hammer until the pin head sits flush with the top of the hinge. Remove the shim or book from under the door. Open and close the door slowly, then at normal speed, listening for any remaining noise. The squeak should be completely gone. If it's quieter but not silent, repeat the cleaning and lubrication on the remaining hinges.