What causes squeaky doors?

More often than not a squeaky door is caused by unnecessary friction in the hinges. This friction can be caused by a natural build up of dirt or dust, or just a lack of lubrication around the moving parts of the hinge. The sound of metal rubbing on metal is what creates the ever-annoying squeak that your door is making.

How to fix a squeaky door

You may think you need to go straight for the bottle of WD-40 to fix the squeak, however it can actually attract more dirt and actually only contains a small amount of lubricant. The best lubricant to use for your squeaky doors would be lithium grease or a silicone spray – both can be found in your local DIY or hardware store.

If you need a quick DIY fix, use some petroleum jelly. To use petroleum jelly for squeaky doors, simply rub the outside of the hinge with a small amount of jelly until it is worked into the hinge. Other quick and easy solutions include using hairspray or bar soap with a high fat content. Remember though, these are only short term fixes and if you want something more long-term, you’re better using lithium grease or silicone spray.

How to prevent squeaky doors

They say prevention is the best medicine and in the case of a squeaky door, it is always best to tend to the hinges before they get squeaky. Dirt and dust will build up on hinges without us noticing, and all of a sudden you have a squeaky door. Doing regular checks and cleans of hinges as well as updating the lubrication can prevent problems and improve the longevity of your doors.

Although lubrication and maintenance should improve the longevity of your doors and hinges, it may only be a short-term solution if the door is badly fitted or the hinge is getting worn and is coming towards the end of its life. In these situations, it would be beneficial to look into getting the doors and hinges replaced to prevent further squeaking.