Short answer
To stop a squeaky door hinge, close the door and tap the hinge pin up from below with a nail and a hammer. Pull it out, wipe it clean with a rag or fine steel wool, and coat it with white lithium grease or petroleum jelly. Slide it back, swing the door a few times and wipe off the extra. Do one hinge at a time.
How to stop a squeaky door hinge
1Find the hinge that squeaks
Swing the door slowly and listen. It is often the top hinge, which carries the most weight. Then close the door to work on it.
Read all the steps
- Find the hinge that squeaks. Swing the door slowly and listen. It is often the top hinge, which carries the most weight. Then close the door to work on it.
- Tap the pin up from below. Hold a nail or a thin screwdriver under the hinge and tap it up with a hammer. Work on one hinge at a time: the others hold the door.
- Pull it out and wipe it clean. Wipe off the old gunk and rust with a rag or fine steel wool. A dirty pin starts squeaking again fast.
- Coat it with grease. A thin layer of white lithium grease or petroleum jelly along the whole pin. A few drops of light machine oil work too.
- Put it back and swing the door. Tap the pin back down, swing the door a few times to spread the grease, and wipe off any extra so it does not drip.
- Still not fixed? Call a handyman Especially if: the squeak comes with a door that sags, rubs the frame or no longer latches.
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Why a quick spray does not last
A spray of WD-40 quiets a hinge for a while, but it is mostly a cleaner and it dries out. Grease on a clean pin lasts far longer. If you spray anyway, hold a rag behind the hinge so it does not run down the door.
What not to do
- Do not pull all the pins at once: the door can fall on you.
- Do not use cooking oil. It turns sticky and can smell.
- Do not pry the pin up with a screwdriver against the door: it chips the paint and the wood.
If the pin will not budge
Spray a little penetrating oil at the top of the hinge, wait 15 minutes and tap again. If the pin was painted over, cut the paint around its head with a utility knife first.
When to call a handyman
- The squeak comes with a door that sags, rubs the frame or no longer latches.
- A hinge is bent, cracked or pulling out of the frame.
- The pin is rusted in and will not come out.
- It is the door between the garage and the house and it no longer closes by itself.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best lubricant for a squeaky door hinge?
White lithium grease or petroleum jelly on a clean pin. They stay put and last much longer than a spray. Silicone spray works too and is less messy.
Can I use WD-40 on a squeaky door?
It quiets it for a while, but it is mostly a cleaner, so the squeak comes back. Use it to clean the pin, then put grease on it.
How do I get a hinge pin out?
Close the door, hold a nail or a thin screwdriver under the pin and tap it up with a hammer. Pull it the rest of the way with your fingers or pliers.
Do I have to take the door off to fix a squeak?
No. Do one hinge at a time with the door closed; the other hinges hold it in place.
Why does my door hinge squeak?
Metal is rubbing on dry metal inside the hinge. Dust, rust and old dried oil make it worse, and a sagging door puts extra pressure on one hinge.