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how do you fix squeaky doors (NOT WD40)?

Posted on 5/16/24 at 8:57 am
Posted by CAD703X
Liberty Island
Member since Jul 2008
78460 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 8:57 am
WD40 is fine..for about 2 months then the squeaking hinge noise comes right back so its a constant stream of 'oh now this door is starting to squeak again'

more annoying than trying to find a beeping smoke detector.

there are lots of greases/lubes on the market and before stout posts the 50 gallon drum of KY jelly, i was hoping for some real responses of what people have used successfully.

lithium grease? what in your experience has squeak staying power?
Posted by highpockets
Lafayette
Member since Feb 2015
1902 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 9:06 am to
I have lube for my camper slide I have started using on everything. Supposedly doesn't attract dust.
Posted by iwyLSUiwy
I'm your huckleberry
Member since Apr 2008
34552 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 9:06 am to
quote:

WD40 is fine


Not for door hinges. It's water based so it's never going to act as a good lubricant for doors. It would be fine if you needd to spray the hinges to help pop the pin out if it's not coming off easy, but not good for fixing a squeak.

quote:

lithium grease?


Yea, white lithium grease. Haven't had to do this in a while but that's what I used at my old house that had older doors/hinges on it. If you take your hinges out, you can rub them with a steel wool and kind of smooth them out to clean off any potential rust or paint that is possibly causing the squeaking.

I've heard someone say that cooking oil will do the trick too but I've never tried that.
Posted by gumbo2176
Member since May 2018
15287 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 9:07 am to
If it keeps coming back and if it is the same hinge, why not just change the hinge.

Buy one just like the offending one and simply replace it. Can't be more than 8 screws to remove and replace.
Posted by Shexter
Prairieville
Member since Feb 2014
14002 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 9:07 am to
quote:

Working in a small lab in San Diego, California, it took them 40 attempts to get the water displacing formula worked out. But they must have been really good, because the original secret formula for WD-40® Multi-Use Product -which stands for Water Displacement perfected on the 40th try—is still in use today.

WD40 is too thin and wears off quickly. The WD stands for Water Displacement.

I've heard silicone spray works great, but haven't tried it.

I keep an oil thumb press oil dispenser with some auto oil in it. A few drops once a year usually kills the squeak.

Posted by Cypressknee
Member since Jul 2017
1200 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 9:22 am to
I would try a silicone spray or the dry lube with Teflon.
Posted by mdomingue
Lafayette, LA
Member since Nov 2010
30912 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 9:25 am to
quote:

lithium grease? what in your experience has squeak staying power?



I have used that and it does seem t do better than WD-40. Both Silicne and graphite have also worked well for me also but graphite can be a bit messy in the wrong place. But I find Lithium can be problematic in how it coats/leaves a white residue, I can't recall on the silicone.

Litjium I have used



https://www.homedepot.com/p/Blaster-11-oz-High-Performance-White-Lithium-Grease-Spray-16-LG/202529735

Silicone


https://www.homedepot.com/p/Blaster-11-oz-Industrial-Strength-Silicone-Lubricant-Spray-16-SL/202529794

Dry lubricants, graphite


https://www.homedepot.com/p/Blaster-5-5-oz-Industrial-Graphite-Dry-Lubricant-Spray-8-GS/202597501


https://www.homedepot.com/p/Hillman-3-g-Powdered-Graphite-Lubricant-703185/100137063

Posted by JusTrollin
Member since Oct 2016
234 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 9:32 am to
Ball bearing door hinges
Posted by skidry
Member since Jul 2009
3288 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 9:48 am to
They make a felt washer that you can put on top of the hinge
Knock the pin out, put the washer on the pin, put the pin back in

You can soak the washer in your favorite lube so it reduces the number of times you have to reapply.
Posted by CAD703X
Liberty Island
Member since Jul 2008
78460 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 9:50 am to
quote:


Ball bearing door hinges


i eventually want to swap all my interior door for solid core doors but at the moment we are BROKE after the house refresh

may be a good time to look at fancier hinges too.
Posted by trident
Member since Jul 2007
4759 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 10:23 am to
get silicone spray. it will work


Or just stop opening the door>>.....
Posted by lsujro
north of the wall
Member since Jul 2007
3926 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 10:29 am to
quote:

get silicone spray. it will work


this. wd40 actually makes one
Posted by JusTrollin
Member since Oct 2016
234 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 10:41 am to
Bearing hinges are like maybe $3-4 each?
Posted by Tigerpaw123
Louisiana
Member since Mar 2007
17295 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 10:41 am to
Try adjusting the levelness of the door itself, screw a 4" deck screw about 2" above the top hinge, also replace all screws in the top hinge with longer ones
Posted by AlxTgr
Kyre Banorg
Member since Oct 2003
81763 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 10:42 am to
quote:

I have lube for my camper slide I have started using on everything
This or garage door lube
Posted by cgrand
HAMMOND
Member since Oct 2009
38978 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 11:46 am to
olive oil works like a champ
Posted by TheBoo
South to Louisiana
Member since Aug 2012
4552 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 11:58 am to
I only use blaster silicone lube for my door hinges. Has worked great for the last few years.
Posted by The Mick
Member since Oct 2010
43260 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 11:59 am to
Silicon spray
Posted by turkish
Member since Aug 2016
1799 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 12:14 pm to
Pop the pin up and put some 3-in-1 oil on it. I have tried the silicone but I may.
Posted by Clames
Member since Oct 2010
16644 posts
Posted on 5/16/24 at 1:16 pm to
quote:

It's water based


WD-40 is in no way, shape, or form a water based lubricant. WD stands for Water Displacing and if you look in the SDS for it: "Solubilities: Insoluble in water".

As for door hinges, I use 3-n-1 oil or mil spec CLP. I don't think I've ever had to real oil a hinge using either one of those. 3-n-1 is a "spindle oil" and doesn't get gummy with age and is a great all-purpose oil.
This post was edited on 5/16/24 at 1:20 pm
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