Photo: kreg.steppe
Just because it’s Halloween season, it doesn’t mean your doors should sound like you live in a haunted house. If your doors are squeaking, chances are it’s an issue with the hinge pin.
Check to see if your hinge pin is 100 percent straight. A bent hinge pin — even one with just the slightest curvature from normal wear and tear on the door — might be your problem. Use a hammer to bang out the bend, and you’ll likely stop the squeak in its tracks.
If that doesn’t work, a little WD-40 will do the trick to lubricate the hardware and stop the noise, but it’s not your only option. If it’s late at night when the squeaking strikes and a trip to the hardware store isn’t in your near future, try these easy home remedies to nip the problem in the bud.
Get Crafty With Crayons
Raid your child’s crayon box for an easy fix for a squeaky hinge. Slide the pin out and coat it with the crayon of your choice. When it’s covered in colored wax, replace the pin and open and close the door a few times so it seeps into the hinge itself.
A Soapy Solution
The temporary solution to your squeaky door might be in your shower. Remove the hinge pin, and rub bar soap over the pin before replacing it. Again, open and close the door several times so the soap gets into the hinge, as well.
While you’re in your bathroom, you might opt for another easy solution. You can also coat your hinge pin with Vaseline. After popping the pin back in and working the door back and forth a few times, the petroleum jelly will lubricate the hinge and quiet the squeak for up to a few weeks.
Multi-purpose Products
If you’re nervous about removing the hinge pin, you can tackle the problem using common household products. You can spray Pam right into the hinge to stop the squeak. Or, if you have an avid sewer in the house, put a few drops of sewing machine oil into the hinge to get things moving again sans squeak.
