- Screwdriver (usually Phillips or flat)
- WD-40 or 3-in-1 oil (or petroleum jelly as an alternative)
- Hammer (for removing the hinge pin)
- Longer screws if hinge holes are worn out
Step 1: Find exactly where the squeak is coming from
Open and close the door slowly while watching the hinges. The squeak will usually come from one specific hinge — you’ll be able to see which one is moving or flexing. Put your hand on each hinge as you open the door and you’ll feel the vibration from the culprit.
Most doors squeak at the middle or top hinge. The bottom hinge carries less of the door’s weight, so it’s rarely the cause.
Cause 1: Loose hinge screws (most common)
Before anything else, try tightening all the screws on the hinge — both the ones going into the door and the ones going into the frame. A loose hinge causes movement that creates friction and noise. This takes 30 seconds and fixes it more often than you’d expect.
If a screw just spins without tightening, the hole has been stripped. The fix: replace it with a longer screw (try 50mm or 65mm instead of the standard 32mm). A longer screw will reach fresh wood behind the worn hole and grip properly. You can also push a matchstick into the hole with some wood glue first — it gives the screw something to bite into.
Cause 2: Dry hinge pin
The hinge pin is the metal rod that runs through the knuckle of each hinge. Over time the lubricant dries out and the pin creates friction against the hinge barrel as the door moves — that’s the squeak.
To lubricate a hinge pin:
- Open the door fully and wedge something underneath to hold it (a folded cloth works)
- Tap the bottom of the hinge pin upward with a hammer and screwdriver until it lifts out of the barrel
- Apply WD-40, 3-in-1 oil, or petroleum jelly (Vaseline) to the pin and inside the barrel
- Push the pin back down, open and close the door several times to work the lubricant in
WD-40 works quickly but is a short-term fix — it dries out within a few months. 3-in-1 oil or petroleum jelly lasts much longer and is the better option if you don’t want to repeat this job next year.
Cause 3: Door rubbing against the frame
If the squeak is more of a scraping or dragging sound rather than a creak, the door might be rubbing against the door frame. This is different from a hinge squeak.
Rub a piece of chalk or pencil along the edge of the door then open and close it slowly — where the chalk rubs off onto the frame is exactly where it’s catching. Common fix: tighten the hinge screws, which often lifts the door slightly and stops the rubbing. If that doesn’t work, the door may need planing — shaving a thin layer from the edge where it’s catching.
Wood doors expand in summer humidity and contract in winter. If a door only squeaks or sticks at certain times of year, it’s probably the wood reacting to moisture. A door that sticks badly in summer and swings freely in winter is a candidate for planing — take off just enough to allow for expansion. Don’t over-do it or you’ll have a gap in winter.
Which lubricant is best?
Fast-acting. Good for a quick fix. Dries out in a few months so the squeak returns.
Best all-round option. Lasts longer than WD-40, easy to apply, no mess.
Very long-lasting. Slightly messier to apply to a hinge pin but excellent for slow creaking.
Everything you need — open 7 days
WD-40, 3-in-1 oil, screwdrivers, longer screws and everything else for the job — all in stock at Clapham Junction Discount Store, 248–250 Lavender Hill, SW11 1LJ.