How to Lubricate Door Hinges to Stop Squeaking!

Nothing can be as frustrating and annoying as a squeaky door. When you see the hinge of your door squeaking, it can be nerve-wracking.

Whenever someone closes or opens the door, the squeaky noise will remind you that it needs servicing and maintenance.

Thankfully, you can stop the annoying sound easily with proper lubrication of the door hinge. But do you know how to lubricate door hinges? Also, what are the best lubricators for a door hinge?

To lubricate the door hinge, you can use petroleum jelly, bar soap, oil, hair spray, etc. Also, you can use commercial lubricants. You will need to open the hinge to apply the lubricator to it. Then, you may reassemble the hinge to see if it continues to squeak.

Steps To Lubricate Squeaky Door Hinges

Door hinges hold the door’s frame with the adjacent wall. It allows the door to move freely. So, you can open and close the door with ease. The problem starts when the hinge starts squeaking. You will have to lubricate it to stop squeaking.

Step 1: Remove rust from the hinge

Door hinges are made of stainless steel. Yet, it may catch rust and will start to erode. It happens when the hinge hasn’t been maintained or changed for a long period. Also, rust and debris may develop inside the pin of it.

You must apply rust removal or commercial dust cleaning liquid on the hinge and its pin. Then, wait for 10 to 12 hours. As the rust and residues weaken, brush them off with a toothbrush.

It will damage if you try to hammer out a heavily rusted pin of the hinge. So, we don’t suggest you use a hammer to unlock the door hinge from its pin.

Step 2: Removing the pin safely

When you have removed the rust from the pin, you can easily detach it from the hinge. You will need a screwdriver to tap the pin. As you tap underneath the pin with the screwdriver, it should push the hinge upward.

You need to push the hinge with mild pressure. If you don’t have a screwdriver, you can push the pine with a small but sturdy item. Just make sure it is small enough to go through the holes of the hinge and hit the pin.

Step 3: Clean the hinge and pin

When you have removed the pin from the hinge, you should clean them. If you see through the hinge, debris and residues are inside it. Use a cotton bud to remove dust from the inside of the hinge. You may also clean off the hinge with a toothbrush.

Finally, clean the pin so that it looks shiny and new. It will help in lubricating the hinge better. It will be useful to eliminate old grease and grime from the hinge and its pin.

Step 4: Apply the right lubricator

Now, it’s time to apply the lubricator to the hinge and pin. First, you need to choose the right lubricator, however. You can use a household or commercial lubricator to stop the squeaking sound. If you look for commercial lubricators, there’re multiple options.

• Silicone lubricators work better on greases. Also, these are the easiest lubricators to get. You may choose Tri-Flow or Blaster silicone lubricator.
• Lithium grease is also usable with the door hinge. They are used to lubricate automobile parts. It is available in large containers or pots. Also, it is rust and dust-resistant. You may have lithium grease.

 If you have an automobile at home. 

• You may choose olive oil, petroleum jelly, or coconut oil for household lubricators. It will work in most cases to stop the squeaking sound.

After choosing the lubricator, pour it in through the hinge. Also, apply it to the hinge pin.

Step 5: Reassemble the hinge

After applying the lubricator on the hinge and its pin, push the pint through the hole. Be careful as you push the pin, so it doesn’t fall after reassembling the hinge; open and close the door. It will help you know if it continues to squeak. In most cases, the hinge won’t squeak anymore.

Type of Lubricator You Can Use For The Door Hinges

There’re many types of household lubricators you may use for the door hinge. These are mainly edible and food-grade oils. There’re other options as well.

Bar soap

Bar soaps have a high amount of animal fat and oil in them. Thus, it can easily lubricate the hinge. Ancient people used soaps to lubricate the wheels of their chariots. You need to rub the soap on the pin and hinge to lubricate them properly.

Edible oils

Alternatively, you may use edible oils to stop the squeaking and scraping. It includes olive oil, coconut oil, and canola, mainly. You need to pour in the oil through the hinge and pin. Then, wait a few minutes to allow the oil to spread over the entire hinge and work on the greases. It will help the hinge to work properly.

A few drops of the edible oil should be fine to lubricate the hinge and its pin appropriately. So, it is a less expensive method to lubricate the lock.

Paraffin candle and petroleum jelly

You may also apply petroleum jelly to the hinge. Petroleum jelly is a natural lubricating agent. People have used it since ancient times to lubricate the axle of their chariot wheels. Since paraffin candles also have petroleum, you can use them to lubricate the hinge.

Should door hinges be oiled or greased?

You may use oil or grease to lubricate the door hinge. Even if you see old grease on the hinge, you should apply a lubricating item to smoothen the hinge’s operation.

What is the best thing to use on squeaky door hinges?

Petroleum jelly and edible oils are the best household lubricators on the hinge. If you use commercial ones, you may apply WD-40 cleaner and lubricator.

Conclusion

A squeaky and scrappy sound coming from the door hinge is exceedingly annoying. It might cause headaches at times. Therefore, you must stop it ASAP.

Thankfully, you may use different lubricators to help the door hinge work perfectly. It will not take more than 5 minutes, so you mustn’t ignore it for a comfortable life.