DIY guideDoor
Fix a squeaky or sticking door
Quiet a squeaky hinge and stop a door rubbing, with a screwdriver and a little grease.
- 15 to 30 min
- 5 steps
- Every step animated
5 steps
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Open and close the door slowly. Listen for the squeaky hinge, and look for shiny rub marks on the door's edge or the frame.
Close the door. Tap the hinge pin up from below with a nail and a hammer, then pull it out.
Do one hinge at a time, so the door stays hung.Wipe the pin clean, coat it with a little grease, and tap it back down. Swing the door to work it in.
If the door rubs at the top, tighten the screws on the top hinge, on both the door and the frame.
If a screw just spins, swap one in the top hinge's frame side for a 3-inch screw, so it bites into the stud and pulls the door up.
What you need
- A screwdriver
- A hammer and a nail
- White lithium grease or petroleum jelly
Call a pro if
- The door still rubs after tightening
- The frame is cracked, or the door has swollen
- It's an outside door that won't latch or lock
Free for every home. Handyman asks a few questions, then books a pro it trusts.
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