Do you have a door (or doors) that echo around the house upon being used? Squeaky doors can be incredibly annoying to live with but also are very easy to remedy!
Most of us have at least one door or cupboard that makes a dreaded sound when opened and/or closed. It’s a very common and normal thing to occur – but that doesn’t mean you have to live with it!
What can you do to stop a door from squeaking?
There are a wide variety of things people use all with varying levels of effectiveness and longevity. Here are a few commonly used options.
Owatrol Transyl Oil
First on our list is Transyl Oil – our lubricating, deep penetrating, self-spreading liquid with exceptional “wetting”, spreading and climbing properties. It is able to reach some of the most inaccessible areas and is perfect for the maintenance of metal assemblies and for lubricating hard to reach metal parts.
Transyl is a product that wears many hats. Not only can it be used for lubrication, but it can also be used for:
- Releasing rusted parts such as bolts, screws, chains, bearings, conveyors etc.
- Lubricating hinges, chainsaws, pulleys, locks, tools etc.
- Dissolving adhesives and gums (for easy removal of labels, tape, etc.)
- Cleaning engines, industrial and marine equipment
- For electrical assemblies, circuit boards, automotive electrics and controls
Transyl is so versatile, we think every house should have some on hand!
Quick and easy to use, Transyl is available in a 200ml and 400ml spray can complete with a handy application nozzle to get into all those hard to reach places, as well as a 1 and 5 litre can.
As this is a purpose-made and easy to use product, we recommend using Transyl Oil for fixing a squeaky door hinge over any of the other options listed below.
Petroleum jelly
This is possibly the most common DIY solution people use. Usually, because most people have petroleum jelly at home and it is a quick and easy option.
Usually, people will remove the hinge pins, apply a coating of petroleum jelly to the pins and then replace them back inside. Although this is quite a successful way to stop squeaking, it can be quite messy as the petroleum jelly will inevitably squeeze out from the hinge when the pin is being replaced.
This can be cleaned up fairly easily, however, as petroleum jelly does not dry out, if any further product was to squeeze out whilst the door is in use, you will need to wipe it away as soon as possible. This is because the jelly can act as a magnet to dirt and dust and soon your door will have dirty marks from the residue.
Olive oil
Due to the nature of oil, any type of oil will offer at least some sort of relief from squeaking. However, it should be noted that other oils such as olive or sunflower oil are a lot more fluid than a fit for purpose oil such as Transyl.
For this option, people will usually lift the pins out slightly from the hinge and then apply the oil to the pins before replacing them back down. This option will usually work, however, it should be noted that the oil will become gummy or rancid over a short period of time and the squeaking will resume once again.
Paraffin/beeswax
This is an option that has been used for many years. For this option, you will need to remove the pins from the hinges, melt some paraffin or beeswax and then dip the pins into the melted liquid. After 5-10 minutes, or until the wax has cooled, place the pins back into the hinges.
Test to see if the door is no longer squeaking. If it is, you can apply another layer of wax to the pins.
This option is better than the olive oil one as there will be no residue left behind. However, the longevity of this fix isn’t usually that great, especially if the door is one that is used a lot. This is because the wax will eventually break down over time with use until there is none left.
Steel wool
If your hinges are rusty or dirty, the steel wool options is a good one to opt for. We recommend using steel wool covered in Owatrol Oil – a rust inhibitor that stops metals from rusting and prevents it from returning.
To do this you will need to remove the pins from the hinges and possibly the hinges from the doors depending on where the rust is. After the pins have been removed, apply the Owatrol Oil onto some very fine steel wool (000 or 0000 grade).
Rub the coated steel wool over the pins to remove any surface rust. If necessary, do the same with the hinges.
Once everything has been treated the door can be reassembled and hung.
Bar of soap
A less common option, but still one that people use. Some soaps contain animal fat which is what will grease the metal fixings to stop them from squeaking. Simply rub a bar of soap onto the pins/hinges until they are well lubricated.
The main problem with this option is that some soaps contain glycerine. This will attract moisture in the air and cause your hinges to rust. The second problem is that it is not easy to rub a bar of soap onto your hinges! Even if you manage to apply the soap correctly, sadly this option simply just does not last.
We hope you found this post helpful. If you have any further tips, tricks or advice, please feel free to leave them below. We love hearing from you!
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About Owatrol Team
Our team are ready and willing to support you with your requirements whether it is protecting your newly laid deck or renovating a luxury yacht, whatever the application Owatrol has the solution you are looking for.
