DIY Tips

The squeaky hinge gets the grease: unusual ways to quiet your hinges

Halloween is almost here - the one time of year that squeaky door hinges are acceptable. If you like getting into the spirit of the holiday by making your house as spooky as possible, put off fixing those squeaky hinges until November.

However, for those who don’t feel like living in a haunted house, there are plenty of ways to fix your hinges.

WD-40

There’s a reason dad always kept a can of WD-40 in the garage – it’s perfect for fixing squeaky hinges of all sorts. Rocket Chemical Company created WD-40 to prevent rusting on aerospace technology in the 1950s. “WD” stands for “water displacement,” and it took the three-person team who developed it 40 attempts before finalizing the formula, giving the product its name. Rocket employees started taking the solvent home and using it on a variety of household problems – from lubricating hinges to removing bugs from car windshields to removing road tar from cars. More than 75 years later, WD-40’s original formula still does the trick. Give your hinges some love by attaching the small straw to the canister spout for a more precise application, and enjoy your squeak-free door.

Household items

WD-40 isn’t the only option – there are other temporary fixes for your hinges. BrightNest has some great tips on household items that will fix a squeaky door.

Bar soap - Just rub it on your hinges until they are coated.
Petroleum jelly – Remove the pin from your hinge and cover it in petroleum jelly before reinserting.
Paraffin candles – Remove the pin from your hinges and rub hot wax onto it before reinserting.
Olive oil – Use a cotton swab to apply a little bit on top of your hinges.

When using these common households products, be sure to concentrate on the hinges and avoid getting it on your doors as much as possible.

New hinges

Chances are you probably haven’t thought much about the style or finish of your hinges, but it’s often the small details that make the biggest impact in tying a room together. Replacing your hinges serves a dual purpose: improve the functionality of your door while also adding beauty and consistency throughout your home. If you just updated your door hardware with Matte Black finishes, swapping your Bright Brass hinges for Matte Black is a small and simple project that makes a big difference. Schlage carries hinges in a variety of finishes to match any décor.