| A squeaky door hinge can be annoying, but these | | | | gummed-up, give it a mild scrubbing with an abrasive |
| devices are easy to maintain and usually provide | | | | cleaning pad. Replace the hinge pin if it shows any |
| trouble-free service. Hinges open and close doors of | | | | damage or signs of wear such as a groove. |
| all kinds, shapes, and sizes and are used on | | | | Once cleaned, the pin can be lubricated with a light |
| everything from jewelry boxes to barn doors. Hinges | | | | coat of machine oil. Optionally, sewing machine oil will |
| are an assembly of two opposing mounting plates | | | | work as well. Hinges are light mechanisms that don't |
| joined together by a single hinge pin. | | | | require a heavy oil or grease meant for automotive |
| Hinges are manufactured with joining barrels and | | | | use. |
| holes drilled through them for attaching to the door | | | | A hygienic swab will work well for extracting dirt and |
| jamb and the door. The hinge pin fits into the barrels, | | | | grime from inside the hinge's barrels. There should be |
| connecting the two sections together. Once joined | | | | enough oil on the hinge pin to do a satisfactory job |
| together, the hinges have enough space between | | | | of lubrication. You don't need to add any more oil to |
| each barrel to allow the door to open smoothly. | | | | the hinge after you re-install the door. Use your oil |
| Doors of different sizes and shapes need different | | | | sparingly. There's no need to over-lubricate the |
| numbers and sizes of door hinges. | | | | hinges, as they will work just fine with just a small |
| Hinges are the joining units that attach the door to | | | | amount of lubricant. |
| the door jamb. For the door to open and close | | | | Return the door to its hinges and replace the hinge |
| smoothly, it's important that the door's hinges be set | | | | pins. Then check the mounting screws for tightness. |
| squarely into the door jamb. | | | | Be careful to tighten the fixing screws, using a |
| Next, tackling a squeaky door hinge problem is a | | | | properly sized screwdriver. Be careful not to strip the |
| matter of cleaning and lubricating the hinge. If you | | | | door or door jamb's fixing holes of their threads. If |
| want the hinge to quit squeaking, you should clean it | | | | the screw won't tighten down, you will have to |
| and add a touch of lubricating oil. | | | | improvement the door. |
| Withdrawing the hing pin is easy. Just tap out the pin | | | | Now swing the door open and closed several times |
| from below. Use a small hammer and screwdriver to | | | | to spread the lubricant inside the hinge's barrel. If |
| do the job. After a few good taps, the hinge pin | | | | properly finished, the door should not make any |
| should work loose from the hinge's barrels. | | | | further squeaking noises and it should open and close |
| Penetrating oil is a good way to loosen a stuck or | | | | smoothly. There you have it. |
| binding pin, just don't use too much of it. Because it is | | | | This is one of the easiest Do-It-Yourself service jobs. |
| partly a solvent, penetrating oils are useful for | | | | Door hinges are simple devices that just need an |
| dissolving rust and grimy buildup. | | | | occasional cleaning and lubrication to provide decades |
| Once the pin is removed, you should clean it with | | | | of silent service. There are more articles like this one |
| soap and water. If you learn that the pin is really | | | | waiting for you at PracticalRepairs. |