Got squeaky doors and out of the good ol’ stand-by WD-40? While the “WD” is good for Click to visit this external linkjust about everything, you might not have a can of it on hand for every new wretched noise your old hinges begin to make. In those cases, there are numerous handy-dandy quick-fix substitutes you may already have around the house.

This is another one of my unconventional uses posts. YMMV!

When you’ve got a squeak – hinges, chairs, or otherwise – reach for your oily sprays. Kitchen cooking spray (like Pam) works really well. Simply give a couple of quick-burst sprays across the offending noise-maker. If you are spraying door hinges, be careful not to overspray, resulting in walls ready for baking. A soft cloth easily wipes up the remaining spray from higher-gloss door jambs. I’ve never experienced this to be a messy job, however. Don’t spray from 6-10 inches away, but more like 2-3 inches away.

No kitchen spray? No problem. Check your personal Health & Beauty aisle (your bathroom!) for sprays that contain mineral (or other) oil as a main ingredient. This can include anything from hair sprays to body sprays, even tan and anti-tan sprays.

While you’re in there, grab some cotton swabs or cotton balls. When moistened with oils, these become excellent applicators for direct lubrication of dry joints, window sills and the like. Most any type of oil will do from baby oil to almond oil to cooking oil.

If you’re in even more of a pinch, reach for a candle or a bar of soap. When rubbed onto a surface, these items are useful for adding a touch of slip. Sliding glass door and closet door tracks are notorious for collecting dust and dirt, making adjustment of the doors like pushing a car with square wheels. A little wax on the track can help ease your sliding woes. Go lightly on the soap application. Just as you would any cleaner, you’ll have to remove the excess sooner or later, but you don’t want soap build-up on your tracks. A touch of wax may also be the solution when installing those stuck cabinets that won’t slip past that last 1mm distance.

Tip! If you’re a fan of liquid soap, you may find it’s more convenient to use as a lubricant than bar soap. Even other liquid detergents (dish, clothes) can come in handy for small lube tasks. A little Dawn is perfect for removing stubborn jewelry, and it can help stubborn drawers too!

Sometimes squeaky doors can serve a good purpose! Check out my post When Having Squeaky Doors is a Good Thing.