ᐅ What tips do you have for preventing squeaking in BILLY doors?

Hello everyone, I have been experiencing an issue with my Billy shelves for some time now where the doors creak unpleasantly when opening and closing. It seems to be especially related to the hinges, as the noise mostly originates there. Does anyone have tips on how to effectively and permanently eliminate this creaking? I prefer solutions that don’t just provide a temporary fix but address the root cause of the problem. Thanks in advance!

First, try spraying WD-40 on the hinges; this often eliminates most squeaking noises. But don’t use too much, as it can attract dust.

Hello, I can confirm the tip about WD-40, but you should keep in mind that it works rather temporarily, as it cleans the hinges rather than providing strong lubrication.

Special hinge grease is better and can also be found as silicone grease in hardware stores. This lubricates the metal really well and eliminates squeaking in the long term.

It’s also worth checking whether the screws of the hinges are still tight, as loose hinges can also cause squeaking. When everything is secure, apply grease!

gregto schrieb:
Specialized hinge lubricants are better; silicone grease is also available at hardware stores.

That’s a very helpful tip. Additionally, I would like to point out that BILLY doors are often made from a thinner wood panel, which can warp under stress.

If the door rubs against the frame edge or twists slightly, it can cause creaking noises even if the hinges themselves are not directly at fault. Lightly sanding the edges or readjusting the door at the hinge can help resolve this.

I solved the problem with my BILLY doors by simply applying a small amount of graphite powder to the hinges. It lubricates well and does not attract dust.

Thanks for the tips so far!

@flo-Theres: Your idea about the twisting sounds interesting. In fact, I do feel some slight resistance when opening, so something might be rubbing. I will inspect the edges carefully and see if I need to do any adjustments.

@neoren: I'm not very familiar with graphite powder. Is it easy to use? Do I need to take any special precautions afterward?