ᐅ Why do hinges sometimes start squeaking only after several months?

floga schrieb:
…so complex chemical processes take place.

Regarding the topic of "durability," here is a note:

There are industrial hinges that even include specially sealed plain bearings or ball bearings, which stay quiet for a significantly longer time. Manufacturing processes such as galvanization, nickel plating, or anodizing are used to prevent corrosion.

In everyday use, we often encounter simple hinges that are not fully protected and are only coated with grease, which thins out over time.

This raises a practical question for Glaba: What kind of hinges do you have? Do only the doors make noise, or do the windows or other movable metal parts as well? What is the surrounding environment like (e.g., humidity)?

Palenar schrieb:
…a practical question for Glaba: What kind of hinges do you have, do only the doors make noise, or do the windows or other moving metal parts also squeak? What is the surrounding environment like (e.g., humidity)?

Thanks for the great question!

My hinges are simple steel types, untreated, on interior wooden doors, in a typical apartment with average humidity around 40-50%.

Except for the mentioned right and left doors, no other moving fittings are affected. The windows have hinges with integrated plastic bushings, which so far have not squeaked.

I believe that the combination of plain metal and missing or worn-out lubricant is the cause in my case.

I’d be interested to know if anyone has tips for eco-friendly lubricants that can prevent squeaking over the long term.

Hello Glaba and everyone else,

Regarding your last point: ecological and effective lubricants include plant oil-based specialty greases or high-quality silicone oils without harmful additives. These are biodegradable and increasingly available on the market.

It is important that the lubricant is not too thin, so it does not run off too quickly, as this would cause the lubricant film to wear off quickly. By applying it regularly every few months, you can prevent squeaking.

Finally, my tip: clean the hinge before applying the lubricant to remove old dirt and dust residues, allowing the new lubricant to work optimally.

toril schrieb:
…cleaning the hinge to remove old dirt and dust deposits…

This is really important. I once had a squeaky door hinge that got so bad because, over time, dust had combined with old grease into a sticky residue.

Only after thorough cleaning and fresh lubrication did it improve.

I’m glad to see so many helpful explanations and practical tips here. Thanks to everyone! 🙂