A door can get stubborn and decide to stick for any number of reasons: The hinge may malfunction or dirt, grime or humidity can be the culprit. However, there’s no need to get frustrated or call a carpenter. Simple household supplies can often get a stubborn door swinging free and easy once again.

Soap and Water, the Simplest Solution
Often a door sticks simply because the hinge area is grimy and dirty. In a kitchen, oily cooking residue can make cabinet door hinges stick; and dirt and grime anywhere can gum up the workings of a door hinge. So your first remedy should be to wash the door frame, door and hinges with a solution of soap and water. Mild soap that is formulated for use on wood, such as Murphy’s Oil Soap™, is a safe choice that will clean without staining wood doors. If a good cleaning doesn’t remedy the problem, try one of the following solutions.

Candle Wax
Candles are kept on hand for romantic evenings or for those times when a thunderstorm causes a blackout. But long taper candles are as good for un-sticking a sliding glass door as they are for candlelit dinners. Rub the wax from an unlit candle along the sliding rails of the door frame. After applying a liberal amount of wax, slide the door along the rail a few times until it slides easily. Add more wax if necessary until the door slides like new.

No-Stick Baking Spray or Petroleum Jelly
The same no-stick spray that keeps your muffins from sticking to the muffin tin can keep your door hinges and sliding door tracks operating smoothly. Simply spray a light coat of cooking spray on the hinges or tracks and open and close the door to work the spray into the mechanism. Lay an old towel on top of carpet, hardwood or other surfaces that may be stained by the spray.

Generic petroleum jelly is another great lubricant for un-sticking sticky doors. Apply a light coating with your finger to hinges or tracks and work it in by opening and closing the door. Protect wood surfaces from the petroleum jelly because it can leave an oil stain on wood.

Adjusting the Hinges
If none of the above helps the functionality of your door, try oiling the hinges to see if that will help the door swing freely. The problem could also be that the hinges have come loose from the weight of the door over time; in this case, tightening the hinges could solve the problem. Make sure that the door is hung even and level. If the door is sitting too high or too low in the frame, the level of the will be off, causing the door to stick. If the screw holes for the door hinges appear to be too loose, unscrew one screw at a time and remove it. Insert a toothpick into the hole; the toothpick should be cut so that it fits flush into the depth of the hole, and then reinsert and tighten the screw. The toothpick will take up the excess space and let your screw sit tightly once again, taking up the slack in the hinge. Adjust all the screws in the hinge if necessary.

Author Bio: Jessica Ackerman from WallDecorandHomeAccents.com, has skills in all areas of table love sculptures and statues paying special attention to decorative music and dance art sculptures.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: wallpaper, floor, bathroom, paint, living room, carpet, home office, bedroom, windows, door