How to Fix Things that Squeak or Stick – Home Maintenance and Repair Tutorial
1. If it moves and it shouldn’t, use duct tape.
2. If it doesn’t move and it should, use WD-40.
Here are some of the many home maintenance and repair fixes that can be achieved using WD-40.
Stuck Windows
If your windows don’t open, or only open with a huge amount of effort, spray down the tracks and sill with WD-40. On metal windows even one spraying will start those windows loosening up. On painted shut windows you may need repeated sprayings to melt the paint out of the tracks. (A putty knife or chisel will help clear away the debris between sprayings.)
Squeaky Doors
Whether they’re interior or exterior makes no difference. If they squeak when you open or close them, spray the hinges of those doors with WD-40. Swing them back and forth a few times to work the WD-40 into the hinges, and those squeaks will disappear.
Recliner Chairs
Does your Lazy-Z-Boy creak every time you rock in it? If so, grab a can of WD-40 and turn the rocker on it’s back or side, so that you can see underneath it. See those springs and stuff under there? Give them a good spray with the WD-40 and turn the chair back right side up. Now you can take a nap without any squeaky noise to disrupt your slumber.
Cabinet Doors
Go through the kitchen and the bathroom and open all the cupboards. If you hear any squeaks, spray the hinges with WD-40 and swing them back and forth a few times. That will take those squeaks out. While you’re in there, spray down all the drawer slides with WD-40 too. You’ll be glad you did.
The Rollers under your Refrigerator
Yes, I know you don’t want to move your refrigerator. But someday you will want to move it, and then you’ll be glad you did this now. Pull off the grill at the bottom front of your refrigerator, so that you can see the wheels better. Give them a good soaking with the WD-40. You might need to let it soak in a little while, and then spray again. Keep repeating that until you can wiggle the refrigerator out far enough to do the back wheels too.
Faucet Handles
Spray a little WD-40 through the crevasse underneath your hard to turn faucets. (Aim for the spindle they turn on.) It will loosen them right up.
Desk and Other Swivel Chairs
Spray some WD-40 into the swivelly part on the underside of those chairs. It will let them swivel more freely and take out any squeaks too!
Air Vents
You’d love to save some money by closing the air registers in rooms that aren’t being used, but you can’t because they’re stuck in one position all the time! Spray the adjustment wheel with WD-40 and work it back and forth a little, and then you’ll be able to use it again.
Keep an eye out for anything that’s stuck in position or gets exposed to moisture. WD-40 can frequently resolve those problems and a little preventative maintenance now can prevent a costly repair or replacement later!
