The hinge on our bathroom door started squeaking a few months ago, and I just lived with it. Every time someone got up at night, the whole house heard it. My wife kept saying we should get some WD-40, and I kept forgetting to add it to the list.

Then one night I grabbed the only spray can in the kitchen and tried it. The door has not squeaked since.

Cooking spray works, and here is why

Cooking spray is basically oil with a propellant. Squirt a little into a squeaky hinge, and the oil gets between the metal parts and stops them from grinding against each other. It is the same principle as any lubricant.

The oil is food-safe and thin enough to work into the hinge pin. It is not as long-lasting as a proper lubricant, but for a door hinge, it is more than enough.

How to do it right

1. Put a paper towel behind the hinge so the spray does not drip down the door.
2. Give the hinge a short spray right at the pin, top and bottom.
3. Open and close the door a few times to work the oil in.
4. Wipe away any drips with the paper towel.

The squeak should fade out within a few swings. If it is still there, add one more short spray and work it again.

When to use the real stuff instead

For a hinge that carries real weight, like a heavy front door, a proper penetrating oil or silicone lubricant is the better long-term choice. Cooking spray is the quick fix for the everyday interior doors that are just being annoying.

It also works on cabinet hinges, drawer slides, and even a sticky lock. I keep a dedicated can of cooking spray in the cleaning caddy now, clearly not for cooking.