How to Unstick a Door

Co-authored by Gino Colucci

Last Updated: March 10, 2021 References

Doors can start sticking for various reasons, and it’s always a hassle. The wood can swell in the hot and humid summer air, the hinges can become loose with usage, and your house can even shift and settle over time, causing changes in the frame.^{[1]
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Research source}The key to fixing a sticking door is to determine what is causing the issue, and then you can decide if you can fix the problem with a simple trick or if you need a more intricate solution.

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

How to Find the Problem Area

1
Examine the door with your eyes. Look for scratches in the paint or any other noticeable damages to the door and frame. Also check for grime or any sticky buildup that may just need to be cleaned. Close the door and run your eyes along the gap between the door and the frame, noting places where the gap is very thin.
- It is best to inspect an exterior door in a sunny or well-lit area.
2
Run a piece of heavy stock paper around the closed door. This is very useful if you can’t determine where the door is sticking by physically examining it. The paper should glide smoothly around most of the door. Wherever the piece of paper gets stuck is the problem area.

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3
Look for sticking areas as you open or close the door. Try closing the door with your hands on the bottom, the side, and the top. This will allow you to feel where there is the most resistance as you close it.
4
Listen to the hinges. If the hinges are squeaking, that could be the cause for the door to stick. If you hear this, it indicates that they need to be oiled.
5
Note the time of year. If the door seems to be only slightly sticking, it is probably caused by changes in humidity. Wood expands when humidity increases, and shrinks when humidity decreases.^{[2]
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- It is important to understand this, because a door that sticks in the summer may not stick in the winter. In this case, you would try a less drastic solution, such as lightly sanding the door, or else it may be drafty and shrunken come winter.

Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

How to Address Seasonal Sticking

1
Rub the problem area with bar soap. This should reduce the friction and allow the door to close more smoothly. Use a dry, moisturizer-free soap that leaves a powdery residue on the sides of the door.^{[3]
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Research source}Of course, this is a gentle and temporary solution and will need to be repeated sporadically during times of humidity.
2
Run your air conditioner. One of the functions of the AC is to remove excess moisture from the air and decrease the humidity level in your home. While this can be a costly solution, it will help with your sticking doors. As the humidity in your home is lowered, the wood door will shrink in size.
3
Invest in a dehumidifier. If humidity causes your door to swell and stick, try running a dehumidifier in the room.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Gino Colucci
Home Improvement Specialist
Expert Interview. 7 January 2021.} A dehumidifier works by sucking in air, removing the air’s moisture, and expelling the air back into the room. The main advantage of using a dehumidifier is that it is portable, which allows you to place it close to the sticking door.^{[5]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

How to Lubricate the Hinges

1
Decide if the door hinges are causing the trouble. When a door is opened and closed repeatedly, it’s no surprise that they can start to tarnish. Scratches and other superficial damage to the hinge can create friction and cause the door to stick.^{[6]
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- If you are worried about the lubricant possibly staining the door, you can take the additional step of removing the door from the frame. You can find out how to remove a door from the hinges here.
2
Lay newspaper on the floor. Just like the lubricant can stain the door, it can stain your floor. Cover the area directly under the hinges you are working on to prevent any dripping.
3
Apply petroleum jelly to the hinges. After you’ve done this, open and close the door a few times to work the jelly into the hinge joints.
- WD-40 would also have the same helpful effect on your door, but it is messier and dries out faster.^{[7]
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Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

How to Tighten the Hinge Screws

1
Examine the bottom and top of the door as you open and close it. The door may be sticking near the top or dragging at the floor. If this is the case, the screws in the hinges may have loosened over time.^{[8]
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2
Use a screwdriver to tighten each screw. Do not use a drill, because over-tightening the screws can cause damage to the wood and cause bigger problems. Screw it in clockwise, and work slowly to make sure you don’t tighten too much.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Gino Colucci
Home Improvement Specialist
Expert Interview. 7 January 2021.}
- Hinge screws are known to strip out, so you may have to add a longer screw or plug the hole and then re-screw it.^{[10]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Gino Colucci
  Home Improvement Specialist
  Expert Interview. 7 January 2021.}
3
Test your handiwork. You may need to go back and tighten or loosen them. By loosening the screw you will reduce the gap between the door and the frame, and vice versa. Play around with it until it fits perfectly.^{[11]
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- If that didn't work, the hinges might be bent. Remove the hinge pin and use a wrench to slightly bend the hinge knuckles back so when you reinsert the pin, it pulls the door back just enough to open easily.^{[12]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Gino Colucci
  Home Improvement Specialist
  Expert Interview. 7 January 2021.}

Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

How to Trim the Door

1
Confirm that the problem is not a temporary or more easily-solved problem. If you’ve checked that the screws are firmly in the hinges, the hinges are well-oiled, and determined temporary humidity is not the issue, you may need to trim your door. This is an intricate, and permanent, fix.^{[13]
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2
Mark the spot on the door where it is sticking, and remove the door. You can find out how to remove a door from the hinges here.It is important to note exactly where the door is rubbing, so that you don’t over trim your door.
3
Use a sharp block plane to trim the door. A block plane is a simple woodworking tool that allows you to thinly shave wood.^{[14]
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Research source}It is perfect for this task, because you can make tiny changes to the width or height of the door without causing oversized gaps between the door and frame.
- If you’re an amateur or only have a little wood to remove from your door, you may want to try using a palm sander to do this instead.
4
Repaint or refinish the section of door that you have trimmed with the block plane. Don’t do this step until you’ve ensured that it is the correct size, or you may have to do it twice. After the paint has dried, your door will be looking- and opening- like it is brand new!

Expert Q&A
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Question

My front door is metal and the door frame is also metal. In the winter time when it gets colder, the deadbolt is hard to lock. Is there something I can buy to spray on the frame/door/lock to help?

Mark Spelman
Construction Professional
Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.

Mark Spelman

Construction Professional

Expert Answer

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If you file out the deadbolt hole a little bigger, it should be a lot easier to lock and unlock your door.
Question

I closed my bedroom closet door and it is now stuck closed and swollen at the top. How can I get it open?

Mark Spelman
Construction Professional
Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.

Mark Spelman

Construction Professional

Expert Answer

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If the door opens away from you, try getting it open by placing a block of wood on the door where it's sticking. Then use a rubber mallet to hit at the block and it should come free.
Question

How do I fix a sticking door hinge?

Gino Colucci
Home Improvement Specialist
Gino Colucci is a Home Improvement Specialist and the Owner of Crackerjacks Handyman Services (not a licensed contractor) in Chandler, Arizona. Crackerjacks Handyman Services offers an effective cost-saving solution for commercial and residential repair and maintenance needs, specializing in smaller projects. Crackerjacks Handyman Services carries liability insurance and all technicians go through a background check.

Gino Colucci

Home Improvement Specialist

Expert Answer

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First, try tightening all of the screws on the hinge in a clockwise direction, both on the door and the frame side. Another trick is to identify where it's rubbing and use longer screws to make an adjustment. If that doesn't work, remove the hinge pin and use a wrench to slightly bend the hinge knuckles back so when you reinsert the pin it pulls back the door juste nough.