The Quick Fix That'll Save Your Wobbly Doorknob From Falling Off

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There are plenty of things around the house that require constant maintenance: changing out light bulbs, shoring up your HVAC systems ahead of winter, or using a penny to fix your wobbly furniture. One object you use every day but might not pay much mind is the humble doorknob. Whether you're moving from the hallway to the bathroom or stepping outside to tend your garden, doorknobs are required for all but the most automated homes. However, pulling on those knobs and slamming the door behind you is a great way to leave loose screws, which can make the doorknob wobble on its spindle and fall out entirely. If you don't have time to immediately screw the knob back on or replace it entirely, a zip tie could save you from causing more damage to the door.

You can get a 400-pack of Have Me TD Black Assorted Cable Ties for just under $4 online. They're on the shelf at your local hardware or craft store, too. The easy accessibility makes this a quick solution. You can thread the zip tie through your doorknob and whatever hardware anchors it — more than likely the latch that sticks out the side of the door to lock into its frame. Then, loop it back through the knob to lock. It's the same principle that lets you use zip ties for hanging items around the house. However, it does come with the drawback — you might feel drafts through the small sections left open by the zip tie between your doorknob and the wall.

This temporary cable-tied solution isn't ideal for anything but keeping your doorknob from wobbling and falling out of place. It's temporary, and you should focus on replacing the doorknob as soon as possible. There are many different types of handles you should know about before updating your doors. If you want to stick with knobs, assess your options and play around with feel and aesthetics before committing to a design. You could also consider not using a doorknob at all. Traditional doorknobs can be difficult to grasp, especially for older homeowners and those with physical ailments like arthritis. If your doorknob is so loose it's threatening to fall out, a lever handle will alleviate stress on the joints and create a more accessible place to live. 

As mentioned, there's a big problem with keeping a wobbly doorknob in place too long, whether you've used a zip tie to hold the handle together or not. You could be damaging the door around the knob due to the constant slight movement. For cracked panels on wooden doors, you can fill the holes with putty. If the door is chipped, you can sand away any rough edges before using wood filler. Once your door is ready for a new handle, don't put the handle on too tightly. Screwing in a doorknob too deeply using something like an electric drill could crack the door. Use a handheld screwdriver to make sure it fits just snugly without wobbling.