Hold Back On WD-40: What You Need Instead To Fix A Sticky Door

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Have you noticed that your wooden doors open and shut seamlessly during winter, but as soon as summer hits, they become sticky and don't fit flush to the frame anymore? You'll be pleased to learn that this is totally normal. Timber is sensitive to the air around it and can easily take in and release moisture. Because of being hygroscropic, timber will swell when the air becomes warm. Typically, a door is fitted snugly to the frame, so when this happens and the door swells slightly, there is little room for movement, and it can easily catch and become sticky.. In this situation, most people reach for the WD-40, but you might want to think twice about this. Instead, use a sander to sand down the edge of your door to fix the problem.

Applying WD-40 to your door hinges to fix an annoying sticking door is only temporary. Most people think WD-40 is a lubricant, but it's actually a solvent and will remove oil that's already present on the hinges. Therefore, if it does stop your door from sticking, it won't last more than a couple of weeks. For a more permanent solution, sanding down your door frame is the way to go because it will trim the wood for a better fit. Ideally, you're going to need an electric or battery-powered sander, which will take much less time and effort than a manual sanding block.

To properly sand your door, you will need to first start by wiping down your door to remove any dirt or grime. Open and close the door slowly to identify exactly where the door is sticking. Once you've done this, it may be easier for you to take the door off its hinges to sand down the edges. Take either your electric sander or sanding block and gently sand down the area of the door which you believe is sticking. The one good thing about leaving the door on its hinges is that you can sand the area down bit by bit, seeing if the door is still sticking as you go, which will make sure you don't take off too much! 

In order to prevent your door from sticking in the future, one of the key things you can do to help control the moisture levels in your home in the summer is to invest in a dehumidifier. You don't have to spend a fortune. You can pick up a BEDRED dehumidifier for just over $50 from Amazon that will do the job.