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How to Grease Your Garage Door (Without Messing It Up)
If your garage door squeaks, grinds, or sounds like it’s trying to start a rock band every time you open it, don’t panic. It probably just needs a little grease.
Keeping your garage door properly lubricated is one of the easiest ways to extend its life, reduce noise, and prevent costly repairs. And the best part? You don’t need a pro to do it—just a few tools, the right lube, and 15 minutes.
Why Lubricating Your Garage Door Matters
Garage doors have a lot of moving parts. Over time, those parts rub, rattle, and wear down. Without regular lubrication, your door will get noisier, the hardware will strain under pressure, rollers and hinges will wear out faster, and the entire system may fail early. Think of lubrication as basic hygiene for your garage door. Just like brushing your teeth, it doesn’t take long, but skipping it eventually hurts.
What You’ll Need
Before we jump in, grab the right supplies. You’ll need a garage door lubricant, make sure it’s lithium-based or silicone-based. Avoid using WD-40, which is a cleaner, not a long-term lubricant. You’ll also want a rag or paper towels, a stepladder, and, if you’d like, safety glasses and gloves.
Step-by-Step: How to Grease Your Garage Door
1. Start With a Quick Safety Check
Make sure the garage door is closed and disconnected from the opener. You can do this by pulling the red emergency release cord. That gives you manual control without risking accidental movement.
2. Wipe Down Everything
Use a rag to wipe down the metal tracks, hinges, and rollers. Remove any dust, dirt, and old grease so the new lubrication can stick properly. It’s important to note that you should not lubricate the garage door tracks. You can clean them, but greasing them may cause the rollers to slip or go off track.
3. Lubricate These Key Parts
Apply lubricant to the right places to keep your door running smoothly. Start by spraying a small amount of lubricant on each hinge, focusing on the points where the hinge pivots. If your garage door has metal rollers, apply lubricant directly to the ball bearings inside the rollers. For nylon rollers, only lubricate the metal stem, not the nylon wheel.
Next, lightly spray the torsion spring (the big coil above your garage door) to help reduce tension and noise. Also, apply a small amount of lubricant to the bearings and end plates near the spring, as these parts help keep everything turning smoothly. If your door has a manual armbar or lock, spray those mechanisms as well to keep them operating with ease. You can also apply a light coat to the top rail that the opener travels along, although that’s optional.
4. Work It In
Manually open and close the garage door a few times. This distributes the lubricant evenly and helps it soak into the parts.
How Often Should You Lubricate a Garage Door?
You should lubricate your garage door every six months. In a place like Portland, Oregon, where damp weather can lead to rust, this simple habit can save you from expensive repairs.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
One of the biggest mistakes is using WD-40 instead of a proper garage door lubricant. Another is applying too much grease; more isn’t better here. Some homeowners mistakenly lubricate the tracks, which can cause problems. Others skip cleaning the parts before applying new lubricant, which leads to a buildup. And of course, some people forget to do this at all until the noise is unbearable.
Need Help? Call the Pros at PDX Garage Door
If your garage door still sounds off after lubing it up—or if you’re just not comfortable climbing a ladder with a can of spray—give us a call. At PDX Garage Door, we handle everything from routine maintenance to full garage door replacements across Portland, Oregon. We’ll make sure your door runs like new, so you don’t have to think about it every time you leave the house.
Cities We Serve
PDX Garage Door proudly serves cities across the Portland metro area, including Beaverton, Salem, Tigard, and Hillsboro. We deliver expert garage door installation and repair services tailored to the unique needs of each community.
