Should You Use WD

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If you're considering WD-40 to lubricate a squeaking garage door, think again! Although WD-40 themselves would have you believe otherwise, it is definitely not recommended for use on the garage door. A screeching garage door resembles fingernails on a chalkboard, and it's easy to be tempted to reach for your trusty blue can. However, it's not the right product for the job.

There are multiple reasons your garage door might start to squeak or squelch. For one thing, they can develop faulty hinges, rollers, and springs over time. Worn metal rollers may also cause screeching. Additionally, an out-of-balance garage door might result in a noisy situation. If you pull the emergency cord and the door falls, the garage door is out of balance. And of course, under-lubricated ranks as the biggest reason for noisy mechanics in a garage door. It's recommended that you lubricate the moving parts of your garage door twice a year.

The reason for not using WD-40 on your garage door boils down to this: in reality, it's not a lubricant. While it works great as a lubricant for squeaky hinges, handles, locks, and 1,000 other creaking household products, when it comes to the garage door, you need something made specifically for that. The "WD" in WD-40 stands for water displacement, which is exactly what it does. A little bit solvent and a little bit lubricant and, well, the ingredients of the exact formula are ... a secret.

The bottom line? WD-40 can actually do more harm than good. Garage doors have a powder-coat finish that the WD-40 formula may damage. Not only that, but if your model features nylon rollers, they can also be irreversibly damaged. WD-40 softens plastic, nylon, or rubber parts. That's the bad news. The good news? Other products made especially for garage doors will work much better.

Multiple moving parts on a garage door need occasional lubrication. They include chains, hinges, bearings, latches, pulleys, rollers, and tracks. And since we use them quite often, it makes sense to apply a lubricant every six months or so to keep them opening and closing smoothly. Without it, your garage door can ultimately lock up and stop working entirely. Luckily, some terrific products exist out there that are as easy to apply as WD-40.

For example, Amazon offers 3-in-1 Professional Garage Door Lubricant for $7.99, which comes in an 11-oz. can with a straw that can spray a stream or a fan. It also prevents rust and corrosion and dries quickly. Another option is Blaster Silicone Garage Door Lubricant for $6.98 at Home Depot. This 9.3-oz. can of spray lubricant works in much the same way, but may be a bit messy. Just be sure to cover all moving parts and you should have a nice, smooth, quietly operating garage door for years to come.