How to Lubricate Your Garage Door in Under an Hour

Safety first. Never start working on a garage door that is still plugged in. If you can’t easily access the cord, or if the door is hardwired, simply shut off power to the garage via the proper breaker in the circuit box.

Before applying the lube, take the opportunity to clean the tracks and components. You won’t actually apply lubricant to the garage door tracks, but if they get packed with debris, it can degrade performance over time.

Start by taking a damp cloth and running it through the tracks. If there is stubborn debris that won’t come loose, run the hose of your wet / dry vac over it. Brake cleaner can also help break down grime.

You’ll also want to wipe down all the components to which you’ll be applying the lube; this helps the lubricant adhere better. Use your ladder for any higher-up, hard-to-reach components.

Your garage door has several mechanical components that should be lubricated. Make sure you hit them all:

• Hinges: Each panel of the garage door is connected via hinges on either side. Spray a small amount of the lube onto the hinge pins; one or two sprays per hinge should do the trick. If you spray too much, wipe up any excess with your cloth.

• Rollers: The rollers help with the up and down movement of the hinges. Each one has small ball bearings, which you need to lubricate. Use the hose attachment to lube these; again, a little bit of lube goes a long way. Wipe up any excess grease.

• Springs and bearing plates: Grab the ladder and spray lube along the entire length of the springs, and get the bearing plates on either end. You’ll want to move the garage door up and down manually after spraying the springs; doing so will help spread the grease around.

• Lock and armbar: Finally, use the ladder to reach the lock and armbar. You only need to spray a little amount in the lock’s keyhole; you’ll also want to spray lube onto the armbar.

You may also want to hit the top of the rail—what the chain runs on, along the ceiling of your garage—with a small amount of lube. Check your owner’s manual, however; the rail might already have a natural protectant on it. If you do lubricate the rail, as with the other components, have a rag handy to wipe up excess grease.

Turn the power to the garage door back on and try opening and closing it. Does it feel and sound smoother? If you can still hear squeaks, you may need to apply more lube.

If it seems to be working properly, your work is done. Repeat these steps on any additional doors your garage has.

If you notice more serious issues with your garage door components when cleaning and lubricating them, contact a professional garage door company in your area to address the problem.