Why not use WD-40 on garage door?

Author: Dr. Clay Nolan  |  Last update: Wednesday, April 30, 2025

In fact, using WD-40 on your garage door can do more harm than good. It attracts dirt and dust, and can soften plastic nylon, or rubber components. It can also damage the powder coat finish on your door.

Is WD-40 bad for garage doors?

WD-40 will not harm a garage door in the short term and probably not even noticeably in the long term. It's basically a cleaner and a lubricant. The only thing it could harm is maybe the plastic/nylon wheels over a very long time.

Why WD-40 is not use recommended as lubricating oil?

Not a True Lubricant: It lacks the viscosity and film strength necessary for heavy-duty lubrication. Using WD-40 in place of proper lubricants can lead to increased wear and tear on moving parts over time.

What is the best lubricant for garage doors?

Silicone: Silicone lubricant is the ultimate solution for garage door maintenance. Formulated with high-quality silicone oil, it excels in providing long-lasting, all-weather lubrication that keeps garage doors running smoothly and quietly.

Should I lubricate the chain on my garage door opener?

No one likes the noisy sounds and banging of the door while using it. So, proper lubrication of the opener chain assures that there will be no problem holding the clicker. After lubricating the chain, the door behaves as new as the day it was installed.

Lubricating Noisy Garage Door (Do Not Use WD-40)

What should you not use WD-40 on?

7 places to never use WD-40 — you'll be surprised
  • Hinges. (Image credit: Shutterstock) ...
  • Bike chains. (Image credit: Shutterstock) ...
  • Locks. (Image credit: Shutterstock) ...
  • Polycarbonate and clear polystyrene plastic. ...
  • Sensitive electronics. ...
  • Wax polishes and some wax coatings. ...
  • Anything that comes into contact with food.

Should you lubricate garage door tracks?

While most of the components of your garage door could use a little lubrication now and then, the tracks are a no-no. After cleaning all your garage door's infrastructure, panels and fittings, the parts you should lubricate are: Rollers. Hinges.

How to make a garage door quieter?

Use these seven tips to learn how to make a garage door quieter.
  1. Tighten All Nuts, Bolts, and Screws. ...
  2. Lubricate the Rollers. ...
  3. Lubricate the Panel Hinges. ...
  4. Lubricate the Springs. ...
  5. Tighten the Opener's Belt or Chain. ...
  6. Install a Garage Door Opener Isolator Kit. ...
  7. Insulate Your Garage.

What is a better lubricant than WD-40?

Vegetable Oil

This pantry staple is another lubricant alternative to WD-40 that can be easily applied without having to purchase another product. Mostly any cooking oil can be used, and vegetable oil has the added perk of being safe to use on most surfaces, including metal and plastic.

Why is WD-40 bad for bearings?

WD40 is a degreaser - not a grease!! The object of cleaning your bearings is to remove all the grease, clean the bearings, then add grase back in. Spraying WD40 will remove the old grease, but it won't clean your bearings, and it won't regrase them afterwards.

Does WD-40 leave a residue?

Our spray, which is safe on multiple surfaces, reduces friction while providing long-lasting lubrication and corrosion protection. It dries quickly, leaves no oily residue, and resists dirt, dust and oil.

What is the best oil for a garage door opener?

White Lithium grease is one of the best types of lubricants that last for a long time without the need to clean it and re-lubricate it again and could last for 3-4 years in your garage door parts.

What is the best solution to clean a garage door?

The garage door can be cleaned by hand in the classic way with the help of a little warm water and washing-up liquid. However, this can take quite a bit of time and energy. To make a heavily soiled garage door look like new again, we recommend cleaning it with a pressure washer.

What is the best lubricant to use on garage doors?

Look for silicone sprays or white lithium grease when selecting a garage door lubricant. Aerosol sprays are your best option when it comes to injecting lubricant into small moving parts.

Is it OK to use WD-40 on garage door springs?

WD-40 is a degreaser, which could remove remove lubricant and dry out the garage door springs. This can cause unnecessary friction in the springs and lead to early failure. While WD-40 has many valuable applications, it is not recommended to use it on your garage door's springs.

How often should garage doors be lubricated?

In general, all moving parts (i.e. garage door springs, rollers, hinges etc.) will need lubrication often – every three months or possibly more with heavy use or in some climates. The rails of your garage doors may need lubrication once a year but generally do not require much maintenance.

Can you over lubricate garage door?

There's no need to use too much of it – a single spray should be enough. Open and close your garage door to see if the garage door hinges are still making noises and apply additional lubrication as needed. If there's still a noise coming from them, you might need to replace your garage door hinges.

Is WD-40 a silicone spray?

It displaces moisture and provides excellent lubrication, protecting and extending the life of your tools and equipment. As it's silicone-based, it's perfect for using on rubber parts like pipes, window seals, plumbing fittings and belts.

What is the best lubricant for door track?

If your doors have vinyl tracks, be sure to use a lubricant that's silicone-based and non-stick. A silicone, non-stick lubricant is essential for vinyl tracks so the door slides easily and the lubricant doesn't attract dirt that can cause a clog in the track.

What is the WD-40 trick?

Cut down on snow shoveling time with this neat trick: Spray the original WD-40 formula on both sides of your shovel before you start. Watch snow, ice and slush slide off the surface. No more stopping every few steps to dislodge built-up snow from your shovel.

What are the pros and cons of WD-40?

Pros: Versatile, excellent for rust prevention and moisture displacement. Cons: Can attract dust and dirt over time.

Can I use WD-40 to lubricate door locks?

Should I use WD40 to lubricate door locks? The simple answer is you should not use WD40 to lubricate locks. WD-40 is one of the solvent-based lubricants and does not contain any lubricant and over time can make your lock even stickier by gumming the lock up.

Previous article
Is 2 Tide PODS too much?
Next article
What does an air compressor silencer do?