Handyman DIY: Free up a door handle

This is a simple DIY which you can do yourself without calling in the local handyman.

Door handles often become difficult to turn due to wear and tear. If a door gets slammed a lot – this often results in door handles which become either loose on the door or tricky to turn.

WD- 40 is all you need to sort this problem out and perhaps a screwdriver if you need to re secure the door handle. Note, that some oils and fluids can work against mechanisms that rely on gravity or fine springs, such as locks as they can combine with dust and jam the mechanism. I recommend WD-40 as the best lubricant to use here.

Step 1: Remove the door handle from one side

Step 2: If there is no keyed lock, spray the WD-40 along the shaft and also into the end of the latch. Turn the handle back and forth until it loosens up. If this doesn’t help you may need to change the whole mechanism – in which case call a professional handyman.

NOTE:
Never use oil or spray lubricants on key locks in a door handle. Use dry graphite power that won’t attract dirt etc to gum it up.