How to Fix a Squeaky Desk Chair

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Have you ever been annoyed by the squeak of a chair? Squeaky chairs can be a nuisance to both the person sitting and others in the room. Fortunately, those annoying noises do not mean it is time for a new chair. When a squeaky chair is properly diagnosed, it can be quite simple to fix the problem.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Oiling Metal Parts

PDF download Download Article
  1. The first thing to do is turn the chair over, and look at all hardware. Get a screwdriver or wrench and tighten any loose ones. Even try to tighten the parts that don't appear loose. Over time, it is easy for screws and bolts to become loose, causing certain chair parts to rub together irregularly and create a squeaky noise.
  2. Apply a lubricating oil on all of the nuts, screws and bolts to help loosen the joints. Simply spray oil directly on the chair mechanisms, and pat them dry. You can also spray oil on a soft cotton cloth, and rub the oil onto your problem areas to have more control over where the oil goes. [1]
    • Moisture in the air and air conditioners cause rust. Regularly applying oil prevents rust from occurring and building up. [2]
    Advertisement
  3. If the chair still squeaks after adding lubricant and tightening all bolts and screws, take them all out, and lubricate them with a light machine oil before putting them back in.
  4. To help you locate the area of the chair that is squeaking, have someone sit in it, and swivel from side to side. By applying weight to the chair to make it squeak, it will allow you to more easily locate the source of the noise to more accurately apply oil. Each time you apply more oil, ask your friend to swivel the chair so you can see if you put oil in the right spot.
  5. A chair may only squeak when you lean back, which is usually caused by too much tension where the spring's ends rub on the housing ends. To fix this, apply oil to the seat tension spring located inside the turn-knob housing. Simply loosen the seat tension turn-knob and remove the turn-knob to spray oil inside the housing. [3]
  6. Desk chairs are often on wheels that may move a lot, so it is common for the axles in the wheels to need some silicone spray over time. Turn the chair over and spray the wheels. Then, flip the chair back over, and roll the chair to spread the silicone around the entire wheel.
  7. Collapsing into a chair will eventually cause it to squeak. Chairs go through a lot of wear and tear, so to keep your chair silent, be cautious when you sit down as to not speed up loosening joints.
    8. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Fixing Wooden Chairs

PDF download Download Article
  1. Check how loose the chair legs are, as well as the back of the chair, by pushing and pulling them back and forth to see how much movement they have. There should be virtually no movement. [4]
  2. You can either flip the chair upside down on a table or on another chair so that you can more easily access the problem area. This will also prevent any unwanted pressure on the legs or back of the chair when you are working. [5]
  3. There are many types of strong wood glue products you can purchase to stabilize loose leg joints. When you locate a loose joint, push wood glue into the joint and let it dry completely before flipping the chair back over. Wipe away any access glue that comes out of the joint with a wet rag. [6]
    • To create a thicker wood glue consistency, try adding wood filler to the glue. A thicker mixture can better help stabilize wobbly chair legs.
  4. For very loose legs that seem to need more than glue, remove the chair leg completely, and use a wood-swelling liquid. Sometimes, dowels can shrink, causing chair parts to become loose. When you apply a wood-swelling liquid to the dowel, it will allow the dowel to once again become secure in the chair. [7]
  5. If the hardware in the chair seem to be loose or no good anymore, you can replace them with new ones. Even if you don't want to remove the existing hardware, you can add reinforcement with more nails or bracket hinges to make the chair sturdy. When putting in more screws, make sure they are long enough to secure the wood, but not long enough to come through the other side of the wood. [8]
    6. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How can I improvise if I don't have lubricating oil or spray?
    Community Answer
    To fix a squeaking door or chair, shower gel or skin moisturizer both work well.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 133 Helpful 24
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • You can purchase wood glue, spray lubricant, and silicone spray at most home good and hardware stores.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 2
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • Oiling the chair excessively may be detrimental to its mechanism. It may cause the chair to roll too easily or make the chair unable to retain height adjustments. Be sure to pat dry the areas you apply oil to.
        Thanks
        Helpful 5 Not Helpful 1


      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Fix a Sinking Desk Chair
      How to
      Adjust a Recliner Chair
      How to
      Deep Clean an Office Chair & Remove Stains
      How to
      Cane a Chair
      How to
      Clean the Inside & Outside of Office Chair Wheels
      How to
      Replace Office Chair Casters
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ http://homeguides.sfgate.com/stop-rocking-chair-squeaking-57422.html
      2. ↑ http://homeguides.sfgate.com/stop-rocking-chair-squeaking-57422.html
      3. ↑ http://homeguides.sfgate.com/stop-rocking-chair-squeaking-57422.html
      4. ↑ https://www.doityourself.com/stry/squeak-no-more-repairing-noisy-wood-chairs
      5. ↑ https://www.weekand.com/home-garden/article/fix-creaky-chairs-18042625.php
      6. ↑ https://www.weekand.com/home-garden/article/fix-creaky-chairs-18042625.php
      7. ↑ https://www.doityourself.com/stry/squeak-no-more-repairing-noisy-wood-chairs
      8. ↑ https://www.doityourself.com/stry/squeak-no-more-repairing-noisy-wood-chairs

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To fix a squeaky desk chair, turn the chair upside down and use a screwdriver or a wrench tighten any loose nuts, bolts, or screws. Once you’ve done that, spray a lubricating oil on all of the chair’s mechanisms, then pat them dry with a soft cotton cloth. You can also apply oil to the wheels, as well as to the seat tension spring located inside the turn-knob housing. If the chair still squeaks, take out all of the bolts and screws and lubricate them before putting them back in. To learn how to fix a squeaky wooden chair, keep reading!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 617,709 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement