How to Make Door Paint Stop Sticking in 8 Simple Steps

Are you tired of having to slam your door or rip it open because the paint keeps sticking? Multiple paint coating, warped wood, and many other factors can make your door stick instead of open. It’s a frustrating, common problem to deal with. The bright side is that there’s an easy method that I’ve used on multiple doors around the house.

To make door paint stop sticking:

1. Locate the sticking paint
2. Adjust the hinges to realign the door
3. Sand the paint to stop it from sticking
4. Repaint it with non-latex paint
5. Apply wax or soap to lubricate the door
6. Stick a felt pad in the frame to soften it
7. Tighten the latch and strike plate
8. Install a different door if needed

In this post, we’ll break down how you can stop your door paint from sticking, tips to prevent it from happening again, and what type of paint doesn’t stick. We’ll also talk about a few temporary solutions if you want to replace your door but are in need of a quick fix.

Find Where the Door Paint Is Stuck

The first part of the solution is to find the problematic painted sticking area. Open the door and look along the frame to see if there are any layers poking out. Adding layer after layer of paint will eventually make the frame too big for the door or vice versa.

If you can’t find anything that looks out of alignment, close the door and then open it until you feel resistance. Look along the seam where the frame meets the door on the side that opens (not along the hinges). Find any spaces that look closer than the rest.

Much like my guide to fix a crooked lampshade, you can use a card to find the problem areas. Place a piece of paper or card in the slightly opened door, then slide it down until you can’t anymore. The contact points are almost always where your door paint or wood sticks out too far and needs to be corrected.

Adjust the Door Hinges to Make the Paint Stop Sticking

According to This Old House, crooked or loose door hinges are often the reason a door sticks to its frame. Use a hammer and a flat head screwdriver to pop the hinge pin out of the hinge. Make sure you have someone holding the door, so it doesn’t fall or damage the screws holding the hinges.

Once the hinge pin is popped out, push the door toward the frame and pop the hinge back into place. The pins can loosen or bend under too much pressure, making them less effective. While it might seem like the paint is causing the door to stick, it could just be a matter of a loose pin.

You could also get a new set of Hinge Pins from Hinge Outlet. These 3.5-inch hinge pins fit most doors, but it’s better to measure your door’s hinge pins before guessing what size you need. Ensure the pins are level and straight, then gently hammer them into the door while someone else holds it against the frame.

This simple fix often gets the job done, but if it’s the paint causing the issue, you should follow the remaining steps.

Sand the Door Paint Where It’s Rubbing

Most doors start to experience sticking issues after three or more layers of paint. This problem is much more common in rental properties because they don’t want to take the time to remove the old paint layer before adding the new paint.

Follow this process to sand the door’s paint and fix the sticking or slamming sounds:

1. Open the door and look along the frame and door for contact points that have missing paint or dented wood.
2. Feel the spot to see if they stick out further than the rest of the door (you can also use a leveling tool).
3. Use sandpaper or a nail filer to file the paint down to the appropriate level.

Repeat this process until your door shuts without making too much noise. Some people use a hammer to lower the paint that sticks out from the door and frame (I’ve done this, and it worked, but it’s risky), but it can chip the wood. It’s best to sand it down and head to the next part of the process.

Repaint the Door With Non-Latex Paint

Latex paint was very popular for a long time, so it’s quite likely that most older apartments or houses used it. Latex paint causes all sorts of issues, which is why it’s not used as much these days.

Here’s a list of reasons latex paint can make your door stick:

• Latex paint makes a rubbery sound when it rubs against more latex paint.
• It can peel off if the gap is between the frame and the door is too close, which causes the scraping or slamming sound.
• Layered latex paint bubbles and sticks out from the door frame, making it rub against the painted door.
• Cheap latex paint quickly peels apart, creating a sticking issue when it’s too humid or warm in the room.

Needless to say, you should paint the sanded door and door frame with non-latex paint. If it’s all you have to use, make sure you sand the surfaces until they’re down to the wood. Layering latex paint will lead to sticking, slamming, and other issues.

Let the paint dry before closing the door, then test if the sticking sound remains. If it does, try some of the tips below.

Use Wax or Soap to Lubricate the Door

Wax and bar soap are both great for lubricating doors and door frames until you can replace them. This temporary fix can reduce the noise created while opening and closing the door. It also makes it open and close much smoother, preventing you from having to push or pull too hard.

SF Gate mentions you can use wax paper in a pinch. Stick the wax paper to your door frame rather than the door. The door is always moving, so it’s much more likely to drop the wax paper.

I suggest using paraffin wax to lubricate the door. It’s much more budget-friendly than most door waxes and comes in massive quantities. The Blended Waxes One-Pound Block is all you need for the door. Rub it against the door frame and the door wherever you find the contact points.

Add Felt Pads in the Door Frame

Felt pads can also be quite effective for smoothing a painted door. If you want to make door paint stop sticking, slide an ultra-thin felt pad on the door frame to create a new contact point. Rather than having paint rub against wood or more paint, it’ll glide against a thin felt pad.

Keep in mind that you need incredibly thin felt pads. You can’t use a 1/4-inch pad and expect it to work. The door will get stuck on the pad, creating a new problem. Felt pads are a good option if you don’t want to use wax or soap bars, but they look a bit tacky.

The best solution is almost always to get a brand-new door that’s sized for the door frame.

Tighten the Strike Plate and Latch

Use a screwdriver and tighten the strike plate and latch. The latch is the opening mechanism on the door that’s aligned with the knob and lock. The strike plate is the area where the latch connects to the door frame.

Tightening both of these points can limit the friction between them. Over time, the screws loosen from the wood, and the strike plate scraps the latch. It can make a screeching, sticking noise that makes it harder to open and close the door.

Install the Correct Door for the Frame

If all else fails, contact a local professional and get a new door. Nobody wants this answer, but it’s often the top solution. Wood warps from humidity, temperature fluctuations, settling house foundations, and more. Excess slamming can also damage the door and its frame.

Regardless of the reason, you can try all of the solutions mentioned in this post to find the right way to fix the door. If you want to know how to make door paint stop sticking, my favorite repair that has worked on almost every door I’ve had this issue with is to sand the contact points, repaint them, and add wax if needed. Good luck!

P.S. If you have floor-to-ceiling mirrors, try these mirror cleaning tips!