Finally found a cheap fix for my old creaky stairs in Seattle

Our house was built in 1925 and those stairs would wake up the whole floor every time I walked down. I tried powder and WD-40 but nothing stuck for more than a week. Then a neighbor told me to put a bit of bar soap into the gaps where the tread meets the riser. It's been 6 months now and I still can't believe how quiet it is. Has anyone else tried something like this or got another weird trick that actually works?

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kelly3852mo ago

Oh man, bar soap is genius. I've been using candle wax on my closet door that sticks every time it rains here in Portland. Same idea I guess - just rub a white candle along the edges where it catches. Works way better than I expected. I had no idea simple stuff like that could replace all those expensive sprays and things.

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karenh562mo ago

That "simple stuff can replace expensive sprays" part hits home. My buddy tried PTFE dry lube on his sliding glass door after spending like $15 on it, but a cheap candle did the exact same thing for a dollar. He's still mad about it every time he passes that door.

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