There is nothing quite like the piercing screech of a roller door to ruin the peace of a quiet Australian suburb. We hear our neighbours doors, and I’m sure they hear ours. If your garage door sounds like a pack of cockatoos every time you hit the remote you are likely looking for a quick fix. Most blokes reach for whatever is on the workbench but using the wrong gear can actually cause more drama down the track, so you need to find a good roller door lubricant to start with.
I recently spent a morning sorting out my own squeaky garage doors. After years of neglected maintenance and some questionable choices by the previous owners I decided to do it properly, and this requires a good roller door lubricant. This guide covers the best roller door lubricant options you can pick up from Bunnings today, and how to get the job done without calling out a tradie. Of course, if you aren’t hands on or capable, or don’t have the right tools, you should get a professional in to do this job.
The Bunnings shop list: Three Best Silicone Sprays Compared
When you walk down the Bunnings aisles it is easy to get overwhelmed by the choices. Especially when you’re looking for the best roller door lubricant. For a garage door you need a silicone spray that is a dry lubricant. Wet oils attract Aussie dust and hair which eventually turns into a nasty grinding paste. You’ll find the silicone sprays roller door lubricant around the Auto Cleaner section in most Bunnings. The silicone sprays seem to be in different areas in different stores so make sure to prep by finding the aisle and bay on the Bunnings website, or what’s easier, ask the friendly staff while you’re there.
Here are the three variants I looked at for this squeaky garage door job.
1. 3 In One Professional Garage Door Lubricant
This is the gold standard for a reason. It is a high performance formula designed specifically for this task. It is a non drip lubricant which means it stays exactly where you spray it rather than running down the face of your door.
2. WD 40 Specialist High Performance Silicone
This is the heavy duty choice from the WD 40 Specialist range. It is great if you live near the coast because it provides excellent water resistance against salt air. The Smart Straw is a huge win for getting into the tight sections of the tracks, or parts of the spring that are further away.
3. Boston Silicone Spray
This is your budget friendly all rounder. It is a simple industrial silicone that works well on everything from door tracks to sticky sliding windows. It does not have the fancy non drip tech but it gets the job done for much lower price.
Comparison of Roller Door Lubricants
| Product | Best For | Key Feature | Approximate Price |
| 3 In One Professional | Professional Results | Non drip quick dry formula | $11.49 |
| WD 40 Specialist | Coastal Environments | Smart Straw applicator | $19.99 |
| Boston Silicone | General Home Maintenance | Excellent value for money | $7.49 |
Here are the images from my local Bunnings for you, just so you know what to look for when you’re hitting the aisles on the weekend while you’re grabbing a few sausages in bread and a can of White Monster Energy Drink to wash it down.
Why you should never use Brake Cleaner or Grease
After doing a bit of research and if your Dad or Grandad are still around suggesting these options. It is tempting to use brake cleaner to blast out the black gunk in your rails but it is far too aggressive. It can damage the nylon rollers and strip the paint off the tracks.
Even worse is using heavy grease or white lithium grease. While it feels slippery at first it acts like a magnet for grit and dirt. In a dusty garage this creates a sandpaper effect that will eventually chew through your motor and rollers. Stick to a high quality silicone spray for the best results.
Safety First Turning Off The Power
Before you start poking around the tracks you must ensure the door cannot move. Make sure the whole area is safe. As an Electrician I realise the value of turning off the power more than most.
- Switch off the power: Turn off and unplug the motor at the power point. You do not want a family member hitting the remote while your fingers are in the guide rails or you could end up with a new nickname at work, “How you goin’ today Stumpy”.
- Use a sturdy ladder: Most of the noise comes from the top of the door so make sure you have a safe platform to work from. A sturdy ladder is key. If you can’t get up and down a ladder safely, maybe you should get someone else to fix your squeaky garage doors.
- Eye protection: When spraying upwards into the tracks it is very easy to get a face full of overspray. Wear your safety glasses. Also it might pay to wear a mask too, the fumes are pretty full on if you’re spraying in a lot of silicone on that old spring.
Doing The Job The Right Way
First I used a clean rag and some warm soapy water to wipe out the interior of the tracks. Getting that old black residue out is essential before applying the new roller door lubricant.
Once the rails were dry I applied a light mist of the 3 In One Garage Door Silicone Spray to the pivot points and the interior of the guide rails. I also gave the springs across the top a light coating to stop them from binding as they coil.
The Final Outcome
The results were a bit of a mixed bag due to how the door was treated in the past. So I’ll have to repeat the process again soon.
- Door One: This door was in decent shape. After the service the squeak is gone completely. It moves silently and the motor sounds like it is under much less strain. The roller door lubricant definitely worked.
- Door Two: The previous owners and I suspect, the last service person had loaded this one up with heavy grease. Even after a few sprays it is still slightly noisy. It will take a few more applications of the silicone spray to fully work through that old gunk but the improvement is still massive. The roller door lubricant worked with this door, but will need to get a few more applications to silence it.
Final Verdict on Roller Door Lubricant
Taking the time to choose the right roller door lubricant is the difference between a door that lasts twenty years and one that needs a costly motor replacement next summer. By avoiding aggressive chemicals like brake cleaner and staying away from sticky greases you are protecting the most expensive moving part of your home.
The 3 In One Professional is my top pick from Bunnings because the non drip formula saves you from a massive cleanup job on your garage floor, on your vehicle wheels and after a while, the driveway. It is a simple bit of DIY that anyone can tackle in under twenty minutes. Remember consistent maintenance every six months will keep those tracks clear and your garage quiet.
Another key point of carrying out maintenance on your garage doors is the stealth component. The kids when you come home from work use the squeak of the doors as an alert that you’re home from work, you can hear the mad rush to tidy up and get in the shower as soon as you get inside. Eliminating the squeak means they will have to think and do their chores before you get home as now they won’t hear.
I hope that all your garage squeaks are finally silenced and your door is running smoother than ever after reading this. If you have any stubborn residue left over just be patient and keep up with the silicone applications. It took years for that grease to build up so it might take more than one session to fully clear it out.
Next up on my DIY list, we are diving into the dark arts of repairing and reprogramming those finicky garage remotes.
