How To Stop Recliner From Squeaking

A squeaky recliner can be a great nuisance, especially when you want to sit and relax on it. It can be such a letdown when it squeaks in the presence of visitors.  This may prompt you to avoid it entirely or want to throw it out of your house. Don’t do that—I got some great news for you. In this article, there are tried and proven tips on how to stop recliner from squeaking. 

Recliners squeak when you rock because of worn-out parts or loose screws and nuts. Stop the recliner from squeaking by tightening loose nuts and screws and then lubricating them. You lubricate a rocking recliner by lifting it to access the metallic parts and springs, then spraying with a lubricant. 

But here’s the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question; 

Why Does My Recliner Squeak When I Rock?

There’s no one answer to this question as there are numerous reasons as to why your recliner squeaks when you rock. However, your recliner squeak when you rock because of; 

• Hard leather
• Leather rubbing against leather
• Dry leather
• Bad leather quality
• Worn-out mechanism
• Being brand new

To understand each of these issues, I’ll discuss them in detail below. Later in this article, I’ll show you how to solve them. So, don’t stop reading—knowledge is power. Remember?

Hard Leather

Leather seats on new recliners are hard—hence, when you sit on a new leather recliner, the seat starts to squeak. With time, though, the leather softens and begins to take the shape of your butts. Eventually, as the recliner grows old, the squeaking noise begins to fade away. 

Leather Rubbing Against Leather

Leather recliners are said to be pricey due to their ability to last long. Some manufacturers may even opt to use more than one leather when covering the seat to increase the durability of their recliners.

Depending on how the leather recliner is made, the leather may rub against leather, thereby making the recliner squeak when you rock. 

Dry Leather

Negligent on your side causes the leather recliners to squeak. Let me explain. Leather recliners, just like other recliners, need care and good maintenance to retain their quality. When the leather recliner dries up, it begins cracking.  Resultantly, you’ll hear a squeaky sound when you rock. 

Leather recliners become hard when left under harsh humidity levels—normally below 25 percent. In addition, a lack of moisturizing and conditioning your recliner regularly causes a squeaky noise when you rock. 

Poor leather Quality

Some manufacturers are ruthless, they’ll use cheap, fake leather when manufacturing their rocking chairs then sell them to you. Don’t fall prey—cheap is expensive!

One such material is faux leather. While recliners made of this leather are cheap and easy to clean, they wear out easily. When they do, they start to make a squeaking sound when you rock. 

Worn-out Mechanism

The mechanism of the recliner plays a vital role in helping the recliner rock and move. However, when the nuts and screws holding it together become loose or wear out, a squeaking sound begins.

When this happens, the mechanism and the recliner frames begin to rub against each other. Worn-out grommets, as well as back supports, may also cause this squeaky sound when you rock.

Brand New Recliner

I’ve heard so many people complain that their new recliners are producing a squeaky sound. They sound so hurt and desperate to have a refund. If you’re in a similar predicament, relax! Brand new recliners squeak, not because they have a problem or they’re made of poor quality, but because no one has sat on them, so they’ve not softened yet. (Check out some of the best recliners brands)

How To Stop Recliner From Squeaking

It’s clear—you don’t need to throw away your recliner because of a squeaking sound. 

Before getting started, have the following tools by your side:

• Tarp (a rag or a blanket is a cheaper alternative)
• Hammer
• Adjustable wrench
• Metal lubricant
• Screwdriver

But how to stop the recliner from squeaking?

So, here’s how experts stop recliner from squeaking;

Step #1: Flip the recliner

You need to clearly see the entire mechanism of your recliner. Flipping it allows you to do so. Therefore, place an old rug underneath your recliner. Next, flip your recliner slightly. To do this, sit on it and pull the handle. Next, stretch completely. At this point, the recliner back and armrests should be lying on the rug, which prevents your floor from getting stained.  

Step #2: Remove The Coverings 

There’s a covering that protects the mechanism, so you have to remove it first to access it. Depending on the make of your recliner, you may need a few tools to successfully remove the covering. Such may include a claw hammer. 

A screwdriver would also work well. In some cases, your hands are enough to remove the cover. If you’re using any tools, please be careful lest you damage the mechanism when removing the cover.  

Step #3: Clean The Mechanism

Before spraying the lubricant, one vital thing most people forget is to clean the mechanism. Especially if you’re using an old recliner, dust alone could make it hard for the parts to move smoothly. 

The results? A squeaky sound. On the other hand, applying lubricant before cleaning the dusty mechanism could cause more harm than good. 

So, use a damp cloth to clean springs, crannies, metal parts, and other moving areas. This makes it easy for you to see any worn-out or loose parts. 

Step #4: Tighten Loose Nuts And Screws 

Use a wrench to tighten any loose nuts or screws. Alternatively, use a screwdriver. Check if there are other issues that need your attention, such as worn-out parts. Beware, the mechanism is a delicate part of your recliner. A simple mistake would cost you a lot. So, if you don’t have enough knowledge on how to repair any worn-out parts, please involve a professional.

Step #5: Apply Lubricant 

After repairing worn-out parts and tightening loose nuts and screws, apply lubricating oil. You can use any of the recommended lubricating oil. 

The oil makes the parts move without rubbing against one another—hence stopping the squeaky sound. 

To stop excessive oil from staining your clean floor, wipe the mechanism with a dry, cotton cloth. After it has fully dried, have the recliner back in its initial position. 

Step #6: Treat the leather seat

If the squeaking sound comes from the leather seat, it could be that it’s too hard. There are several things you can apply on the recliner to stop it from squeaking. It all depends on your preferences and financial ability.

You can treat leather by:

Conditioning: Leather conditioners not only stop recliners from squeaking but they also give them a new face. Besides, conditioning gives leather recliners a protective layer that is essential in keeping grime and dirt away.  

Rub Paraffin Wax: Apart from waterproofing your leather recliners, paraffin wax also softens them. Resultantly, no squeaky sound. 

Talcum Powder: To soften a hard leather seat or backrest, apply talcum powder. If that’s too expensive for you, baby powder would be a perfect alternative. 

How Do You Lubricate A Rocking Chair?

You don’t have to compromise your comfort due to a squeaky recliner. Correctly lubricating the chair and frequently doing it increases the comfort of your recliner by eliminating the squeaky sound. 

So, how do you do this?

To lubricate a rocking chair, you need to:

Step #1: Assemble The Tools And Prepare The Working Area

Start by assembling all the tools you’ll need for this task. They are: 

• A blanket
• Lubricating oil
• A small cotton towel 
• Flashlight (not a must if your room is well lighted). 

Now, with the help of a relative or a friend, move the recliner gently so that you can clearly see the underside. Place your blanket on the ground so that once you spray the lubricant, the floor won’t get stained.

Step #2: Spray the Lubricant

Try and see if you can clearly see the recliner springs. If not, use your flashlight so that there can be enough light to see them. Spray all the metal parts as well as the recliner springs. Be careful, though, not to spray lubricant on the rivets as they may tamper with the functionality of your recliner. Also, read this handy guide on how to replace a recliner spring.

Step #3: Dry Excessive Lubricant and Allow to Dry

Using a clean cotton cloth, dry any excess lubricant. This is vital as it prevents messing up the floor once you’ve pulled the blanket away. 

Before restoring the recliner to its initial position, allow it a minimum of 15 minutes to dry. The longest it should take to dry is 20 minutes. 

Step #4: Test The Recliner

After drying, have your recliner in an upright position and test if the squeaky sound is gone. So, sit and rock. If the squeaky sound is there, apply more lubricant. You may have to check if there are other reasons causing the sound if applying the oil a second time doesn’t help.

Further reading:

• 6 Most Comfortable Rocker Recliner to Buy in 2022
• 10 Best Swivel Rocker Recliner to Buy in 2022

FAQs

Does Wd40 Stop Squeaking Recliner Chair?

Yes, WD40 stops squeaking recliner chairs. All you need is to apply it to the recliner’s mechanism. Target the bolts and screws. One major pro of this lubricant is that it also prevents the mechanism parts from lusting. So, it would help if you apply it to your recliner every couple of weeks or whenever necessary.

Verdict

Don’t wait until it’s too late—stop the squeaking sound as soon as you can. The first thing you need to do is to identify the source. Is it the leather seat, faulty mechanism, poor quality or chair being very new? 

You can only know how to stop recliner from squawking if you know the cause. 

So, once you’ve identified the cause, decide if to tighten the screws and nuts, spray lubricant, or apply oil on the leather.

Recommended Reading

How To Fix A Sagging Recliner Chair

Learning how to fix a sagging recliner chair is more appealing than replacing it. It will also save you lots of money. Here’s how.

How Much Does it Cost to Reupholster a Recliner?

How much does it cost to reupholster a recliner? I'll walk you through the process step-by-step and give you a ballpark estimate of the cost. So, read on.

What Is A Wall Hugger Recliner?: The Basics

What is a wall hugger recliner? Read on to discover everything about the wall hugger recliner: How it works, the available models, and tips that will help you choose the perfect wall hugger recliner for you.

How To Install Recliner Battery Pack

This article is for you if you’re wondering how to install recliner battery pack on your furniture or if you want to replace the old battery pack.

Leave a Comment

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments new replies to my comments

Label

{} [+]

Name*

Email*

Website

Label

{} [+]

Name*

Email*

Website

0 Comments

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments