Secure the Loose Door Hinge With Toothpicks and Glue
A bad door hinge is annoying enough, but it gets worse when you try to screw it back in before you realize the holes are removed and the screws aren’t snagging. But there is a clever way to fix a loose door hinge with a stack of toothpicks that TikToker Mercury Stardust provided us with. This is how it works.
First, remove the old loop
Unscrew the hanging hinge from the door frame. You can do this by hand if the screws are holding onto the threads, but if they give you a little difficulty, use a screwdriver, being careful not to bend the loop or damage the screw holes. Clean out any remaining debris from the holes to prepare for the next step.
Take enough toothpicks
You will want to measure how many toothpicks you actually need, so do a test run first by taking out the toothpicks and inserting them into the existing screw holes. Add or remove toothpicks until they are snug enough in the hole, and once you have the amount you want to use, only then you should proceed to the next step: Cover them in a layer of wood glue, just enough so they stick out together, but not just enough to make it sticky.
Use toothpicks to punch new screw holes
Insert toothpicks into each screw hole to keep them neat and tight, then use sturdy scissors or wire cutters to cut them a little, leaving only about an inch of toothpicks. Then hammer the toothpicks so that they are flush with the tree, place the loop over the new holes filled with toothpicks, and screw everything back into place.