Tighten or repack the hinges so your door stays where you leave it, instead of swinging open or shut by itself.
SD-01Work out why the door is movingOpen the door halfway and let go. Watch which way it swings and how fast. Wiggle the door by the handle and watch the hinges — if you see movement or gaps, the screws are loose. Stand back and check by eye whether the frame itself looks like it's leaning.
SD-02Gather your toolsYou'll need a cross-head screwdriver, a spirit level, and possibly wood glue, dowel or matchsticks, wood filler, and a replacement hinge. Lay down a dust sheet under the door to catch shavings and dust.
SD-03Tighten every hinge screwClose the door and tighten every screw on both leaves of each hinge — the door side and the frame side. Do this on all hinges, even ones that look fine. A single loose hinge is often the whole cause.
SD-04Fix any screw that spins without tighteningIf a screw just spins, the hole is stripped. Remove the screw, squeeze wood glue into the hole, and pack it with a wooden dowel or a few matchsticks snapped to fit. Let it dry fully — usually a few hours — then drill a small pilot hole and refit the screw, going slightly longer than before if needed.
SD-05Check the hinges themselves for damageLook closely at each hinge leaf and pin. A bent leaf or worn pin will let the door drop or twist even with tight screws. If a hinge is damaged, replace it with a matching size and screw pattern rather than trying to repair it.
1 each · Replacement steel butt hinge (100mm, pair)
SD-06Check the frame is plumbHold the spirit level against the hinge side of the frame, top to bottom. If it's dead upright, the door should sit still on its own once hinges are sound. A small lean can be corrected by slipping a thin card or plastic shim behind the top or bottom hinge leaf to nudge the door back square. If the frame leans by more than a few millimetres, that's likely the building settling and is beyond a simple fix — get a carpenter to check it.
1 each · Packing shims (thin card or plastic, pack)
SD-07Test the swing and fine-tuneOpen and close the door several times, stopping it at different angles. It should stay wherever you leave it. If it still creeps, add or remove a shim behind the hinge causing the pull, a fraction of a millimetre at a time.
SD-08Tidy upSweep up any wood shavings or dust and fold away the dust sheet. Wipe down the hinges and frame. Put your tools away.