How to lubricate car door seals to stop them freezing and squeaking

To lubricate car door seals so they do not freeze or squeak, use a silicone lubricant free of mineral oils and fats. It repels water, stops the rubber freezing in winter and reduces drying-out in summer. Spray it onto a cloth and wipe clean, degreased seals at 0 °C to +28 °C — this keeps the product off the glass and paintwork.

What you need

Silicone lubricant

Free of mineral oils

Sizes: 210 ml, 400 ml

Polish for plastic

For plastic · three fragrances

Sizes: new car, bubble gum, strawberry

Why doors freeze and squeak

Water from washing, rain or wet snow stays between the seal and the body and freezes in frost, so ice holds the door shut. Squeaks start when dried-out rubber rubs against metal and plastic. Silicone lubricant repels water and reduces drying-out of rubber, so it helps in both cases. It is transparent, does not stain or evaporate and is safe for paintwork.

How to lubricate car door seals: step by step

1. Choose the time. Treat the seals in advance, before the frosts. Silicone lubricant is applied at 0 °C to +28 °C.
2. Clean the seals. Wash the seals on the doors and door openings, boot and bonnet with warm water and car shampoo, degrease them with a cloth moistened with isopropyl alcohol if needed, and let the rubber dry. Do not use petrol, acetone or solvents for this.
3. Shake the can. This is essential before use.
4. Spray onto a cloth. Spray NANOPROTECH Silicone lubricant spray onto a clean rag, not directly onto the rubber. This way it goes on evenly and does not get onto the glass and paintwork.
5. Wipe the seals. Run the cloth along the full length of the seals on the doors and openings, the boot lid and the bonnet.
6. Let it dry. Leave the doors open for 10–15 minutes so the solvent evaporates, then wipe off the excess with a dry cloth. There is no need to wash the car straight after treatment.
7. Lubricate hinges and locks. Silicone lubricant suits them too: it protects against squeaks and stops mechanisms freezing in winter. See how to lubricate a lock and how to fix a squeaky door.

If you treat the interior with NANOPROTECH Car plastic polish, go over the seals as well: it also protects rubber from freezing in winter. Shake the can, spread the polish evenly over a clean, dry surface at +5 °C or above, let it soak in for 2 minutes and wipe thoroughly with a dry cotton cloth. For regular seal care, silicone lubricant remains the main product.

Why it may not work

• The seals were dirty. The lubricant goes onto clean, degreased rubber: clean the seals first, then lubricate them.
• The seals were treated in frost or while wet. Treat them before the temperature drops below 0 °C. After a winter wash, wipe the seals and door openings dry and treat them in a warm room once no moisture is left.
• The lubricant was sprayed straight onto the seal. It then gets onto the glass, interior plastic and floor. Wipe off any overspray at once with a dry cloth: it leaves marks on glass and plastic and makes the floor slippery.
• The polish was not wiped off. After 2 minutes, wipe the surface thoroughly with a dry, clean cotton cloth.

Safety precautions

Silicone lubricant and the polish are aerosols in pressurised cans and are flammable. Do not heat the can above 50 °C or leave it in direct sunlight. Do not spray near open flames, hot objects or live equipment. Work in a well-ventilated place. Keep the lubricant off floors, pedals and tyres — they become slippery. Keep cans out of the reach of children and do not pierce or burn them, even after use. If the product gets into the eyes, rinse with water; on skin, wash with soap and water.

Frequently asked questions