My interior door keeps swinging open on its own.

A door that swings on its own is usually slightly out of plumb, meaning the hinges aren't perfectly aligned with the floor or the frame. Here are a few simple ways to fix it, starting with the easiest:

1. The "Hinge Pin" Trick (Most Likely Fix)

If the door swings open, the top hinge is likely tilted toward the room. You can nudge it back:

• Remove the pin from the top hinge using a hammer and a nail set (or a flathead screwdriver).
• Place the pin on a hard surface and give it a slight, gentle bend in the middle using a hammer. You only need a very small "bow."
• Tap the bent pin back into the hinge. The friction created by the bend will hold the door in place.

2. Tighten the Screws

Over time, the weight of the door can cause screws to loosen or the hinge to pull away from the wood.

• Open the door and check the screws on the jamb side of all hinges. If they are loose, tighten them with a screwdriver.
• Pro Tip: If the screw just spins without tightening, the hole is stripped. Remove the screw, push a few toothpicks coated in wood glue into the hole, snap them off flush, and then re-insert the screw. The wood will grab firmly again.

3. Check for Plumb

Sometimes the door frame itself is slightly tilted. You can check this by hanging a level (or using a leveling app on your phone) against the hinge side of the door frame. If the frame is leaning, the door is effectively "rolling" downhill.

If the frame is significantly out of plumb, a quick adjustment is to shim the hinges. You can loosen the hinge leaf from the door frame and place a thin piece of cardboard (like from a cereal box) behind the hinge plate to "tilt" it back into a neutral position.

A quick note: Always test the hinge pin trick first on just the top hinge. It’s the least invasive fix and works for the vast majority of swinging interior doors!