Lubricating floorboards: If you don’t have access to the subfloor, then one of the best ways to stop the noise is by lubricating the floor joists, Cox says. “Sprinkle powered graphite onto the joists ...

“Carpeted floors can develop a creaky floorboard when the subfloor or joists loosen, and vinyl flooring can make noises if the adhesive weakens,” he explains. Quite apart from the type of ...