The Spruce / Sarah Crowley
Stuck wooddrawersrarely are a crisis but they can be annoying.
Not only that, but stuckwood drawersmay damage thedrawers, the slides, or the cabinet.
Making wood drawers side easier is usually a simple fix that’s inexpensive and quick to troubleshoot.
The Spruce / Sarah Crowley
Silicone, graphite, and Teflon-based lubricants work best.
Using a cloth orvacuumto clean the tracks and remove the debris will fix most drawers.
First, remove the drawer.
The Spruce / Sarah Crowley
Use a vacuum cleaner with a crevice tool or a small brush attachment to remove large or hard-to-reach debris.
Rinse the tracks of soap or cleaner residue with clean water on a cloth.
Dry the tracks thoroughly with a clean cloth.
The Spruce / Sarah Crowley
This will help to reduce friction and make the drawer slide more easily.
Remove the drawer and clean the tracks.
See the previous step for instructions on how to clean drawer tracks.
The Spruce / Sarah Crowley
Spray the lubricant directly on the tracks.
Wipe away excess lubricant, especially if there is overspray on other areas.
Replace the drawer in thecabinetor dresser and slide it a few times to distribute the lubricant.
The Spruce / Sarah Crowley
Tip
Avoid using WD-40 and other water displacement sprays as these will attract dust and dirt.
Tighten loose screws with a screwdriver.
Inspect the screws by wiggling them with your finger or by gently pushing the slides up and down.
The Spruce / Sarah Crowley
Use a screwdriver to tighten any loose screws on the drawer slides.
check that to tighten the screws evenly and firmly.
With all the screws tightened, reinsert the drawer into thecabinetor dresser and test its movement.
The Spruce / Sarah Crowley
Do not over-tighten, as this can strip the screws or damage the slides.
For this reason, it’s best to use a manual screwdriver rather than an electric drill.
Check the alignment of the slides and make necessary adjustments with pliers or a screwdriver.
Remove the drawer and check for bent or misaligned slides.
If the slides are bent, you may be able to gently bend them back into position with pliers.
Reinsert the drawer and test the slides.
Bottom-mount metal slides may be able to be bent back into position.
Side-mount soft-close full-extension metal slides with enclosed wheels usually cannot be re-bent and should be replaced.
While this is a more complex process, it will usually solve the problem entirely.
Remove the drawer from thecabinet.
Measure the drawer from the back of the drawer front to the back end of the drawer.
Use this measurement to purchase new drawer slides.
Since this is a one-for-one replacement, take note of the slides' current position before removing them.
On the new drawer slides, unlatch and separate the two halves of each slide.
Use the screwdriver to remove the screws that hold the old slides in place and remove the slide components.
You will need to do this both on the drawer and on the cabinet.
Screw the outer, cabinet-side halves of the new slides on thecabinet.
Slide the drawer into place.
When the drawer reaches the back, it should click into place.
If the drawers have bottom-mount slides, consider upgrading these older slides to newer side-mount soft-closing slides.
To identify the spots, look for worn or scratched areas in the wood.
Lightly sand the sticking points with sandpaper.
Do not over-sand, as you’re free to easily go back and sand some more.
Replace the drawer and test its movement.
Calling a professional may also be necessary for custom or especially valuable pieces of furniture.
The cabinet company that originally installed the cabinets can make these repairs.
