Ultimate Guide To Repair Stuck, Sticky Or Jammed Drawer Slide
Although they are rarely a crisis, stuck or jammed wood drawers can be inconvenient. When you frequently utilize a drawer, sticking or jammed drawers are especially annoying and time-consuming to open and close. Additionally, wood drawers that are stuck or jammed may harm the cabinet, the slides, or the drawers themselves. A straightforward and affordable remedy to make wood drawer slides easier is typically available.
Tools & Materials Needed
- 1 manual screwdriver, Phillips head
- 1 pliers & 1 home vacuum with attachments
- 1 bucket or other large container
- 1 soft, clean cloth
- 1 pair side- or bottom-mount replacement drawer slides
- 1 can silicone, graphite, or Teflon-based lubricant
- 1 dish soap or other mild detergent
- 1 sandpaper, 200-grit
Step 1: Clean The Drawer Tracks
- The tracks can become clogged with dust, dirt, and debris, making the drawer difficult to slide and stick. Most drawers can be fixed by cleaning the tracks and removing the debris with a cloth or vacuum.
- Take out the drawer first. For removal of bulky or challenging-to-reach material, use a vacuum with a crevice tool or a small brush attachment. To remove loose dust, dirt, or debris from the tracks, use a dry cloth or a soft brush.
- You can use a light detergent, such as dish soap, to clean tracks that have dirt or grime attached to them. Use a damp cloth or sponge to cleanse the tracks after thoroughly wringing it out in the solution.
- With clean water and a cloth, wash away any soap or cleaning residue from the tracks. With a fresh cloth, carefully dry the traces.
Step 2: Lubricate The Drawer Tracks
- Apply a lubricant spray to the tracks if the drawer is stuck as a result of friction or dryness. The drawer will slide more effortlessly as a result of less friction.
- Clean the drawer's tracks by removing it. For information on how to clean drawer tracks, refer to the preceding step. On the tracks, lubricant should be sprayed. Remove any extra lubricant by wiping it off, especially if it has gotten on other surfaces.
- To disperse the lubricant, replace the drawer in the dresser or cabinet and slide it a few times.
Step 3: Tighten Loose Screws On The Slides
- The screws holding the drawer slides in place may get slack over time, which will make the drawer stick. With a screwdriver, tighten any slack screws.
- Take the drawer out. By gently moving the slides up and down while wriggling the screws with your finger, you may check the screws.
- Any slack screws on the drawer sliders should be tightened using a screwdriver. Make sure you evenly and firmly tighten the screws. Reinstall the drawer in the dresser or cabinet and verify its movement after all the screws have been tightened.
Step 4: Adjust The Drawer Slides
- The drawer may become stuck if bottom-mount drawer slides are misplaced or deformed. Make any required modifications to the slides' alignment using pliers or a screwdriver.
- Check the slides for bending or misalignment after removing the drawer. If the slides are bent, you might be able to use pliers to gently bend them back into place. Test the slides after reinstalling the drawer.
- Metal slides with a bottom mount might be able to be twisted back into shape. Metal slides with enclosed wheels that are side-mount soft-close full-extension and cannot often be re-bent should be replaced.
Step 5: Replace The Drawer Slides
- Replace the slides if all previous attempts to free the trapped drawer have failed. Even though it is a more difficult process, it usually provides a complete solution.
- From the cabinet, remove the drawer. From the front back of the drawer, measure the drawer's length to the back end. New drawer slides can be purchased using this dimension.
- Before removing the slides, make a note of their existing location because this is a one-for-one replacement. Unlatch the new drawer slides and split each slide's two halves apart.
- The components of the old slides can be removed by removing the screws holding them in place with the screwdriver. This must be done on the cabinet as well as the drawer. The replacement slides' exterior, cabinet-side halves should be screwed onto the cabinet.
- Screw the remaining drawer-mount half of the new slides onto the drawer's sides while it is still out of the way. Insert the drawer by sliding it. The drawer ought to snap into position as it reaches the back.
Step 6: Sand The Rough Spots
- Sanding these sticking points will make them smooth and make the drawer glide more freely if the wood drawer contains wood slides that stick because of rough or uneven spots on the tracks or the drawer. This kind of wood-against-wood slide is uncommon in drawers, but it might be present in bedroom furniture or small cabinets.
- Locate the parts of the drawer and cabinet that rub against one another the most after removing it. Look for worn or scraped parts of the wood to help you locate the locations. Use sandpaper to quickly smooth down the troublesome areas. Avoid over-sanding because you can easily go back and do it again.
- Test the drawer's movement after replacing it.