How to Fix a Drawer That Sticks

If you are tired of wrestling with your bureau every time you need a pair of socks, it's time to fix that sticking drawer.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Wood Glue
• Rag
• Lubricating Oil
• Sandpaper
• Corner Clamp
• Hammer
• Sandpaper
• Paraffin, beeswax or bar soap

1. Examine the bureau. Is it off center or crooked? Reposition the bureau if necessary. Drawers may stick in an off-center bureau.

2. Swap the sticking drawer with another same-size drawer in the bureau. Often this will solve the problem.

3. If this doesn't help, look in the bureau opening where the drawer slides in. Is there an obstruction, like a nail or a lost sock? If a nail is poking out, hammer it into the wood. If a sock is causing the problem, remove it.

4. If you don't find any obstructions, lightly sand the runners of a wood drawer, then rub them with paraffin, beeswax or bar soap. If the drawer is metal, wipe the runners with a dry rag and apply a small amount of lubricating oil.

5. If the bottom of the drawer sags, causing it to drag, slip out the bottom of the drawer (if possible). Then flip it over and reinsert it into the drawer.

6. If one of the corners or sides is loose, glue it into place with wood glue. Hold the sides together with a corner clamp while the glue dries.

7. Consider the following option as a last resort, since it alters the drawer permanently. Sand down a side of the drawer so it fits smoothly into the bureau.

Tips & Warnings

• Excess moisture due to rain or humidity makes wood swell and often causes the drawers to stick. Application of wax, such as beeswax or paraffin, seals the wood and helps prevent moisture-induced swelling.
• See also How to Repair a Broken Sliding Drawer.