How to Cure Stuck Bureau Drawers

Use paraffin wax to loosen stuck bureau drawers.

Bureau drawers become more difficult to pull and push as the wood swells from moisture in the air such as humidity. When the wood swells, it no longer fits comfortably along the track grooves, resulting in sticky or stuck drawers. Sanding the swollen timber and greasing the tracks allow the drawers to glide without much effort.

Things You'll Need

• Newspapers
• 100-grit sandpaper
• Rags
• 120-grit sandpaper
• Paraffin wax
• Cloths

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Instructions

1. Remove the drawers from the bureau and empty them. Place them upside down outside on newspapers.

2. Rub a 100-grit piece of sandpaper over any black areas on the underside of the drawers. The black areas indicate wood rubbing against wood. If you do not see any black areas, rub the sandpaper gently over the entire underside of the drawers.

3. Wipe the sawdust from the drawers with a rag. Rub a 120-grit piece of sandpaper lightly over the sanded areas to smooth out the finish. Wipe the drawers clean of the remaining sawdust.

4. Apply 2 tablespoons of paraffin wax to a cloth and wipe it over the tracks on each drawer. The wax provides a slick surface on which the drawers can glide open and closed.

5. Place each drawer back in the bureau and test, pulling them forward and closed. If a drawer remains sticky, remove it and repeat the sanding and waxing process until the drawer slides easily in the tracks.

Tips & Warnings

• Rub wax paper on the wheels and tracks of bureau drawers, if you do not have paraffin wax.

References

• Pop Survival Guide: Fix a Sticky Drawer
• The Kitchn: Tip: Use Wax Paper to Help Loosen Sticky Drawers