How to Fix a Sticking Dresser Drawer

A stuck drawer could have something jammed against the wood inside.

A dresser, whether old or new, can be frustrating when it won't open or close smoothly. Drawers can stick because they have been overfilled, but can also be hard to open or shut because of rough runners or the bottom of the drawer is coming loose. Diagnose the cause of your sticking drawer before resorting to hard yanks, as you can damage the wood or pulls.

Things You'll Need

• Knife
• Hammer
• Bar soap

Instructions

1. First of all, you will need to determine the reason your drawer is sticking.

2. Try sticking a butter knife or a putty knife across the crack between the top of the dresser and the drawer if the drawer opens at all. There should be enough room for you to slide whatever is blocking the drawer from opening out of the way.

3. Pull the drawer completely out, and place it aside if the drawer opens, but is rough pulling out. This means the runners are most likely the problem. Take a bar of hand soap, or hard wax if it is available, and rub it on the runners and on the edges of the drawer guides.

4. Remove the drawer and empty it. If the wood has come loose from the bottom of the drawer, tack the nails back into the frame with a hammer.

Tips & Warnings

• It may be necessary to remove the back wall of the dresser, if the drawer will not come out any other way.

References

• Home Tips: How to Repair Cabinet Drawers
• Popular Mechanics: Replace Drawer Slides Before You Pull the Drawer Apart