How to Repair the Bottoms of Dresser Drawers

Broken bottoms of dresser drawers cause clothes to spill out and ruin the aesthetics of your furniture. By placing objects that are too heavy on your drawers, you can break the bottom, especially if it is made out of a thin material. In addition, clothes that work their way in between the bottom and the sides of the drawers can cause the drawer to bend or crack. Look at the bottom of your drawers before storing any heavy objects. Repair the bottom of the drawer to restore the look of your dresser.

Things You'll Need

• Nail puller
• Tape measure
• Wood
• Nails
• Hammer

Instructions

1. Slide out the entire drawer and take out its contents. You may have to slightly lift it up when pulling it out to remove the drawer.

2. Pry out the bottom nails with a nail puller. Keep the nails in a safe place to use for a new bottom. Measure the bottom of the drawer and write down the measurements. Take the measurements of the thickness of the bottom and type of wood used if you can identify it. Many dresser drawer bottoms are made with particle board. You can use a stronger wood for replacing the bottom.

3. Take the measurements or entire dresser drawer bottom with you to the hardware store. Choose a piece of material that is the same thickness as the bottom of the dresser. Ask the hardware store to cut the wood to the correct measurements.

4. Place your nails in the locations they were on the old board. Use a hammer to nail in the nails. If you have replaced your old particle board bottom with stronger wood, use thicker nails.

5. Replace the dresser drawer back into the dresser. Give it a couple of test pulls before storing your objects.

Tips & Warnings

• Contact your furniture's manufacturer for dresser drawer bottoms specifically made for your furniture.

• Make sure that the nails go into the wood. If the nails stick out into the dresser, they will cause clothes to snag.

References

• Fix My Cabinet: How to Fix a Broken Cabinet Drawer