Here’s How to Figure Out What’s Wrong With Your Drawer Slides—and How to Fix the Problem

Say bye-bye to sticky drawers, once and for all

A child opens a kitchen drawer
Photo: Pixel-Shot / Adobe Stock
A child opens a kitchen drawer
Photo: Pixel-Shot / Adobe Stock
Justine Harrington
Written by Justine Harrington
Contributing Writer
Updated Dec 22, 2023
SKILL LEVEL
Easy
COMPLETION TIME
30 minutes
COST
$5–$10
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What you'll need:
TOOLS
  • Pliers
  • Screwdriver
  • Microfiber cloth
SUPPLIES
  • Household cleaner
  • Bar soap

It can be mighty annoying when a drawer in your kitchen or bathroom gets stuck and doesn’t open smoothly. Instead of getting into a one-sided game of tug of war with a drawer handle, it may be time to adjust or replace your drawer slides. Keep reading to find out how to identify the cause of your drawer jam and how to fix the problem.

Common Drawer Problems and Signs It Needs to Be Fixed

If your drawer is sticking, there are a few primary reasons why this is likely occurring: 

  • Seasonal wood expansion and contraction

  • Damaged sliding mechanism 

  • Slides aren’t heavy-duty enough to support the drawer’s contents

  • Handles or knobs have come loose from constant pushing and pulling 

Prepping to Fix Your Drawer Slides

First thing’s first: Before you start trying to figure out what’s wrong with your drawer, you’ll need to remove everything from it. Once this is done, inspect the drawer slides to see if they’re sticking somewhere. It may be a matter of simply adjusting the slides to get your drawer working again.

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  1. Straighten Out Any Bends

    Sometimes, your drawer slides may become bent or misshapen. If this is the case, try using a pair of pliers to reshape the slides and smooth out any kinks.

  2. Apply Lubricant to Slides

    If you’ve inspected the slides but can’t figure out where they’re sticking, try applying bar soap to the edges and surfaces of the drawer. Sometimes, all you need to do is lubricate the slides to get your drawer to slide smoothly.

  3. Tighten the Screws

    A closeup of a drawer screw being tightened
    Photo: suravikin / iStock / Getty Images

    It’s normal for screws to become loose over time. If your drawer slides aren’t securely attached to the bottom or sides of your drawer, the drawer will become jammed. Double-check each screw and re-tighten if necessary.

  4. Use Cleaner

    If there’s a bunch of dust and debris in your drawer, this could be the reason it’s not opening and closing properly. Use a household cleaner and a cloth to wipe down the slides and the rest of your drawer.

  5. Check the Roller Wheels

    Finally, it’s important to check the roller wheels to ensure that they’re in good condition. If the roller wheels are severely worn down, you’ll likely need to replace your drawer slides completely.

DIY Fixing Your Drawer Slides vs. Hiring a Pro

For most handy homeowners, fixing your own drawer slides is a quick, relatively painless process. If, on the other hand, you’ve tried to solve the issue and your drawer is still sticking, you might want to consider hiring a handyperson near you to get the job done. Don’t settle for sticky drawers.

Frequently Asked Questions

If your drawer slides are made of metal or plastic, it’s best to use white lithium grease to lubricate them. The dense formula of that compound creates long-lasting results and should prevent you from having to re-grease the drawer slides frequently. Test the white lithium grease on a small, less-visible area of the slides first to ensure it doesn’t damage the finish before applying to the entire fixture.

There are many tips and tricks you can try to make your dresser drawers stop sticking and slide easier. You can rub a small amount of beeswax on the drawer slides or apply paraffin wax in the same manner. If you need to unstick wooden dresser drawers, consider using silicone, graphite, or Teflon-based lubricants for best results.

A drawer falling out of place usually indicates there’s too much in it, so the best place to start is by emptying it of any non-essential items to check whether it was simply a weight issue. If that’s not the case, check whether the front panel or hardware is damaged, and replace parts as necessary. You may need to replace the drawer or the drawer slides if the issue persists.

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Learn more about our contributor
Justine Harrington
Written by Justine Harrington
Contributing Writer
Justine Harrington is an Austin-based writer with bylines in dozens of publications, including Forbes, Marriott Traveler, Real Simple Magazine, American Way, Travel + Leisure, Allrecipes, and many others.

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