How to Repair a Drawer that Sticks

Are you tired of waking up each morning to a wrestling match with the drawers in your dresser or closet? Luckily, fixing drawers that stick is a relatively easy DIY project. Start out by making sure the dresser or closet is not off center or crooked, and then switch the problem drawer with another drawer of the same size, if you have one. Oftentimes, this quick fix will solve the problem. If not, remove the drawer and check to make sure there are no obstructions inside the dresser, such as clothing or a loose nail. If there's a nail, hammer it back into the wood and try the drawer again. If that doesn't work or there was no obstruction, check to see if one of the corners or sides is loose and glue it back into place with wood glue. Make sure to hold the sides together with a corner clamp while the glue dries. If you're still having no luck, use a piece of sandpaper to lightly sand wooden runners on the bottom or side of the drawer and then rub them with paraffin, beeswax, or bar soap. If you're working with metal, wipe the runners clean with a dry rag and then lubricate them with oil. This should fix the problem. As a last resort, you can sand down a side of the drawer so that it fits smoothly into the dresser, but this will alter the drawer permanently.