Over the years, kitchen cabinet drawers will need a bit of adjustment. This is normal “wear and tear,” and with all the pulling and pushing, kitchen cabinet drawers may become misaligned.
Instead of living with the aggravating rubbing and awkward closing or crooked drawer fronts, with a little knowledge, you can adjust the drawers that are giving you a hard time. In a matter of minutes, you’ll have drawers that glide with precision and close properly!
Issues with Your Kitchen Cabinet Installation
Poor alignment often starts as soon as the cabinets are installed, especially if you did the installation yourself. The average homeowner may not know exactly how to adjust cabinet hinges or how to measure cabinets.
When your kitchen cabinets are installed, the contractors will make a few final adjustments before double-checking that everything is correct. For example, they may move the door closer to the front if it’s an inset cabinet or use slides to move a drawer up and down. Without these small fixes, little annoyances can become major issues.
Uneven walls or floors can also mean that cabinets do not sit flush, causing doors to sag or drawers to become misaligned. Lastly, natural contraction and expansion of the materials may push them out of alignment.
Thankfully, it is possible to adjust cabinet hinges and slides on your own, or you can contact a professional for help.
How to Adjust Drawers?
Drawer guides, also known as drawer slides, allow the drawer to move in and out of the cabinet box. They are typically made of metal, with wheels that slide inside the outer piece.
Without this piece of hardware, the drawer would sit inside the cabinet box and would have to be lifted out manually.
The hardware is screwed to the back of the face frame, along the side, and toward the rear. While affordable kitchen cabinets come with robust hardware, each guide has a weight limit, and overloading the drawer can cause the guides to break.
Adjusting Crooked Drawer Fronts
To identify a crooked front, you can use a bubble or a laser level. Align it with the bottom of the drawer front to see if one side is lower than the other.
There will be screws on either side of the frame, which you can tighten or loosen as necessary. Take a screwdriver and turn clockwise to tighten, or counterclockwise to loosen.
You might need to adjust both screws. Ask a second person to hold the front level and then adjust each screw until it is even again.
Adjusting Drawer Tilt
Tilt determines the angle of the drawer in the drawer box. If it’s not level, the drawer will rub against the cabinet frame, which is when scratches happen. The tilt may be off on one side or both sides. If you have side-mounted cabinets, you can adjust each side independently with levers or knobs.
To check which side is rubbing, you can try sprinkling flour on the front and then pulling the drawer out. If the flour is untouched on one side but missing on the other, that’s the side that is rubbing.
To start, pull the drawer out. You may have to release clips on the side so that it will detach. Next, look for the adjustment lever or knob on the guide. It will be located at the rear of the guide. You may have to adjust both sides.
Once you’ve adjusted everything, place the drawer back in and check if it looks even. You can use a bubble level or repeat the flour test. If everything looks good, re-engage the drawer on both sides and push it until it clicks shut.
Tools You’ll Need for Drawer Adjustments
To adjust cabinet hinges and guides, these tools are invaluable.
Screwdrivers
In most cases, you will need a Phillips screwdriver, but some will require a flathead screwdriver. This is to adjust the screws.
Level
This ensures that your cabinet hinges and guides are perfectly level.
Measuring Tape
This is essential for installing decorative hardware in the right place, but it can also be used to ensure that your cabinet door hinges and slides match up with each other.
Other tools you might find helpful are a rubber mallet to gently tap hinges or guides back into place, or clamps to hold the cabinet door still.
Common Drawer Slide Types and How They Differ
Just like there are different door styles, there are also several types of guides. The one you choose depends on the load that the drawer will need to carry.
Side Mount
These attach to the side of the drawer and the cabinet. They are easier to adjust and are ideal for a soft-close function. The main components include either a ball bearing or a roller for smooth operation. Because these are the most common types, you can find illustrated instructions to make even the most unfortunate accidents disappear.
Under Mount
These are attached to the bottom. They are an attractive option for several reasons. Firstly, there is no visible guide, making them ideal for a contemporary look. Secondly, you can add a locking mechanism to hold the drawer open or closed. This can be invaluable if you have young children who may grab onto the cabinet. However, under mounts are more complicated and less common, so you may need specialist advice.
Center Mount
With this option, there is one single slide in the middle of the bottom, either made of metal or wood. It is less obvious than the side mount, making it suitable for contemporary kitchens, but it cannot handle as much weight. It is also easier to adjust because there’s only one part to consider.
Safety Tips Before You Start Adjusting
To ensure you’re safe while completing this task, follow these tips:
- Wear gloves to protect yourself from any wood splinters.
- Clear the area and remove anything from inside the drawer.
- Unplug any power tools when you are not using them.
- Don’t force the mechanism. Most will have gray levers you can use to release and pull out the slide.
- Inspect the mechanism for scratches, warping, or buckling.
- Wipe everything down with a clean cloth and vacuum away any debris.
When to Replace Instead of Adjust?
While you can adjust cabinet doors and drawers, sometimes it’s best to replace them. Common signs that you should replace instead of adjust include stripped screws, worn rails, broken plastic or metal, or grinding noises.
Our team is here to help ensure your storage solutions stay perfect, including advice on when it’s time to replace old components. For more information on adjusting your kitchen cabinet drawers, call iCabinetry at 877-800-0420, or submit an inquiry through our contact form.
Keeping Drawers in Good Shape Long-Term
Though it’s easy to adjust cabinet door hinges, this is often when scratches happen, so it’s better to maintain the operation without constant adjusting. Follow these steps to keep your cabinets in great repair.
- Remove dust and other debris from the tracks, then wipe them with a microfiber cloth.
- Avoid overloading the cabinet. This may require accessory adjustments, like choosing lighter pulls.
- Periodically tighten the screws with a Phillips screwdriver. Simply turn the screw clockwise once or twice, but avoid overtightening.
We offer the most comprehensive line of cabinetry available for both consumers and industry professionals. More than that, our cabinetry professionals can provide expert advice on how to adjust hinges or when to replace the hardware.
FAQs about Drawer Adjustments
To determine whether your drawer slides should be replaced instead of adjusted, look for these signs:
Visible damage, such as shattered ball bearings or broken plastic
Significant rust or corrosion on metal slides
Screws that won’t stay in, indicating stripped screw holes
Continued problems even after adjustments
Persistent grinding sounds
Inability to fully close or open the drawer
Always try adjusting the slides first before deciding to replace them, as a little TLC may be all they need. If this doesn’t work, then replacing the slides can ensure like-new operation.
Yes, a soft-close mechanism works similarly to other slides. The difference is that they have a hydraulic damper and spring to provide a smooth operation and quieter closing. As with other drawers, you can release the drawer from its slides, then make minute adjustments using the tabs. Some also have a lever on the back of the guide that can help it sit more securely in the frame.
If your drawer still rubs after adjusting, you may need to lubricate the slides. This can be done with silicone spray, wax, or soap. If these don’t work, you may need to realign the slides or ensure the cabinet box is properly aligned.
Check and adjust your cabinet drawers when the season shifts. Temperature and humidity can cause the material to expand or contract, which means it’s no longer an exact fit with the cabinet box. To do this, periodically tighten hinge screws, lubricate the mechanisms, and use the adjustment screw to raise or lower the drawer.
Proper alignment ensures that your drawers operate smoothly, but misalignment is a common issue. Sometimes this is due to your house settling or placing heavy items on a drawer without high-performance hinges.
However, if they are misaligned due to normal use, they may not have been installed correctly. For example, the cabinet box may be crooked, or the slides may not be perfectly aligned. This may require professional assistance.
Yes. While you can find detailed instructions for how to adjust cabinet door hinges or slides, working with a professional can make a big difference.
