The Easiest Trick For Fixing A Drawer With A Wobbly Front

Having a drawer with a loose front can be frustrating for any home chef, turning meal prep time into a nuisance. Every solid tug only seems to make the problem worse. What can you do to fix your wonky drawer fronts? Even if you have multiple drawers with this issue, you can ditch the idea of a complete kitchen remodel and instead, try this simple trick using only a few toothpicks and some wood glue. It might be the perfect solution to fixing loose screw holes.

The key to this trick is repairing the stripped hole in your wood, essentially creating a blank canvas for a new pilot hole to be made. When a hole becomes stripped, the threads of the screw don't properly catch, causing it to slip out. By filling the hole with wood glue and toothpicks, you give the screw something to latch onto, allowing you to reinstall it without having it spin uselessly in a loose opening. This can be a simple and cheap solution to similar problems you might encounter with all sorts of woodworking projects. It's especially effective for repairing loose drawer fronts, and you don't need new drawers to put the function back into your kitchen — just a bit of DIY magic.

Instagram user livinglarsonhome details the process for fixing your wobbly drawer front in the video above. Start by removing the front, making sure to keep your screws in a safe place. Lay it face down on your workspace so that you have access to the screw holes on the backside. Fill the holes with a generous amount of wood glue. Before the glue dries, insert several toothpicks into the glue. Allow the glue to dry completely before snapping the excess toothpicks off, creating a flat surface on the back of your drawer. Drill two small pilot holes into the newly filled area and reposition the drawer front on your cabinet. Use your original screws to secure it in place, and the fix is complete!

This technique isn't limited to drawers — it can come in handy for any woodworking project during which you come across a stripped screw hole. It can be an effective solution when refurbishing antique wooden furniture, repairing cabinets, or refinishing dressers. It's budget-friendly, and it saves you the headache of replacing entire pieces of furniture. Even wiggly kitchen cabinet handles and loose chair legs can be brought under control using this trick, a simple fix that can work wonders around your home.