Kitchen Renovation

Kitchen drawers get their share of rough usage, whether from small hands searching for a cereal spoon to larger ones in the thick of kitchen creativity. A sticking or angled kitchen drawer can be frustrating, and one that falls apart when you're using it even more irksome, but neither situation is a job for the cavalry. You can solve some common problems with simple tools and supplies and just a few minutes in repair mode. Others may take a bit more time, and the drawer may be out of service for a day or two.

Empty a drawer that is falling apart so you can reassemble it. Take it out of the cabinet and remove the front of the drawer from the box by unscrewing the screws holding it. The screw heads are on the inside of the drawer.

Pull the sides of the box off and remove all the staples or nails that were holding them with pliers. Spread carpenter's glue on the edges of the boards that form the front and back of the box. Reassemble the box and hold it together with two bar clamps. The bottom should fit into the grooves on the side pieces.

Drive two 1-inch screws into the sides of the box at both ends to hold the sides to the front and back pieces, using a drill and a No. 2 Phillips bit. Wipe up any glue that oozes out of a joint with a damp rag, then let the glue dry overnight.

Screw the drawer front back to the box and replace the drawer.