Here are two tips for getting your drawers sliding as smooth as butter. Rub paraffin on the meeting parts of drawers to keep them working smoothly. You’ll find paraffin with the canning supplies in your local grocery store. In a pinch you can also use candles, bar soap or even dry spray lubricant.

Home Remedies to Make Wood Drawers Slide Easier

1. Paraffin Wax. Used in a wide range of products, paraffin wax is readily available in your local grocery store.
2. Soap. If you can’t make that trip to the grocery store for a block of paraffin wax, you can always use that bar of soap in your bathroom.
3. Candle.
4. Sanding.
5. Wax Paper.

DIY // How to Make Old Wood Drawers Slide Easier

1. Pull out the drawers and arrange them so you can access the underside.
2. Rub a bar of soap (we used a basic Dove bar here) along the tracks on the bottom of the drawer and in the cabinet/dresser.
3. After everything is soaped up, slide the drawer back in.

1. Step 1: Remove Old Drawer Slides. Using a chisel and mallet remove the old wooden drawer slides from the inside of the dresser.
2. Step 2: Dismantle Old Drawers.
3. Step 3: Re-build Drawers.
4. Step 4: Attach Drawer Slide Spacers.
5. Step 5: Install Drawer Slides.

Measure the box, not the drawer front Start at the back of the box and measure to the front of the box without including the face of the drawer. Once you have the length, round the number down. For example, if the drawer is 20 ½ inches long you will need to purchase 20 inch drawer slides.

3/8″ thick plywood is the best overall thickness for drawer bottoms and is available for Maple, Birch, Beech, Cherry, and Walnut. 1/4″ and 1/2″ thickness is available for all wood species and in White or Almond Melamine as well as other options.

Poplar is a great all-around choice for drawer box construction. It is stable, durable, and much less expensive than most hardwoods. The color of poplar heartwood ranges from a creamy white to a yellowish tan or brown. It is very easy to work with and has straight, uniform grain.