July 13, 2020

How to Remove Dresser Drawers Easily

Let’s face it, drawers get stuck. No matter what kind of drawer you have installed in your kitchen cabinets, dressers, side tables, and more, there is always a chance for them to be stuck at one time or another.

This can be due to many reasons, maybe the under-mount drawer slides are getting rusty and need more oil. Maybe the wooden sides of the drawer have expanded due to heat and are now stuck. Or even a screw has come undone on the mounting plate causing the drawer to become lopsided.

No matter what the reason, you have to remove the drawer to be able to identify and fix it. Here is a list of how to remove different kinds of drawers and drawer slides.

How to Remove Dresser Drawer With Center Metal Slide?

Dresser drawers are wider than normal drawers which is why they usually come with a center metal slide. This slide attaches the drawer to the dresser and is responsible for its smooth opening and closing. If your dresser drawer is getting stuck, chances are there is something wrong with the extension slide.

Here is how you remove the dresser drawer with a metal slide.

Check to see if the center slide has a locking mechanism. Center slides rarely have them but it still good to check. If there is a locking mechanism on the center slide then press the lever/button to release it first.
Check if the drawer has a pull-out guard. It is a piece of plastic that prevents the drawer from coming all the way out. It is either in the form of a semi-circular piece or a plastic flap attached at the back of the drawer.
Apply gentle pressure to the drawer to see if it can get un-stuck. For center slides with locks, you will hear a slight click which will tell you the drawer is now disengaged. If the drawer doesn’t come unstuck, try wiggling it a little.
If the drawer still doesn’t become un-stuck then the center slide is damaged or broken. Open the slide completely and use a putty knife to run along each side of the track.
If the slide is damaged or broken, its time to call the handy-man cause you’ll probably need to remove the whole slide and mounting plate.

How to Remove Dresser Drawers With Bottom Slides?

Bottom slides are usually installed in formal dresser drawers as you cannot see the slides when the drawer is open. Wider drawers usually have two bottom slides to help keep them stable. Here is how to remove dresser drawers with bottom slides.

Check to see if the slides have a lever/button release mechanism.
If there is a lever or button then press it to release the drawer from the mounting plate.
If there is no lever/button, exert a little pressure to wiggle the drawer out. Then lift it slightly until you hear a click.
If the slide is stuck or broken, use the putty knife to remove any debris from the rail that may be blocking the slide.

How to Remove Roll Top From Desk?

A roll-top desk has a flexible cover that folds down to cover the top of the desk. This is a convenient way to create an almost ‘hidden’ compartment on your desk. Though this design is pretty much obsolete now, here is how you can remove a roll-top from your desk.

Close all the drawers, especially the ones located under the roll top.
Open the roll top to expose the screws that connect the roll top to the desk. If there are any drawers under the roll top, remove them to find the screws.
Remove the screws with a Philips screwdriver.
Lift the roll top off the desk and remove the ‘tambour’ (sliding slatted door), if there is one.
Inspect for damages on the different parts of the desk. You can easily install the roll-top back by screwing it back in place after you’ve fixed your desk.

How to Remove File Cabinet Drawers?

File cabinet drawers are normally attached using European-style hinges and slides. It is easy to remove a file cabinet once you identify the kind of slide used to install it. Here is how to remove file cabinet drawers with side slides.

Identify the kind of slide used to install the drawers.
If it is a friction slide, all you have to do is exert a little pressure and the drawer will disconnect after a soft click.
If it is a lever/button slide, open the drawer all the way, lift it slightly and locate the lever or button. Push the lever/button to disengage the drawer.
For push latch slides, push the button on the latch to disengage the drawer from the slide.
For rail disconnect slides, remove all the slide members first to disengage the cabinet drawers.

How to Remove Drawers With Stops?

Drawer stops are little plastic tabs attached to the back of the drawer that prevent it from being opened all the way. Imagine pulling a dresser drawer with all your jewelry a little too fast and the drawer coming away from the cabinet. Drawer stops will make sure that doesn’t happen. Here is how to remove a drawer with stops.

Pull the drawer all the way out.
Lift the drawer slightly at an angle so that the drawer stop is clear of the top of the dresser.
Release the drawer slides by pushing the button/lever on the slides. You will hear a slight click that will let you know the drawer slide is released.
Gently pull out the drawer, still at an angle.
If the drawer stop is located on the bottom of the drawer, lift the drawer and feel under it with your hand till you locate the tab. Push the tab and keep pressing on it as you remove the drawer. Make sure to release the drawer slides before you pull the drawer out.

How to Remove Ball Bearing Drawer Slides?

Ball-bearing drawer slides feature a railing system with ball bearings that help the drawer open and close smoothly. These slides need a little bit extra lubrication to make sure the ball bearings keep on functioning smoothly. Here is how to remove ball-bearing drawer slides.

If your drawer slide is well lubricated, all you have to do is open the drawer slide to its full length, slightly lift the drawer and pull it out till you hear a soft click (or push the lever/button if you’re slides have a latch)
If the drawer slide is stuck, first open the slide and try to add some oil to make sure the ball bearings and rail run smoothly. You can also use wax and other lubricants if the oil is not readily available.
If that doesn’t work then use the putty knife method to remove any debris collected on the rail. It is important that the slides are clean for the ball bearings to glide easily.
If all else fails, use a crowbar to pry the drawer free of the slide. You have to be very careful with this method as you might damage the slide. Call a professional for help if you’ve never used this method before.

How to Remove a Drawer With Full Extension Slides?

Full-extension drawer slides are mostly used with longer and wider drawers. They are often found on 12-inch drawers. These slides can be attached to the side or bottom of the drawer. Here is how you can remove a drawer with full extension slides.

Open the drawer out to its full length.
Locate the lever/button/latch on the full extension slide and press it to release the slide. For bottom slides, you will need to lift the drawer slightly and feel the slide with your hand till you find the release latch. For side slides, you can easily locate the latch by looking at the slides.
Tilt the drawer up at an angle so that if there is a safety tab, it becomes clear of the top of the cabinet or dresser.
Gently pull the drawer till you hear a soft click. If the drawer is stuck, wiggle it a little to unjam it.

FAQs

1. How to install drawer slides on old drawers?

You can install drawer slides on old drawers in the same way as you install them on new ones. The only difference is that you have to make sure that the drawers will be able to take the wear that comes with installing the slides. Read our guide on how to install drawer slides to learn more.

2. How to open a stuck drawer?

There are many ways to open a stuck drawer. If it is stuck due to problems with the slide, you can lubricate the slide or use a knife to remove the debris from the rail. You can also try to wiggle the drawer free.

3. How to remove Ikea drawer?

Ikea drawers are connected to the dressers using European slides. These slides may have buttons, latches, or levers that can be pushed to remove the drawer from the mounting plate. Take a look at this video to learn how to remove Ikea Maximera drawers.

4. How to take drawers out of dressers?

You can use any of the ways described above to remove drawers from dressers. Some drawers don’t have slides and can be easily removed by simply sliding them out. Others with safety clips can be removed by tilting the drawer slightly to make sure the safety tab is clear of the roof of the dresser.

Conclusion

Nowadays, all drawers come with European drawer slides because they are easy to install and last a long time. When installing your drawers make sure to choose high-quality drawer slides from a trusted manufacturer like RMG. Take a look at our catalog of slides to choose the one that best fits your needs.

RMGHardware is a professional cabinet hinge manufacturer who works closely with various well-known furniture brands, check out our blogs for tips and tricks around furniture hardware! Or contact us if you need help with sourcing hinges.