People add dressers to their rooms because multiple drawers provide more storage areas for clothes and other accessories. These are made of wooden material and coated with paint similar to the exterior parts.
Common Problems With Dresser Drawers Bottom include sagging, staining, chipping of paint, cracked wood, loose joints, and sliding issues. In addition, the lower parts of the drawers are exposed to termites, dust, and discoloration.
The bottom side of drawers is the hidden parts, and many people do not maintain them like other furniture parts.
| Problems with dresser drawers bottom | Solutions |
| Sagging and loose joints | Secure with plywood or L-shaped brackets |
| Stains | Repaint the surface |
| Chipping of paint | Apply furniture polish |
| Cracked wood | Use plywood instead of fabric board |
| Sliding issues | Lubricate the runners |
| Exposure to termites | Use wood fillers |
| Difficult to clean dust | Vacuuming |
| Deformed shape | Protect from humidity |
| Discoloration | Repainting |
Sagging and loose joints
Sagging is a common issue in the dresser drawers because of adding extra weight. People who live in small apartments stuff this area with a cloth and other things to clear the mess from their bedrooms.
It becomes difficult to close them because of overfilling with clothes. In addition, the lower parts are commonly made up of low-strength fiberboards.
It is wood but not pure form and has less strength and durability. It cannot bear the excessive weight and start leaning from the center.
The sagging also causes loose ends from the joining points, which causes the grooved area from the sides.
You can face this if you constantly put excessive weight on the fiberboard. Fix the issue by supporting the lower end with braces and an extra layer of plywood.
Cut plywood with the same measurement and add it on the lower side to give extra protection. In addition, it can thicken the layer, and fiberboards do not sag.
In addition, you can also use L-shaped braces to fasten them from corners. Finally, use the carpenter’s glue and fill the grooves to fasten the fiberboards back to their original position.
Stains
People face the issue of staining on the bottom side of the dresser drawers, which is mostly yellow or brown.
The stains or spots appear on the wooden material when you put the liquid things and eatable in the dryers.
People place their skin care products like lotions, body oils, and perfumes in them because these are safe places.
Sometimes the bottles of the body lotions are not tightened properly, and they seep into the wooden material and produce a brown color spot there.
These spots are challenging to remove because you have to refurnish or repaint the wooden parts.
You can fix this by sanding the affected area with high-grit sandpaper. Then, add primer for surface preparation and apply the paint coat on it.
Seal the paint with sealant and coat it with wood furnishing material to maintain its shine.
Chipping of paint
You can see the paint chipping or peeling-off issue on the lower part of the drawers. The paint peeling off occurs when there is a dry or harsh environment.
Manufacturers often do not prepare the surface properly before painting them because it is a hidden area.
The paint starts to chip from the fiberboard material, and you can see dust beneath your furniture. Moreover, these areas are less exposed to air circulation because of their hidden places.
It is common in old furniture because paint loses its adhesion after several years. You can fix the issue by dusting or vacuuming every corner correctly.
The removal of dust decreases the risk of paint chipping. Avoid applying paint without primer or on dirty surfaces because it can lead to poor adhesions.
In addition, use furniture paints to polish the fiberboards rather than latex-based wall paints.
Cracked wood
The bottom of the drawers is made up of low-quality wood that cannot withstand moisture and little stress.
Placing heavy objects like perfume bottles and makeup kits can create cracks. The chances of wear and tear are more in them because of their low quality and less durable material.
These can easily crack from the center because of the less strength of the wooden material. You can resolve this by adding high-quality materials for this part.
I prefer to use plywood which is not thick as wood but has more strength than fireboards. Do not overfill the drawers, so you have to put pressure on them for closing.
Sliding issues
Dresser drawers use runners moving inside and outside made of wooden and metal material.
The poor installation of these accessories causes sticking or binding of the bottom area. As a result, you cannot open them smoothly to take out your things from them.
In addition, the issue also comes due to poor lubrication and when something is stuck on the lower side. You can fix the problem by inspecting the installation of runners from the bottom side.
Use the lubricating movement for the accurate functioning of sliding materials.
Exposure to termites
The termites are also common on the lower ends of your dresser drawers because it is a hidden part and is less exposed to the outside air.
The moisture also accumulates because these parts cannot continuously receive dry air.
The mild humidity causes the termites to grow there, which can eat the wooden fiberboard and produce holes.
Use wood fillers to fill the visible holes and sand the area to balance the surface. Moreover, you can also use a fumigation technique to get rid of them.
Difficult to clean dust
Making the closed parts dust-free is challenging because you cannot remove dust with dusting. Instead, you need to take them outside for the removal of dirt.
You cannot clean it from the inner side because it is closed from all sides. So the dust accumulates because people only clean the furniture from the outer side.
You have to carefully move them outside so they cannot disturb the runners or tracks. Then, use a vacuum cleaner to remove dirt from every corner.
In addition, you can also protect them from dirt accumulation by using a hair dryer once a week.
Deformed shape
The bottom of the drawers starts to bend and cause deformity in its shape. The deformation or bending occurs due to the contraction of wooden parts.
The spillage of water or liquid drinks accidentally on the inner side of the drawers causes this issue. In addition, you can see the bending of wooden material when moisture becomes dry.
Most people add them on the side of the bed near windows. The moisture from outside wet the wooden furniture and causes warping.
You can resolve it by placing the wooden furniture in a safe area. Adjust the dressers away from windows to protect them from moisture.
Use rags and towels when placing liquid material in drawers so they can soak moisture in case of spillage.
Discoloration
The discoloration of paints comes due to exposure to dust, body lotions, perfumes, and baby oils. Dresser drawers bottom are challenging to clean, so dust accumulates and damages the paint.
The paint becomes dull from the lower side, and you have to repaint them. The frequent opening and closing also damage the exterior paint layer and make them dull from the remaining parts.
Apply a fresh coat of paint once a week to make it clean and new.
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