5 DIY Steps to Replace Drawer Slides

Kitchen and bathroom drawer slides are built to take a beating. You've undoubtedly had an item stuck and had to force the drawer open. Somehow it still worked after that. Children pull down on them, trying to climb up onto the cabinet. Mindless adults or teens slam them shut from time to time. 

All of this wear and tear leaves you with a frustrating drawer that won't close smoothly or stay closed. But the great news is you don't have to live with lousy drawer slides. There's a straightforward fix.

What you'll need

• A screwdriver (probably a phillips head, but take a look at the screws)
• New slides, also called glides
• Straight edge
• Tape measure
• 3/32-inch drill bit
• Pencil
• Power drill with screw tip
• Level

Step one: prepare your area

Start by taking everything out of the drawer. Make some room on the counter to set your supplies as you work. *Pro tip* It's amazing how quickly little screws can disappear. Please put them in a bowl rather than laying them on the counter and hoping they stay there. You may reuse them.

Step two: remove the drawer slides

Remove the drawer and unscrew the slides from each side of the drawer. You'll find their counterparts inside the space where the drawer came out. Unscrew those as well.

Step three: attach new drawer slides

You'll have a left and right drawer slide. Each will have two parts, one for under the cabinet and one for on the drawer. Place the right pieces and left pieces together so you don't mix them up.