ᐅ What to do if Pax wardrobe doors are rubbing or scraping?

Hello everyone, I have an issue with my Ikea Pax wardrobe where the doors seem to rub against certain spots when opening or closing. It doesn’t appear to be caused by the hinges, as I have already adjusted them several times. Sometimes the doors stick slightly, as if they are rubbing against the cabinet edge or the inside of the wardrobe side panel, causing a scraping noise.

I haven’t noticed any severely warped doors or cabinet frame; all levels seem to be installed straight. The fronts themselves are not warped and would close smoothly if they weren’t rubbing.

Has anyone experienced this and can share the best ways to address it? I’m especially interested in solutions beyond the usual hinge adjustments. Are there options to specifically modify the doors, hinges, or cabinet frame, or any tricks like sanding the rubbing areas on the edge to prevent the scraping?

Looking forward to your tips and advice!

Pigoge schrieb:
The doors sometimes bind slightly, as if they are rubbing against the cabinet edge or the inside of the cabinet side panel, causing a scraping noise.

That sounds like a typical adjustment issue, but if you’ve already checked the hinges several times, a systematic approach may help:

- First, check if the cabinet carcass is completely level. Even slight angle differences due to uneven floors or ceilings can affect how the doors operate.
- Then remove the doors individually and closely inspect the trouble spots. Sometimes tiny burrs or slightly chipped paint can cause mechanical rubbing.
- Visually inspect the hinge fastenings: Are all screws tight? Small screws can loosen over time, leading to slight play and, consequently, friction.
- If that doesn’t help, carefully use fine-grit sandpaper (e.g., 240 grit) to gently abrade the areas on the frame that clearly rub.
- It can also be helpful to treat the contact points with a cotton cloth and a small amount of silicone spray. But be cautious to avoid any staining.

One more question: How many doors are affected? Just one or several? Are the doors subject to any special loads, like heavy shelves or additional hanging cabinets?

Sometimes just a quick external inspection can help pinpoint the cause.

Le_kin schrieb:
It can also be helpful to treat the contact points with a cotton cloth and silicone spray (sparingly!).

I completely agree! A little trick of mine: when I notice the doors are really rubbing against each other, I often grab a candle (yes, quite old school) and apply a bit of wax to the rubbing spots.

That sometimes works better than you’d expect, because the wax acts like a sort of lubricant. Of course, everything with care, so the cabinet doesn’t become sticky or the finish doesn’t get damaged.

And don’t worry, if the rubbing is exactly on the cabinet side, usually only minimal adjustment is needed – either lightly sanding with fine sandpaper or, as mentioned, a bit of wax to reduce friction. Patience pays off 😉

Pigoge schrieb:
Sometimes the doors are slightly misaligned, as if they rub against the cabinet edge or inside the cabinet side panel, causing a scraping noise.

Another possible cause you might not have considered is a slightly warped cabinet frame due to stress—especially when the cabinet is fully loaded or the lower shelves bear heavy weight. Over time, such minor deformation can occur, leading to these rubbing sounds.

I recommend completely emptying the cabinet and checking again if the problem persists. If the noise disappears afterward, that strongly suggests that the weight plays a role.

If that’s the case, you can use wooden shims or small spacers inside the cabinet to counteract the pressure and move it away from the door. It’s also worth verifying whether the back panel is properly seated inside and stabilizing the cabinet frame.

I would also suggest checking the door hinge—whether it’s mounted on the left or right side. Sometimes simply switching the door to the other side can help, if the installation allows it.

Interesting approaches so far, but a word of caution:

tutan schrieb:
A little trick of mine: When I notice the doors are really rubbing hard against each other, I often grab a candle (yes, very old-school) and apply a bit of wax to the rubbing spots.

I think it’s important to consider the surface finish of the Pax doors here. Most Ikea doors are veneered or painted, so wax could potentially damage the surface or leave noticeable residues.

Especially if the doors have a matte or special coating, it’s better to rely on mechanical adjustments, such as more precise sanding or realignment.

Fundamentally, the question for me is how severe the rubbing actually is—does it sound loud or is it rather minimal? If it’s a microscopically small friction that the user still notices with the naked eye, professional fine-tuning of the hinges and possibly adjusting the door position with dowels or screws may be the best, most sustainable solution.

I would also like to suggest: Has anyone checked if the track or base structure has settled on the floor side? Especially with large wardrobes, doors tend to rub if the floor is not perfectly level.

Readjust door hinges, test small strips of paper as spacers, try sandpaper on the edge. Check the floor. Done.