ᐅ What can help if IKEA Hemnes drawers are sticking?

Hello community,

I have been experiencing an issue for some time where the drawers of my IKEA Hemnes sideboard keep sticking. Especially when opening and closing, you notice that they no longer slide smoothly but catch or require some force to move. The piece of furniture is stable, and the drawers are not overloaded, yet the mechanism seems to be sticking somewhere.

Does anyone know the typical causes of this problem with Hemnes drawers? What specifically helps to fix this sticking? Are there any improvements with the runners or adjustments to the construction that might be worthwhile?

So far, I have only checked the visible parts but have not taken the mechanism or the drawer slides apart in detail. If anyone has had similar experiences, I would appreciate a clear, step-by-step guide for diagnosing and repairing this.

Thanks in advance!

Hello forafo,

First of all, it’s good that you clearly identified the problem; that really helps.

With IKEA Hemnes drawers, sticking often occurs at the runners or the side guides. Here is my structured approach to solving this issue permanently:

- Fully pull out the drawer and place it on a flat surface.
- Check the runners for dirt (dust, wood chips). These can already prevent smooth sliding.
- Inspect the fit of the runners on the drawer and inside the cabinet. Sometimes they are slightly warped or not mounted parallel.
- If the slides are made of plastic, check for cracks or deformations. Replacement or repair can help here.
- To improve ease of movement, you can use silicone spray or a special furniture glide lubricant. Oil-based lubricants are less suitable due to their stickiness.
- Check whether screws during assembly are loose or overtightened. Both extremes can cause catching.

Important: Work in small steps and test the sliding action after each adjustment before proceeding.

If you like, I can also send you some photos of my Hemnes drawers that I repaired for a similar issue.

Good luck, and feel free to share more details!

Hello everyone,

I would like to delve a bit deeper into the technical aspects, as I have several Hemnes dressers in use and have taken them apart multiple times.

Hemnes drawers are usually simple wooden constructions, where the runners are either attached inside the side panels or directly to the drawer. A common issue with sticking drawers is slight wood expansion, especially due to temperature or humidity changes in living spaces.

I suggest the following approach:

- First, check if the drawer is touching the cabinet’s casing anywhere due to swollen wood. Matte paint spots, paint chipping, or pressure marks can be indicators.
- Loosen any loose screws on the running rails, as these can affect the drawer’s smooth engagement.
- Use a spirit level or a small angle gauge to check the alignment of the runners — even slight tilts can cause resistance.
- Sometimes, installing thin felt strips or small pieces of sandpaper at specific contact points can help reduce friction.
- For smooth sliding, you can apply pure paraffin or special glide wax thinly on the runners.

A quick question for forafo: What is the maximum load on the drawers (weight, contents), and how old is your furniture piece? This is important to rule out material fatigue.

I hope this helps everyone.

Jensson schrieb:
If the rails are made of plastic, check for cracks or deformations. Replacement or repairs can help here.

Thanks for the tip, Jensson. I haven’t removed the rails yet, but I will inspect them, especially for any microcracks.

Palenar schrieb:
What is the maximum load of the drawers (weight, contents), and how old is your piece of furniture? This is important to rule out material fatigue.

The chest of drawers is about 5 years old. The drawers are not heavily loaded – partly clothing, partly small household items, nothing heavy. I think the weight rarely exceeds 10 kg (22 lbs) per drawer.

I will first remove the slides, clean them, lubricate properly, and check for damage. I will also look for any warping of the wood or signs of impact on the cabinet sides.

Is there anything special to consider when removing the rails? Are they usually tightly fitted or rather loose?

Thanks in advance for the great support!

Hello forafo,

to answer your last question: The drawer slides on Hemnes models are usually quite tight to ensure the drawer runs smoothly and stably. When removing the drawer, you should be careful not to damage any plastic parts or metal clips.

I recommend the following approach:

- First, look for release mechanisms on the slides – IKEA often uses small levers or tabs that you can press or lift.
- Pull the drawer out far enough so you can easily reach the release.
- Gently operate the levers while pulling the drawer out – sometimes you need to pull very straight.
- Be careful not to bend any parts. If it doesn’t come out immediately, don’t use force; instead, check if you are operating the mechanism correctly.

When cleaning, wipe all movable parts with a dry cloth and then apply a thin layer of silicone spray, which doesn’t interfere with function and helps prevent sticking.

If you want, I can also write a short step-by-step guide for you.

Good luck!