How to fix loose Cabinet Hinges

Loose Screws

There are a number of possibilities to explain why your Cabinet Hinges are not performing the way they should be, one of these being loose screws that hold your Cabinet Hinges in place. The continuous opening and closing of cabinet doors can cause the screws to loosen over time, and you may not notice this until your cabinet door starts to sag.

How Do I Fix This?

The solution to this problem is extremely simple, it is just a case of tightening the loose screws on your hinges. However, if the screws have been loose for a significant period of time, the wood around the initial hole can wear away due to increased movement, making the hole bigger and therefore is no longer compatible with the screw.

A slightly unconventional method is suggested for this issue. According to thisoldhouse.com¹: “Dip four or five wooden toothpicks into woodworking glue and then stuff them into the hole. Break the toothpicks off at the surface and replace the screw. If the holes are larger than about 1/4 inch, pack them with wooden matchsticks dipped in glue.”

You can find a Wood Adhesive that is perfect for this quick fix in our range here.

Too Heavy For The Hinges

Another reason why your Cabinet Hinges may become loose is that the cabinet door is too heavy for the type or number of hinges installed on to the door. Cabinet Hinges are designed to hold the door up to the rest of the cabinet, so when the cabinet door does not have adequate support, it will start to sag down.

How Do I Fix This?

To rectify this issue, an extra set of hinges will need to be installed to provide the support needed for the door to stay in place. If more hinges need to be added, it is best practice to remove the door from the cabinet to do this, then it is as simple as installing the new hinge or hinges to the door according to the manufacturer’s instructions, ready to re-install the door to the cabinet.

It is recommended that all of the hinges on your cabinet door are the same, and it is important to mark out where you new hinges will go before installation.

What If The Door Won’t Close?

Even if your cabinet door is not sagging, you may find that your cabinet door does not close properly. The secret to solving this issue involves one particular section of the hinge.

Most standard Cabinet Hinges have screws placed in a similar layout, two of which being placed in a horizontal line across the main body of the hinge. To ensure smooth opening and closing of a cabinet door, locate the leftmost screw and tighten it clockwise and this should solve the issue.

We stock a range of Cabinet Hinges that are available in several designs and finishes and some even include extra features including built-in soft-close mechanisms. Better still, many products in our range are backed up by a lifetime guarantee, ensuring that even though you may come across some minor issues with your cabinet doors, these hinges will not become completely unusable.

Find out more about our range of Cabinet Hinges here.  

 References:

https://www.thisoldhouse.com/furniture/21019221/fixing-loose-hinge-holes