5 Easy Repairs for Kitchen Cabinets Anyone Can Do

After helping hundreds of homeowners just like you, our team at Dr. Cabinet has learned something surprising – most cabinet ‘repairs’ take less time than microwaving leftovers. We’re sharing our go-to fixes that:

✅ Cost less than $20

✅ Require no special tools

✅ Actually work (no hacky ‘lifehacks’ here)

Whether you’re dealing with a stubborn drawer or a sagging door, we’ll walk you through the real fixes – not just temporary bandaids.

Want to know our 5 easy repairs for kitchen cabinets? Get ready! We’ll walk you through basic to advanced levels of how to repair kitchen cabinets

5 Basic Ways to Fix Kitchen Cabinets

1. The Hinge Tweak (Fixes 80% of Door Problems)

The Probem: Door won’t close right or sags

 $4 | 5 minutes

1. Find the secret screw (usually hidden inside hinge)
2. Turn clockwise 1/4 turn with Phillips head
3. Test door – repeat if needed

Pro Tip: Mark original position with a marker so you can reset if needed

2. The Candle Wax Hack (For Sticky Drawers)

The Problem: Drawer sticks or screeches

Free | 3 minutes

1. Rub a white candle on drawer tracks
2. Wipe excess with paper towel
3. Open/close 5 times to spread wax

3. The Toothpaste Trick (Hides Scratches)

The Problem: Visible scratches on dark cabinets

$1 | 2 minutes

1. Squeeze white toothpaste on scratch
2. Rub with cotton cloth in circular motion
3. Wipe clean with damp rag

Works best on small, shallow scratches

4. The Dollar Store Fix (Loose Knobs)

The Problem: Knobs keep spinning

$1.25 | 30 seconds

1. Remove loose knob
2. Stuff toothpick pieces into screw hole
3. Reattach knob – now it grips!

Bonus: Use wood glue if extra wobbly

5. The Paper Clip Rescue (Fixes broken shelf pins instantly)

The problem: Broken/missing shelf pins

1. $0 | 30 seconds
2. Straighten a large paper clip
3. Bend into a “U” shape
4. Hook into pin holes – instant temporary shelf support

Advanced Level Repair for Kitchen Cabinets

For advanced-level issues like broken cupboard door or damaged cabinets, consider these crucial 5 elements:

1.   Make sure your workspace is ready

We must have the necessary tools and a safe working environment to be able to carry out easy repairs for your kitchen cabinets. When it comes to selecting equipment and products, we should prioritize quality the fact that we must first disassemble components of a piece of furniture, such as hinges, handles, screws, and so on, is something that we must not overlook. The results that cheap rollers and brushes produce are of worse quality, and their usable life is always shorter.

2. The door handles and the key

Changing the knobs on the doors and cupboards in your kitchen will give the space a very modern appearance. It is easy to accomplish, inexpensive, and quick to complete. Ensure that the new handles you select are a good match for the materials and the other colors that are present in the kitchen, including the floor and the appliances. You should be aware that combining different kinds of handles also looks cool.

Perform a thorough inspection of the locations in each case where they are inserted (the majority of them will be screwed), and then remove them one by one with the use of a tool. After that, you will instantly start to see the difference after you have inserted the new ones.

3.   The application of paint to wooden furniture

Choose your favorite color to paint your wooden furniture, if the plan is to make them look better and not necessarily replace them. Note that you need to first and foremost sandpaper the wood surface to remove any grease or varnish before you apply the paint. To achieve the best possible effects, apply two or three coats with a roller.

4.   Choose Enamel For Repairing Cabinets

To restore your kitchen furniture, a straightforward method will be to make use of furniture polish, which can be used on a wide surface, like wood, melamine, and chipboard. There are different forms of synthetic enamels. They include water-based enamels and acrylic enamels, that you can make use of. You can also select from a plethora of colors to use during the process of your easy repairs for kitchen cabinets.

Also, note that gloves and masks are salient if you are going to do this procedure yourself. Synthetic enamels include a solvent that is hazardous if it is inhaled or touched, so it is important to protect yourself first. If you can use work overalls or clothes that you can throw away afterward, that would be an even better choice circumstance. You can wash the furniture with soap and water or any other common cleaning agent after the polish has been applied. You can also use a polish brush.

5.   Make sure you don’t overlook the baseboard.

When something as noticeable as the skirting board for the furniture is left in place and not updated, there is no use of restoring the kitchen furniture to its optimal state or replacing the colors of the floors and walls.

The market provides a vast array of skirting boards to choose from, in terms of both construction materials and colors available. You can choose between metal or PVC skirting boards. Just like the furniture, you can also consider painting the wooden skirting board in a different color. You have this choice at your disposal. The use of metal skirting boards and PVC is important because of their strong resistance to chemicals they are harsh and used often when cleaning floors.

14 Essentials for Your DIY Toolkit

You may want to roll up your sleeves and carry out your cabinet repair. Great idea! To ensure you do a great job, here are 15 of the most important DIY tools you should have for easy repairs for kitchen cabinets. This will make it easier for you to update your kitchen cabinets with confidence. 

• Screwdriver: The first tool you need is a screwdriver. They come in different shapes, sizes, or forms; you should get more than one for different activities and needs. The two most important ones you can get first are:
  • The flathead screwdrivers  
  • Phillips

Both are quality screwdrivers. This set should be available. They help you remove the hardware from your cabinets, tighten the hinges on your cabinets that are loose, and potentially attach new components. All of these things will be possible for you to do. It is feasible for you to do every one of these things.

• Drill and Drill Bits: You will need a cordless drill to install the new hardware on your cabinet and to make adjustments during the process of making simple repairs to your kitchen cabinets. There ought to be a variety of drill bits included with this.
• A level: For your DIY projects, getting a Level is very important. Now, you might be wondering why. The reason for this is that it is helpful when you are measuring doors or shelves and making sure that they are full and straight. If you decide to update your kitchen cabinets, this will lend a professional air to your cabinetry.
• Tape for Measuring: Another thing you will need is a measuring tape to get a correct reading. It helps you get the right size new parts and make sure they fit perfectly when you want to update your kitchen cabinets. The situation will get so bad that you can not even imagine it if your replacements are misaligned. You would not want that to happen, we know, of course.
• Hammers: It should come as no surprise!. That is, if you do not have this, what other means do you intend to use to carry out your simple repairs for the kitchen cabinets? Another thing that we will recommend is that you purchase hammers of varying sizes.
• Pliers: To twist or grip wires, make minor adjustments, or remove nails from wood, you will find that a pair of pliers is an indispensable tool for your do-it-yourself projects. You should also consider purchasing several different types of pliers.
• Tool Kit: When you are working to update your kitchen cabinets, you need to have a utility knife that is sharp in your tool kit for do-it-yourself projects. When you want to update your kitchen cabinets seamlessly, it helps to cut and score materials.
• Putty Knife: The utility knife and the putty knife are very similar. The putty knife is great for adding wood filler to surfaces to hide dents and scratches. It helps you make a surface that is even and smooth when you want to update your kitchen cabinets.
• Sandpaper: Sandpapers are just too important to not have, in your DIY easy repairs for kitchen cabinets project. They come in different sizes and surfaces. The importance of sandpapers is they help you smooth out rough wood surfaces and allow you to get rid of old finishes. It also makes it easy for you to repaint your cabinets.
• Paint Rollers and Paintbrushes: Investing in good paint rollers and paint brushes is vital for your easy repairs of kitchen cabinets. A good paintbrush or paint rollers makes the work easier and the painting goes on evenly and smoothly. It will also make you appear like a professional, even without hiring a professional to help with the easy repair of kitchen cabinet tasks.
• Wood Glue: As you update your kitchen cabinets, there will be times when you will need to join two pieces of wood together or attach new components. Wood glue can help you do both of these things. You will need high-quality wood glue at this point. There is no substitute for high-quality wood glue; all you need to do is bring it along with you in your kit.
• Glasses for Safety: At all times, the mantra is: safety comes first. When you are working to update your kitchen cabinets, there are a lot of potential dangers that could occur throughout the process. While you are working on your simple repairs for kitchen cabinets, you may encounter dangers such as flying debris and dust. Therefore, you should always wear a safety glass when you are in these situations.
• Protective gloves: The second to last on your DIY toolkits will be to get a protective glove. Safety is the watchword here. It protects you from the harm that can occur from slicing wood splinters, sharp edges, or even nails. It also protects you from the dangerous effects of harsh chemicals when applying them during your easy repairs for kitchen cabinets.
• Drop Cloths: Drop cloths are very important during your DIY work. It helps you safeguard your countertops and floors, protecting them from liquid or paints that may spill when you update your kitchen cabinets. Doing this helps you make sure your workspace is clean and neat. It also helps you make sure you don’t experience any form of disruptions in your environment when working. The good thing is that you can improvise, and make use of used clothes or rags.

When to Call Us Instead:

• Water damage that warps the wood
• Cracks in cabinet frame
• If you’ve tried 2 fixes and it’s still broken

Most pros charge 150+ for these- we do it for 95 with 1-year guarantee.

Text “CABINET” to 201-212-5477 for a same-day estimate.

Why Dr. Cabinet is Your Go-To for 5 Easy Repairs for Kitchen Cabinets

Now that you understand the work involved in having a professional update your kitchen cabinets, let us discuss the best cabinet professional: Dr. Cabinets! We fast walk you through the reasons Dr. Cabinet is your best option for your simple kitchen cabinet repairs.

• Masters of Transformation in Cabinetry: As we already mentioned, it is crucial to choose a professional with expertise in the type of cabinet issue you are having. One of the benefits of Dr. Cabinets is that we specialize in many kinds of cabinet repair: from sticky drawers to fixing loose hinges, to revitalizing worn finishes.
• High-quality materials: When you do simple kitchen cabinet repairs, the choice of material used is just as crucial as any other aspect. On this, Dr. Cabinet promises and delivers. We only use the best materials and guarantee that your cabinet will last longer than just look great.
• Affordable: Reasonably priced for our clients, we also have open estimates for them.
• Time Efficiency: Time is valuable, thus we appreciate your time and know that you want quick completion of simple repairs for kitchen cabinets.
• Guarantee: We guarantee satisfaction for all of our simple kitchen cabinet repairs and stand behind our work.

Selecting Dr. Cabinet for your simple kitchen cabinet repairs and 5 Easy Repairs for Kitchen Cabinets will help you to be sure you are getting the best value and service. Helping you update your kitchen cabinets and design a room you will love for years to come excites us.

Conclusion

It Is Easier Than You Think To Update Your Kitchen Cabinets With this quick repairs—organize your work space, change handles, paint and apply enamel plus refresh old baseboards—you can achieve a different look in any kitchen with almost no money. Get started on your DIY project today for a new, updated kitchen! Please contact us for more tips or to have our professionals handling it over from here. We can provide you with expert advice and services on planning that perfect kitchen renovation!

FAQs