To fix a desk chair that keeps sinking, replace the worn gas cylinder (a 20 to 40 minute job with a pipe wrench and rubber mallet) or, as a quick fix, lock the height with a cut PVC pipe sleeve or hose clamp. A sinking chair means the cylinder seal has failed. Never cut or heat a gas cylinder.
To fix a squeaky metal bed frame, tighten every bolt with a wrench or hex key, lubricate metal-to-metal joints with silicone spray or paraffin wax, and add felt or rubber pads where slats, rails, and legs touch. The job takes 30 to 45 minutes. Avoid oil-based sprays on parts that touch bedding or the floor.
To fix a broken drawer bottom, remove the drawer, slide or pry out the damaged panel, and cut a replacement from 1/4-inch plywood or 1/8-inch hardboard to fit the grooves. Slide it in, secure the back edge with small screws or brads, and add glue blocks underneath for support. The repair takes about an hour with a saw and drill.
To fix a sticking wooden drawer, pull the drawer out, clean the runners and sides, and rub paraffin wax or a candle stub on every surface where wood slides on wood. If it still binds, find the shiny rub marks and sand or plane those high spots lightly. Most sticking wooden drawers are fixed in 15 to 30 minutes. Avoid oil, which attracts grime.
To fix a dresser drawer that falls out, add or repair a drawer stop at the back of the drawer, then fix the guide it rides on: reattach a loose center guide, replace worn runners, or re-engage bent metal slides. Most repairs take 20 to 45 minutes with a screwdriver and drill. Empty the drawer first, and anchor the dresser to the wall.
To fix a recliner that won’t stay reclined, tip the recliner forward, tighten every bolt on the reclining mechanism, and reduce the spring tension by moving the tension springs to a looser hole or backing off the tension nuts. Lubricate the pivots with white lithium grease. Most fixes take 30 to 60 minutes; unplug power recliners first and watch for pinch points.
To fix a sagging couch seat with plywood, remove the cushions, measure the seat deck, and cut a 1/2-inch plywood board about 1/2 inch smaller on each side. Round the edges, wrap the board in batting or felt, and slide it under the cushions. The fix takes about an hour. Repair broken frame rails first; plywood will not fix a cracked frame.
To fix a stripped screw hole in particle board, drill the hole out to 1/4 or 3/8 inch, glue in a hardwood dowel with wood glue, let it cure overnight, then drill a new pilot hole and reinstall the screw. The dowel gives threads solid wood to grip. For crumbled edges, use two-part epoxy putty instead.
To fix a wobbly IKEA Kallax, tighten every cam lock a quarter turn, level the unit with shims, and add a thin hardboard back panel screwed or nailed to the frame to stop side-to-side racking. Anchor the IKEA Kallax to the wall with its tip-over restraint. The full fix takes about an hour and needs only a screwdriver and drill.
To make cedar smell again, lightly sand the cedar surface with 120- to 220-grit sandpaper to expose fresh wood, wipe away the dust, and let it air out for a few hours. For a stronger scent, add a few drops of cedarwood oil to cedar blocks, not to chest interiors. Sanding takes about 10 minutes and works on blocks, hangers, closets, and chests.