Loose Screw Tightened

How to complete Loose Screw Tightened

A wobbly cabinet door or loose drawer pull only gets worse with use until the screw strips out and needs a real repair. Catching it with a two-minute turn keeps the hardware solid and the wood intact.

1. Check whether it's a Phillips or flathead head and grab the matching driver.
2. Turn by hand until snug, stopping before you crack the wood or strip the head.
3. If the screw just spins, pack the stripped hole with a glued toothpick, let it set, then re-drive.
4. For a sagging door, tighten every hinge screw so it hangs square again.

Tips

• A wooden matchstick or a dab of thread locker fills a worn hole in a pinch.
• Skip the power drill on cabinet hardware: it strips and splits easily.

What counts as done

The handle or door no longer shifts when you pull or swing it.