A well built fitted wardrobe should give many years of trouble free use, but like anything with moving parts it benefits from a small amount of attention now and then. Most of what comes up is minor and easily sorted, and knowing how to deal with it yourself saves a call out for something that takes five minutes.
We have set out the most common things homeowners ask us about once their wardrobes have been in for a while, along with straightforward fixes for each.
Adjusting hinges as doors settle
It is completely normal for hinges to need a small tweak after the first few months, and again occasionally over the years, as doors settle and the house itself moves slightly with the seasons. Most modern cabinet hinges have adjustment screws that allow you to shift the door up, down, left, right, or in and out, without needing to remove anything.
If a door has started to catch on the frame, drop slightly at one corner, or no longer sits flush with its neighbour, a small turn of the relevant adjustment screw usually solves it. We are always happy to talk you through this over the phone if you are not sure which screw does what on your particular doors.
Soft close mechanisms losing their gentleness
Soft close hinges and drawer runners contain a small damper that slows the final part of the movement. Over years of use these can weaken slightly, and the door or drawer that once closed with a gentle hush starts to click shut a bit more firmly again.
In most cases the damper itself can be replaced without changing the whole hinge or runner, which keeps the cost sensible. It is worth mentioning this to us if you notice it, rather than living with a heavier close for years, since it is a quick fix.
Freeing a sticking drawer
Drawers can start to stick for a few reasons: a build up of dust or fluff on the runners, a slight swelling of timber in humid weather, or simply items inside catching on the drawer above or below. A quick vacuum of the runner track and a wipe down often solves dust related sticking straightaway.
If sticking is seasonal, appearing in humid summer months and easing in winter, that points to timber movement rather than a fault, and is entirely normal for wood based furniture. If a drawer sticks consistently regardless of season, it is worth having the runner checked in case it has become slightly misaligned.
- Vacuum runner tracks periodically to prevent dust build up
- Seasonal sticking usually points to normal timber movement, not a fault
- Persistent sticking regardless of season may need runner realignment
- Never force a sticking drawer, as this can damage the runner permanently
Ventilation and condensation inside wardrobes
Fitted wardrobes, especially those built against an external wall, can suffer from condensation if air cannot circulate inside them. This shows up as a musty smell, damp patches on the back panel, or occasionally mould on stored fabric. Leaving a small gap when packing clothes tightly against the back panel, and avoiding storing damp items such as just washed towels, helps considerably.
We build ventilation gaps into our wardrobes at the base and sometimes the top for exactly this reason, but it is still worth airing the wardrobe occasionally by leaving doors open for a while, particularly after a period of humid weather or if the room itself has poor general ventilation.
Mirrored doors and their particular needs
Mirrored wardrobe doors need a slightly different cleaning approach to the timber or painted parts of the unit. A proper glass cleaner applied to a cloth rather than sprayed directly onto the mirror avoids liquid running down behind the glass and affecting the silvering at the edges over time.
Mirrored doors are also heavier than standard doors, which puts more strain on hinges over the years. If you notice a mirrored door dropping slightly more than a standard door elsewhere in the same run, that is normal given the extra weight, and usually just needs the hinge adjustment mentioned earlier.
What normal wear looks like over ten years or more
Well made fitted wardrobes should still be doing their job well over a decade after installation, with the moving parts, hinges, runners and handles being the elements most likely to need attention along the way, rather than the carcass or doors themselves. Timber and paint finishes may mellow slightly with light exposure, which is normal and not a fault.
If something feels genuinely wrong, a door that will not close at all, a shelf that has sagged, or a section that has come away from the wall, that goes beyond routine maintenance and is worth having looked at properly rather than adjusted at home.
When to call us in
For anything beyond a simple hinge adjustment, or if you are not confident tackling it yourself, ring us on 02380 201687 or 07833 227576, or email info@vipwalls.co.uk. We service and adjust wardrobes we have fitted, and are happy to look at others too.
Common questions
- Why has my wardrobe door started catching on the frame?
- This is usually a sign the hinges need a small adjustment as the door has settled slightly. Most hinges have adjustment screws that let you shift the door back into position without any tools beyond a screwdriver.
- Why do my drawers stick in summer but not winter?
- This is normal timber movement caused by seasonal humidity changes, not a fault. Wood based furniture expands very slightly in humid conditions and settles again as the air dries out.
- How do I stop condensation forming in my fitted wardrobe?
- Avoid packing clothes tightly against the back panel, do not store damp items inside, and leave doors open occasionally to let air circulate, especially after humid weather.
- Can soft close hinges be repaired rather than replaced?
- In most cases yes, as the small damper mechanism inside can usually be replaced on its own without changing the whole hinge or drawer runner.
- How long should a fitted wardrobe last with normal use?
- A well made fitted wardrobe should perform well for a decade or more, with occasional adjustment to hinges, runners and handles being the main maintenance needed along the way.
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