Cabinets made from particleboard work great in utility and laundry rooms, and they are fairly inexpensive. But particleboard has a major weakness--- it doesn't hold screw threads very well. So if you swing the door open too fast, the force can rip the hinge screw right out of the cabinet wall.
Don’t worry; the fix is easy and cheap. Here’s how to patch things up. You’ll need a bottle of wood glue, a ½ inch drill bit and a package of ½ inch diameter hardwood plugs which is only about $2 at a home center.
Start by removing the hinge screws on the cabinet and flipping the hinge out of your way. If the accident pulled out a large chunk of the particleboard, glue it back into place and let the glue set up before proceeding with the rest of the repair. Drill out the stripped screw hole to accept the plug.
Next, fill the hole with wood glue and install the plug. Smear some glue onto the plug and embed it in the hole. Tap the plug with a hammer to fully seat it. Then wipe up any glue ooze with a wet rag. Then drill a pilot hole. Mark the location for the new screw hole. Then drill a pilot hole with a bit that’s smaller than the screw’s diameter and install the new screw, and you are all set.
ADJUST BYPASS CLOSET DOORS
There’s no reason to put up with sticking bypass closet doors, or doors that have uneven gaps against
the jambs--- especially since they’re so easy to fix. Usually the mounting bracket screws have loosened up, making the door sag and rub against the carpet or floor.
To fix it, you’ll have to work from inside the closet, so get a flashlight and screwdrivers. Start by pushing one door closed against the jamb. Hold it against the jamb while you adjust the brackets. Do the same on the other door. If the screw holes are stripped, just move the bracket over a few inches and remount it.
