How to Fix a Cabinet Door That Won't Close

European-style cabinet hinges have three adjustment screws. Two minutes with a screwdriver fixes almost any alignment issue.

Modern cabinet hinges (Blum, Salice, generic copies) have three screws. The big one closest to the door adjusts depth — in and out. The middle screw adjusts the door up and down. The third screw adjusts left and right alignment.

Close the door and look at the gap. If it's wider at the top than the bottom, the bottom hinge needs to move the door left or right slightly until the gap is even. If the door sticks out at the front, turn the depth screw clockwise to pull it in.

If the hinge cup itself has pulled loose from the door, the screws have stripped their holes. Snap a couple of toothpicks broken with wood glue into the holes, let dry an hour, then re-drive the screws. They'll bite like new.

Replacement hinges are cheap but matching the cup size and overlay style matters — bring the old hinge to the store before you buy.