Understand · closing and opening

Soft-close, self-close and push-to-open: what is different?

Self-close pulls a drawer inward. Soft-close controls the final closing movement. Push-to-open releases a drawer when you press its front. Opening and closing are separate functions, and some compatible systems combine them.

Self-close pulls the drawer inward; soft-close slows its inward movement near closed; push-to-open responds to an inward press by releasing outward.
Arrows show the action, not the parts inside a slide. The amount of travel and the mechanism depend on the product.

Recognize what your drawer does

Self-close
The mechanism draws the drawer through the last part of closing once it engages. It may close briskly. Self-closing action alone does not establish that the movement is damped.
Soft-close
The final closing movement is slowed and controlled. Check whether that function belongs to the slide or a separate compatible device; a soft-closing drawer does not identify the hardware family by itself.
Push-to-open
A press on the front triggers opening so you can reach and pull the drawer. It describes the opening action, not whether closing is soft. Some systems combine both functions; an arbitrary push latch and an arbitrary soft-close slide are not automatically compatible.

Observe a normal gentle cycle. If a function has stopped working, use what the drawer previously did or what the identified hardware documents. A failed soft-close drawer should not be recorded as an ordinary drawer just because it now slams.

Continue with a function you know is fitted

Choose the behavior relevant to your task. Each choice confirms that one function and then asks what you want to do; it does not mean other functions are absent.

My drawer has soft-close

My drawer has self-close without damping

My drawer has push-to-open

Not sure which function is fitted? Start with your task and describe what you can observe.

Choose the next check from the actual problem

The drawer used to close softly: use soft-close troubleshooting. Note whether it fails to catch, resists closing or closes without slowing. Those observations are more useful than assuming the whole slide is worn out.

It will not stay closed: use the won’t-stay-closed guide. That symptom alone does not prove a missing or failed self-close feature.

You want soft-close added: begin with the soft-close upgrade guide. Compare a compatible add-on with replacement soft-close slides before buying. Retrofitting is a compatibility decision, not just a space for an extra device.

Manufacturer examples

KV 1805 illustrates self-closing roller action. Blum BLUMOTION describes controlled closing, while TIP-ON BLUMOTION for MOVENTO shows a designed combination of mechanical opening and soft-close. These examples establish distinct functions, not cross-brand compatibility or a universal gap.