Soft-Close
A door or drawer feature that decelerates the close motion to prevent slamming.
Definition
Soft-Close is a damping feature on appliance doors and drawers (refrigerator drawers, dishwasher drawers, freezer doors) that decelerates the close motion in the last few inches, preventing slamming and reducing wear on the hinge. Soft-close mechanisms typically use a small hydraulic damper that compresses on close and resets when the door is opened again. The feature is mostly cosmetic (it does not extend appliance life noticeably) but adds to the perceived quality of premium appliances.
Where this term appears
Soft-Close comes up in product spec sheets, service reports, and troubleshooting documentation across most major appliance brands. If you encountered it in a manual or a service description and want context for how it fits into the larger picture, the related articles in the sidebar drill into the practical details. The glossary as a whole is intended as a quick lookup reference; for a deep dive on any specific topic, jump to the related buying guide or troubleshooting article.