A drawer closing mechanism includes a toothed rack fixed in position with respect to a furniture frame member, a toothed drive gear mounted to a drawer for engaging the teeth on the rack, and a spring with two ends, one end being fixedly attached to the drive gear and rotatable therewith and the opposite end being fixed, wherein as the drawer is pulled open, the teeth on the drive gear engage the teeth on the rack and rotate the drive gear, and as the drive gear rotates, the spring is wound and potential energy is stored in the tension therein. The spring can be a flat wire spring wound circumferentially about a central point in a spiral.