Hello everyone,
I have a Malm chest of drawers from IKEA, and I noticed that one of the drawers no longer sits flush with the frame. When I close the drawer, it sticks out slightly and catches a bit, which negatively affects both the appearance and functionality.
I have already checked if any screws are loose or if the wood has warped, but I couldn't find any clear cause. The mechanism seems to be intact.
Does anyone know this issue, and are there any proven repair methods that can be done by oneself? I would prefer not to replace the entire drawer set immediately.
I would be very grateful for tips, helpful experiences, or special tricks!
I have a Malm chest of drawers from IKEA, and I noticed that one of the drawers no longer sits flush with the frame. When I close the drawer, it sticks out slightly and catches a bit, which negatively affects both the appearance and functionality.
I have already checked if any screws are loose or if the wood has warped, but I couldn't find any clear cause. The mechanism seems to be intact.
Does anyone know this issue, and are there any proven repair methods that can be done by oneself? I would prefer not to replace the entire drawer set immediately.
I would be very grateful for tips, helpful experiences, or special tricks!
Hi everyone! 🙂
If the dresser drawer doesn’t close fully at the front, sometimes the issue is related to the front panel itself.
It’s not just the drawer slides; the small metal clip located at the front of the drawer box can also shift or bend. This clip is there to secure the drawer.
A little tip: You can try gently pressing the clip slightly closer to the front with a small screwdriver. This often helps the drawer close much better. But be careful not to use too much force, or something might break. ;-)
If the dresser drawer doesn’t close fully at the front, sometimes the issue is related to the front panel itself.
It’s not just the drawer slides; the small metal clip located at the front of the drawer box can also shift or bend. This clip is there to secure the drawer.
A little tip: You can try gently pressing the clip slightly closer to the front with a small screwdriver. This often helps the drawer close much better. But be careful not to use too much force, or something might break. ;-)
putan schrieb:
You can try carefully pushing the clip a bit closer to the front with a small screwdriver\Thanks for the tip, I will give that a try!
I also have a question about this: Could slight warping of the wood due to moisture affect the drawer slides? This happens in my bedroom, where it sometimes gets a bit more humid.
Or are the rails and mechanisms generally unaffected by this?
mekaplo schrieb:
Could it be that a slight deformation of the wood due to moisture affects the drawer slides?\Definitely yes! Wood is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs and releases moisture, which can cause swelling or shrinking. This is especially true for particleboard, like the IKEA Malm series, which can result in noticeable fitting issues.
If the dresser is placed in a more humid area, it can affect the alignment of the drawer slides. In other words, the drawers may no longer run smoothly or close flush.
My advice: place the dresser in a drier location or check the humidity levels. That ultimately made the biggest difference for me.
plo60 schrieb:
In the end, that made the biggest difference for me too.Good point to finish with: Besides mechanical adjustment, the environment also plays an important role.
Summary of the process:
- Check and adjust screws and metal guides
- Inspect the clips on the front and carefully adjust if necessary
- Clean and lubricate the rails
- Check the location for moisture and, if needed, move the dresser
If these steps are followed, the Malm drawer should close flush again soon.
Good luck to everyone with the repairs!
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