Hello everyone,
I have been experiencing an issue for some time now where the drawers of my IKEA Malm dresser often stick. By "stick," I mean that they no longer open and close smoothly and easily but tend to catch quickly or become difficult to operate. I am interested in understanding the exact causes. Are there common reasons such as incorrect assembly, material deformation, or possible problems with the drawer slides?
I bought the dresser about 2 years ago, and it is placed on a very level surface. I use the drawers normally, without any excessive load. Still, they are increasingly sticking.
Perhaps someone here has good knowledge about this and can also explain what to pay attention to during assembly or maintenance to prevent the sticking? Thanks in advance for your detailed advice!
I have been experiencing an issue for some time now where the drawers of my IKEA Malm dresser often stick. By "stick," I mean that they no longer open and close smoothly and easily but tend to catch quickly or become difficult to operate. I am interested in understanding the exact causes. Are there common reasons such as incorrect assembly, material deformation, or possible problems with the drawer slides?
I bought the dresser about 2 years ago, and it is placed on a very level surface. I use the drawers normally, without any excessive load. Still, they are increasingly sticking.
Perhaps someone here has good knowledge about this and can also explain what to pay attention to during assembly or maintenance to prevent the sticking? Thanks in advance for your detailed advice!
Thank you for the offer, @Domau0, much appreciated. A detailed guide would be great, especially on how to fully remove the drawers without causing any damage.
My drawers seem to stick slightly, but they’re not completely blocked.
Regarding humidity: The dresser is in my bedroom, where temperature and humidity are fairly constant, but I hadn’t considered its influence before.
My drawers seem to stick slightly, but they’re not completely blocked.
Regarding humidity: The dresser is in my bedroom, where temperature and humidity are fairly constant, but I hadn’t considered its influence before.
Domau0 schrieb:
If you want to achieve true cleanliness during cleaning, alcohol or special plastic cleaners are suitable, but please avoid water or harsher agents.Exactly, it is important to avoid greasy substances like WD-40 or oil. They can attract dust and make the problem worse in the medium to long term. By the way, not all silicone sprays are the same – there are versions for plastic sliders that dry without leaving any residue.
fumau schrieb:
@Palenar: The drawer slides look fairly clean; I will clean them thoroughly again.When you remove the slides, also check the plastic or metal rollers for wear and whether they move smoothly. Often, you only notice this when taking them out of the track. If rollers are not perfectly round or are deformed, they can cause quick jamming.
Palenar schrieb:
If rollers are not round or are deformed, there are quick clamps available.That sounds interesting. I will check this carefully during disassembly.
I will then clean the guide rails with alcohol and see if the rollers still run smoothly.
@Domau0: Looking forward to your instructions.
Here is a detailed guide for Malm drawer slides:
1. Pull the drawer out completely until it stops.
2. On the inside of the drawer slides (both sides), there are usually small levers or clips. You need to press or lift these simultaneously to release the slide from the rails.
3. Carefully remove the slides without breaking anything.
4. Clean the metal rails and plastic/metal rollers with alcohol and a lint-free cloth.
5. Check the rollers for smooth rotation and proper alignment.
6. Inspect the mounting screws; if necessary, slightly loosen them and then retighten.
7. Reinstall everything, making sure the rails are evenly positioned and the slides click in smoothly.
8. Open and close the drawer several times before fully loading it.
If the levers or clips are stuck, a narrow small screwdriver can help. Be careful, as the plastic parts are quite fragile.
1. Pull the drawer out completely until it stops.
2. On the inside of the drawer slides (both sides), there are usually small levers or clips. You need to press or lift these simultaneously to release the slide from the rails.
3. Carefully remove the slides without breaking anything.
4. Clean the metal rails and plastic/metal rollers with alcohol and a lint-free cloth.
5. Check the rollers for smooth rotation and proper alignment.
6. Inspect the mounting screws; if necessary, slightly loosen them and then retighten.
7. Reinstall everything, making sure the rails are evenly positioned and the slides click in smoothly.
8. Open and close the drawer several times before fully loading it.
If the levers or clips are stuck, a narrow small screwdriver can help. Be careful, as the plastic parts are quite fragile.
I would like to add that with Malm dressers and similar models, it is common for the screws in the wood to become loose over time, causing the drawer slides to shift slightly and resulting in jamming.
Usually, retightening the screws or even applying wood glue or threadlocker helps to secure them firmly and maintain stability.
Additionally, small inaccuracies during assembly, such as slightly misaligned rails, can significantly reduce smooth movement. So, make sure to align everything carefully!
Usually, retightening the screws or even applying wood glue or threadlocker helps to secure them firmly and maintain stability.
Additionally, small inaccuracies during assembly, such as slightly misaligned rails, can significantly reduce smooth movement. So, make sure to align everything carefully!
Thank you very much for all the tips; they are very helpful.
I will remove all the drawer slides this evening, clean them, and check the rollers. I will also thoroughly inspect the screws again.
I will report back on how it goes.
One more question for the experienced users:
Is it possible to buy replacement drawer slides for Malm drawers and swap them out without having to replace the entire dresser?
I will remove all the drawer slides this evening, clean them, and check the rollers. I will also thoroughly inspect the screws again.
I will report back on how it goes.
One more question for the experienced users:
Is it possible to buy replacement drawer slides for Malm drawers and swap them out without having to replace the entire dresser?
Similar topics