ᐅ IKEA Malm drawer handles often break – how can they be reinforced?

Hello everyone, I have an issue with the drawer handles on the IKEA Malm dressers. These plastic handles keep breaking, especially with frequent use and when pulled a bit forcefully. I’m interested to know if there are any proven methods or tricks to better secure or reinforce these handles to prevent premature breakage. It’s important for me to avoid replacing the handles completely if possible – maybe by gluing, reinforcing from the inside, or similar approaches. Does anyone have experience or ideas on this? Looking forward to your tips!

Hello Leventsan,

First of all: The issue with the Malm drawer handles breaking is unfortunately well known because the plastic material used is not very durable.

Here is a brief guide on how you can reinforce the handles:

1. Remove the handle shells: Completely unscrew the handles and check the mounting screws.

2. Strengthen with epoxy resin or two-component adhesive: Apply a thin layer of epoxy resin inside the handles. This hardens and significantly improves stability.

3. Alternatively, you can glue small strips of thin metal sheet or even sturdy plastic inside to distribute the stress.

4. Be careful not to overtighten the screws, as this can cause the material to break more easily.

Finally, after the adhesive has cured, check the handles. I recommend avoiding applying too much force when using the handles to prevent them from breaking again.

I hope this helps you! 🙂

Hello LEVENTSAN,

I think your question is very well formulated and easy to understand. The Malm handles are known for their weak point, especially at the transition area between the handle surface and the mounting.

A few general tips from my many years of experience:
- Avoid pulling at an angle; always pull as straight as possible. This distributes the load better.
- When you remove the handles, also check whether the screws are already damaged or too long – they can cause pressure marks in the plastic.
- Additional reinforcement could also help by using a self-adhesive metal plate (e.g., thin aluminum) under the inner part of the handle, although a precise fit is very important here.

If you are somewhat handy, it might also be worth switching to alternative metal handles that are compatible – this saves you from constant repairs.

I hope my advice helps you!

I simply reinforced my handles on the inside with a bit of super glue. Since then, no more breakages, works well.

Check if the screws are properly tightened. Often, the handle breaks when the screw is loose or not secure enough.

KUDAISY schrieb:
Apply epoxy resin or 2-component adhesive inside

Thanks, that sounds like a good professional method! Do you know if I can get epoxy resin in small quantities at a hardware store? So far, I only have regular superglue and wonder if that would be sufficient.

TEOZAR schrieb:
precisely fitting metal plates for reinforcement, but watch out for eccentric pulling

I’m already trying to pull straight deliberately; it’s more about making the handles more stable under load overall. Metal plates sound interesting—do you think they can be cut to size easily without much effort?

Looking forward to hearing more experiences!