Hello everyone, I have a Malm nightstand from IKEA in my bedroom, and I’ve noticed that it creaks with every small movement, such as opening and closing the drawer or placing objects on it. I suspect that some materials might be rubbing against each other or that a joint is not fully tight. I’m interested in what specific causes might make the Malm nightstand creak during movement. Are there known weak points or common faults in this furniture series that could lead to the noise? Additionally, I would like to know the best ways to fix or prevent the creaking without causing any damage. Thanks in advance for any tips and experiences!
Hello Rense, I’m familiar with your problem with the squeaking Malm nightstand from my own experience. The squeaking often comes from slight movements at the joints, especially when the screws are not fully tightened or when the wood shifts slightly.
With furniture made of particleboard like the Malm, it can also happen that edges or surfaces swell or warp slightly due to small fluctuations in moisture. This can increase the squeaking. It’s best to carefully check all screws and connections and tighten them if necessary.
Another tip: sometimes applying a small amount of furniture wax or silicone spray to the contact points can help reduce friction—but be careful not to use too much so nothing becomes sticky or damaged.
If the problem is on the drawer side, the sliding system (e.g., rollers or plastic guides) can also cause noise due to dirt or wear. Cleaning or light re-lubrication helps here.
With furniture made of particleboard like the Malm, it can also happen that edges or surfaces swell or warp slightly due to small fluctuations in moisture. This can increase the squeaking. It’s best to carefully check all screws and connections and tighten them if necessary.
Another tip: sometimes applying a small amount of furniture wax or silicone spray to the contact points can help reduce friction—but be careful not to use too much so nothing becomes sticky or damaged.
If the problem is on the drawer side, the sliding system (e.g., rollers or plastic guides) can also cause noise due to dirt or wear. Cleaning or light re-lubrication helps here.
Interesting question! But honestly, creaky furniture is almost a sign of life and history, isn’t it? 😉 Maybe it’s not a negative thing, but a bit of charm!
Joking aside, I think many people simply have too high expectations for a piece of particleboard furniture that’s produced cheaply. The materials are often not designed for long-term stress or constant movement. Every screw and piece of chipboard is minimally compressed or pressed somewhere – and that just causes noises.
By the way, I’m skeptical that you can completely get rid of the creaking without altering the piece of furniture or voiding the warranty.
What do you think, can DIY solutions be easily applied to flat-pack furniture without making things worse later on?
Joking aside, I think many people simply have too high expectations for a piece of particleboard furniture that’s produced cheaply. The materials are often not designed for long-term stress or constant movement. Every screw and piece of chipboard is minimally compressed or pressed somewhere – and that just causes noises.
By the way, I’m skeptical that you can completely get rid of the creaking without altering the piece of furniture or voiding the warranty.
What do you think, can DIY solutions be easily applied to flat-pack furniture without making things worse later on?
It's great that you brought up this topic here! 🙂 I had the same issue with my Malm nightstand and was actually able to fix the creaking.
What worked for me was completely loosening the screws at the joints and then carefully tightening them again. Often, you only notice when tightening properly that a screw isn’t gripping correctly. After that, I rubbed a bit of wax on the wooden joints.
Very important: no oil or grease, as that attracts dust and becomes sticky! Use only proper furniture wax or beeswax.
By the way, I find that if you do this regularly, the piece of furniture stays quiet for a long time and also looks fresh. 🙂
What worked for me was completely loosening the screws at the joints and then carefully tightening them again. Often, you only notice when tightening properly that a screw isn’t gripping correctly. After that, I rubbed a bit of wax on the wooden joints.
Very important: no oil or grease, as that attracts dust and becomes sticky! Use only proper furniture wax or beeswax.
By the way, I find that if you do this regularly, the piece of furniture stays quiet for a long time and also looks fresh. 🙂
Deandre schrieb:
It can happen that the edges or surfaces swell or warp slightly due to minor fluctuations in moisture.That makes sense to me. I’ve noticed it creaks more often when the humidity changes, for example when I air out the room in the morning or heat it up.
nanidra schrieb:
By the way, I’m skeptical that the creaking can be completely eliminated without altering the furniture or voiding the warranty.That’s a good point. I don’t really want to tinker too much with the furniture or make changes since it’s only a few months old. Maybe the creaking is just ‘normal’ and not really a defect?
Does anyone know how IKEA handles cases like this? Can you make a claim on a nightstand if the creaking is noticeable?
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