ᐅ Why do MALM drawers sometimes open by themselves?

Hello everyone, recently I've been experiencing a strange issue with my IKEA Malm dresser: the drawers keep opening on their own without anyone touching them. I have checked several times to make sure the drawers are properly closed and also inspected the drawer slides for any damage or misalignment – everything seems fine. I’m curious about what might cause the drawers to open by themselves. Could it be a design flaw, a problem with the hardware, or perhaps something related to physical conditions like air pressure, temperature, or humidity? If anyone has practical experience or suggestions for solutions, I would appreciate any help.

Often, it is due to a slight incline or uneven floor. Just place a spirit level on it to check if the dresser is level.

Hello SAUBAR, your description is already very good. The often overlooked issue with MALM drawers is that they come without stoppers and have very smooth-running wheels. If the surface underneath is not perfectly level, even a slight incline is enough for the drawer to slowly open by itself due to gravity. Temperature fluctuations can also cause the wood to slightly expand or contract, which may lead to movement. My tip: try adding small anti-slip pads at the point where the drawer contacts the carcass. This helps reduce unwanted opening.

Just check if the drawer is properly latched. MALM often lacks a proper stopper mechanism.

lubla schrieb:
Often it’s due to a slight slope or uneven floor.

That is probably only part of the truth – but IKEA seems to accept this issue in order to manufacture the parts more cheaply. Unfortunately, the MALM series is designed for mass production rather than durability or comfort. Deliberately, stoppers or self-locking mechanisms are omitted. Just consider the increased risk of children bumping into an open drawer or getting their fingers caught. The issues of twisting and panel warping are also handled very poorly.

Let me add to that: There are also cases where the drawer slides are a bit too smooth or have too much play. Especially when the drawer is not fully loaded, the weight can shift enough to cause it to move on its own. If you have multiple drawers that open, a slight stop often helps, which can be attached using some felt or foam rubber to ease the issue.