ᐅ How can I disassemble MALM furniture without using any tools?

Hello everyone,

I have a somewhat unusual question regarding the disassembly of IKEA Malm furniture – specifically about how to separate the individual parts without using any tools. I’m mainly interested in whether anyone has experience with taking these pieces apart without screwdrivers, Allen keys, or similar tools. Are there any tricks or mechanisms that can be released with just a bit of force or skill?

I’m asking because I’m currently moving and want to avoid carrying a toolbox if possible, especially since I only need to transport the furniture a short distance and plan to reassemble it afterward.

I would really appreciate any helpful tips or experiences!

GEBU56 schrieb:
if anyone has experience with how to disassemble this furniture without using screwdrivers, Allen keys, or similar tools.

That’s great that you want to do it without tools! 🙂

For MALM dressers, many parts are actually secured with screws and fittings that normally require tools. However, if you only want to remove the back panel, you can often carefully slide a thin spatula or even a sturdy credit card under the edge of the back panel and gently loosen the nails or staples.

Sometimes you can also take out the drawers and, from the inside, carefully move hinges or locks – with some finesse, you can manage quite a bit without needing to screw anything.

Patience and attention to detail are key – don’t give up and look closely at the connections! You can do it! ;-)

DUKUSU schrieb:
Carefully slide a narrow putty knife or even a sturdy credit card under the edge of the back panel and gently loosen the nails or staples.

That is a good approach; however, I would like to add that most MALM furniture is built very sturdily, and the joints (dowels, screws, cam lock fasteners) cannot be undone without tools if you want to fully disassemble the piece.

If you only want to remove the drawers, you can often simply unhook them by manually releasing the locks on the drawer sides—usually made of plastic. This doesn’t require tools, just some careful handling.

I recommend looking for the IKEA assembly instructions online as a PDF. They clearly show all the connections, and some parts can indeed be loosened without tools by gently prying or wedging. However, I consider it very unlikely that you can completely take the furniture apart without any tools.

GEBU56 schrieb:
how these pieces of furniture can be disassembled without using screwdrivers, Allen keys, or similar tools.

Good morning! I have personally taken apart MALM dressers and found that completely disassembling them without tools is really difficult.

It is important to know that MALM furniture is mostly assembled using standard connectors like cam locks and dowels. These are designed for use with tools and cannot be loosened simply by force or bending without damaging the furniture.

If your goal is just to make the furniture easier to handle for transport, I recommend at least removing the drawers, which usually can be done without tools. Then try carefully tilting or carrying the furniture if you cannot remove any screws.

An alternative, if no tools are available, is to gently pry off the backing panels using thin plastic spatulas or other flat, sturdy materials, as already mentioned.

If you plan to reassemble the furniture later, I advise against forcing the connections apart. The right tools are really the only way to avoid damage.

Feel free to ask if you have any more questions!