Hello everyone,
I have an issue with my Malm dressers from IKEA. The drawers squeak unpleasantly when opening and closing. I suspect the problem is with the drawer slides, possibly due to insufficient lubrication or the use of the wrong lubricant. My specific question is:
Which lubricant is best suited to reliably and permanently lubricate Malm drawers so that the squeaking stops and the drawers operate smoothly?
It is important to me that the lubricant does not become dirty or attract dust and can be applied evenly. Does anyone have experience with particularly recommended products—also regarding compatibility with plastic or metal slides?
Thanks in advance for your tips and experiences.
I have an issue with my Malm dressers from IKEA. The drawers squeak unpleasantly when opening and closing. I suspect the problem is with the drawer slides, possibly due to insufficient lubrication or the use of the wrong lubricant. My specific question is:
Which lubricant is best suited to reliably and permanently lubricate Malm drawers so that the squeaking stops and the drawers operate smoothly?
It is important to me that the lubricant does not become dirty or attract dust and can be applied evenly. Does anyone have experience with particularly recommended products—also regarding compatibility with plastic or metal slides?
Thanks in advance for your tips and experiences.
chen67 schrieb:
I had the same problem with my Malm dresser! 🙂Great, thanks for the encouragement, chen67!
What exactly do you mean by an affordable silicone spray without harsh solvents?
Can you recommend a specific product you have used that I can find at a hardware store or online?
I don’t want to buy anything that could damage plastic parts or leave a bad odor in the bedroom.
Looking forward to your tips.
ELISEO8 schrieb:
I don’t want to buy anything that could damage plastic parts or leave an unpleasant odor in the bedroom.Absolutely understandable! 🙂
I once bought "Caramba silicone spray 400ml"—it has a mild, pleasant smell (not chemical or sharp) and is specifically designed for use on plastic, rubber, and metal.
It worked great to loosen up my Malm drawer and stopped the squeaking. You can usually find it for under 5 euros in most large DIY stores or online.
The risk of it damaging plastic is really minimal since it contains no aggressive solvents.
Of course, ventilating the room well after spraying helps maintain good indoor air quality.
Good luck! 🙂
J
Johnathon16 Feb 2016 09:04chen67 schrieb:
"Caramba Silicone Spray 400ml" purchased, it has a pleasantly mild scentCaramba silicone spray is often recommended and has proven reliable. However, you should always check the manufacturer’s instructions before use to see if it is suitable for furniture and plastic parts.
One more tip: Some people suggest using technical graphite spray as an alternative because it offers dry lubrication and doesn’t stick. However, graphite can leave black marks on metal surfaces, making it less suitable for furniture.
In your case, with Malm drawers that have plastic runners, silicone spray remains the best option.
How exactly do you plan to clean the drawers, and how dirty are the runners currently? After cleaning, it is advisable to apply the silicone spray sparingly and as precisely as possible, for example, using a small nozzle or spray attachment.
Johnathon schrieb:
How exactly do you plan to proceed when cleaning the drawers, and how dirty are the slides right now?I will completely remove the drawers this evening and clean the slides with isopropanol and a lint-free cloth, as Ron57 recommended.
The slides are not heavily soiled but are visibly covered with dust and some grease spots.
Afterwards, I plan to spray a few drops of Caramba silicone spray and then move the drawers back and forth several times.
If that doesn’t work, I will report back. Thanks so far for the many valuable tips!
This is really great to see how you’re already sorting this out! 🙂
I also had squeaky drawers in my Malm chest of drawers – and I’m totally impressed with silicone spray!
Be sure to let it soak in well after applying and slide the drawers open and closed several times. It sounds simple, but that really makes the difference!
Also: don’t spray too much, or it will attract dust and become sticky. It’s better to apply small amounts more often.
Fingers crossed the squeaking will be gone soon!
If you have any more questions or feedback, feel free to share!
I also had squeaky drawers in my Malm chest of drawers – and I’m totally impressed with silicone spray!
Be sure to let it soak in well after applying and slide the drawers open and closed several times. It sounds simple, but that really makes the difference!
Also: don’t spray too much, or it will attract dust and become sticky. It’s better to apply small amounts more often.
Fingers crossed the squeaking will be gone soon!
If you have any more questions or feedback, feel free to share!
A brief addition:
It is important that the silicone spray is solvent-free to avoid damaging the plastic components of the drawer slides.
When applying, use a fine nozzle if possible, as this allows for more precise placement of the lubricant and reduces overspray on unwanted areas.
After cleaning and lubricating, you can also tape off the drawer with masking tape to prevent accidentally spraying other surfaces.
Good luck with the application.
It is important that the silicone spray is solvent-free to avoid damaging the plastic components of the drawer slides.
When applying, use a fine nozzle if possible, as this allows for more precise placement of the lubricant and reduces overspray on unwanted areas.
After cleaning and lubricating, you can also tape off the drawer with masking tape to prevent accidentally spraying other surfaces.
Good luck with the application.
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