ᐅ Help: Malm Nightstand Scratched Due to Moisture – What Can I Do?

Hello everyone,

I hope you can help me: I own a Malm bedside table from Ikea that has developed some scratches and dull spots on the surface due to moisture. The moisture likely came from wet glasses left on it for too long or possibly condensation from a drinking glass. Now, I’m wondering which methods are effective yet gentle enough to repair or reduce these visible damages.

Is it possible to treat this with household remedies like vinegar or oil, or would professional furniture care, sanding, and repainting be more appropriate? I don’t want to risk causing further damage to the wood. Does anyone have experience with this exact model or the coated wood the bedside table is made of?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Hello,

the most effective way to treat scratches is by using a furniture polish stick. It fills small scratches well and is easy to apply.

If they are water stains, try using a dry cloth with some toothpaste – this often helps.

Hello michelan31,

I am very familiar with the issue of moisture damage on furniture, and it can be really frustrating. You seem very careful with your question, which is great, because incorrect treatment often makes the surface even worse.

I would recommend starting cautiously, perhaps with mild products first, so you can see how the material reacts. If you are unsure whether the coated wood can withstand it, it’s better to consult a professional.

Are the scratches only superficial, or are they quite deep? Depending on this, you can either do more extensive repairs or just conceal them.

Hello michelan31,

to answer your question as precisely as possible, I need a few more details: Is it the classic Malm nightstand with a laminated surface or with a painted wood surface? This is important because the repair options differ.

Water stains and scratches on laminated material often cannot be sanded down because the laminate is very thin. In this case, polishing again with special furniture care pens or wax products is recommended to visually smooth the surface. Important: Never rub too hard or sand, as this will damage the laminate.

For painted or real wood surfaces, you can carefully work with very fine sandpaper (e.g., grit 600 or higher), then apply clear lacquer or treat with furniture polish.

Home remedies like toothpaste only work on very light surface scratches and are not a permanent solution—more experimental.

One last question: Is the nightstand damaged in very visible areas, or is the damage rather inconspicuous? This will affect whether you should aim for a visually perfect solution or a more pragmatic approach.

Looking forward to your reply!

Oh man, I can totally understand your situation. That’s really frustrating, but don’t panic! 🙂

If the damage was caused by moisture, you have a good chance of fixing it. I once had similar stains on my Malm nightstand and tried a method using "olive oil and ash" (yes, it sounds crazy, but it really works). Just put a little olive oil on a cotton cloth, then sprinkle some finely ground ash on it, and gently rub the stains in circular motions. Afterwards, polish it with a clean cloth. It looks great!

If you don’t want to try that, you can also test furniture wax – it restores shine to the wood and offers protection. Keep your chin up, it will look great again! 🙂

PIN66 schrieb:
Is it the classic Malm nightstand with a laminated surface or with a painted wood finish?

Thanks for asking. It is the classic Malm nightstand with the light laminated surface – so no real wood paint finish.

Fortunately, the scratches are not very deep, mostly just on the surface, and there are also some matte spots, probably caused by moisture.

I’m worried that sanding might damage the laminate.

noge58 schrieb:
"Olive oil and ash" tried (yes, sounds crazy, but it really works).

That surprises me. Has anyone actually tried this, and what exactly did the result look like?

I’m very interested in hearing about experiences specifically with the laminate.