ᐅ Why do MALM drawers sometimes break more quickly?

Hello everyone, I have a question that has been on my mind for a while: Why do MALM drawers sometimes break down faster than expected?

Specifically, I mean the well-known IKEA model with drawers, which is used in many households. For some users, the drawers start to stick or even break at the rails and slides after a relatively short time. I have noticed that this doesn’t happen with all MALM dressers, even though they look identical.

I suspect it is related to usage and load, but I still wonder if there might be design flaws or material issues that cause these drawers to wear out more quickly. Are there factors users should be aware of to extend the lifespan?

Perhaps there are also common mistakes during assembly or other external causes I haven’t considered? I’m very interested in your opinions and experiences, especially if you know details that are not so obvious.

Overall, the MALM drawer cabinet is solidly built for its price, but there are design weaknesses that can lead to premature wear with heavy use.

One main issue is often the choice of materials: the front and side panels are usually made of coated MDF or particleboard, which are more susceptible to damage under heavy loads or moisture. The metal drawer slides with plastic rollers are functional but not designed for excessive weight.

Another factor is assembly: inaccurate alignment of the slides or over-tightening screws can cause the drawer to stick or run unevenly, increasing wear on the material and the runners.

Last but not least, the weight should be considered. Drawers are often overloaded, which puts significantly more stress on the edges and slides than intended. This typically leads to faster failure of the drawer runners.

I fully support Rodolfo’s comments and would like to add some more technical details:

The MALM is a good compromise between design, price, and functionality, but the drawer slides use relatively simple ball bearings or plastic rollers. Over time, these components tend to wear out, especially when lateral or vertical forces are applied.

Due to the material, the drawer side panels may deform slightly under heavy load—particularly when the drawer is not fully extended and the weight is unevenly distributed. It is also important to correctly align the tracks during installation: if the drawer slides are not mounted flat and parallel, friction points can develop in the roller bearings.

A common mistake during assembly is overtightening or loosening the screws on the slides, which affects both stability and smooth operation of the mechanism.

Last but not least, moisture—such as high humidity in the room or water vapor—can cause the particleboard to swell, impairing the smooth functioning of the drawers.

To extend the lifespan: regularly check the screws, load the drawers carefully within the recommended weight limit (as specified in the assembly instructions), and keep the unit in a protected location with low humidity.

Rodolfo schrieb:
Drawers are often overloaded, which significantly increases the stress on edges and runners beyond the intended limits.

This is really a classic problem that catches all of us at some point 😉. MALM drawers look quite sturdy, but when you start rummaging through them and stuffing in lots of stuff, you eventually realize: whoops, there’s more weight on them than the drawers are happy to handle.

I think people often underestimate how important proper use is. Pull gently, don’t open them abruptly, and avoid storing your entire tool collection in one drawer. These basic habits help keep the drawers in good condition for a long time.

Also, I can confirm what glamo mentioned about moisture. In my sister’s apartment, the MALM is in the kitchen, and steam from cooking does cause the panels to swell slightly. The only solution is timely ventilation and, again, not overloading the drawers excessively.

Interesting thread here, thanks for the helpful input so far. However, I would like to add another perspective:

glamo schrieb:
Due to the material, the side panels of the drawers tend to deform slightly under heavy load

That is certainly true, but I wonder if IKEA’s mass production and modern manufacturing process also allow for certain tolerances that cause quality to vary between batches.

I am aware of cases where seemingly identical MALM dressers perform completely differently: one model lasts for years without issues, while another from the same series starts making noises, has sticking drawer runners, or even shows breaks in the load-bearing parts after only a few months.

So, I suspect that in addition to usage, manufacturing tolerances and storage conditions at IKEA or their distribution centers might also play a role. Perhaps some packages are affected by moisture or storage conditions, which later impacts durability.

Does anyone have personal observations or even experience with complaints or replacement processes related to this?