Hello everyone, I recently bought a Malm nightstand from IKEA. Lately, I have noticed that the drawers of this nightstand seem to have some looseness. Specifically, the drawers do not fit firmly but instead wobble slightly and do not feel as stable as I expected. I have already tried tightening the screws a bit, but the problem remains. Can anyone explain why this looseness occurs? Are there any known design flaws or material issues? And how could I properly fix this without having to replace the nightstand entirely?
BOMILAN schrieb:
If the wobbling persists, check whether the plastic stoppers at the ends of the drawers are still intactThis recommendation is definitely important. Additionally, I can add the following from a technical perspective:
The Malm series uses drawer slides with metal brackets running inside plastic rails. Over time, both the plastic parts can become brittle and the metal brackets may bend slightly. This often causes not only the wobbling but also noise when opening and closing.
A systematic approach can help: completely remove the screws, take out the drawer, then inspect the plastic slides for cracks or wear and, if necessary, lightly smooth the contact surfaces with fine sandpaper.
After that, reassemble everything in reverse order. Proper alignment and even tightening of the screws are crucial for reinstallation to prevent any tension that could cause wobbling.
How often is the drawer being opened and closed? Heavy use with a certain load weight speeds up wear.
I would like to offer a slightly different perspective here:
Often, the term "loose joint" is used to describe a slight movement in the drawer, which may not necessarily indicate a defect or wear issue. Considering how the Malm nightstands are constructed – with relatively thin panels and simple plastic fittings – you have to accept minimal tolerances.
Mass production means that small variations within manufacturing tolerances are to be expected. A bit of play is actually built in to keep the construction affordable and easy to assemble.
My question to Bahabla: How much wobbling is there? Is it noticeable but only a few millimeters (fractions of an inch), or are larger gaps present? Because if the gaps are too large, action should of course be taken, but sometimes the term "wobble" is exaggerated.
Also, the floor should be checked: An uneven surface is one of the main causes of seemingly unstable furniture.
Often, the term "loose joint" is used to describe a slight movement in the drawer, which may not necessarily indicate a defect or wear issue. Considering how the Malm nightstands are constructed – with relatively thin panels and simple plastic fittings – you have to accept minimal tolerances.
Domau0 schrieb:
can occur in mass production
Mass production means that small variations within manufacturing tolerances are to be expected. A bit of play is actually built in to keep the construction affordable and easy to assemble.
My question to Bahabla: How much wobbling is there? Is it noticeable but only a few millimeters (fractions of an inch), or are larger gaps present? Because if the gaps are too large, action should of course be taken, but sometimes the term "wobble" is exaggerated.
Also, the floor should be checked: An uneven surface is one of the main causes of seemingly unstable furniture.
In summary:
1. The Malm nightstands primarily use particleboard with a laminate finish and basic drawer slides, which inherently allow for some play.
2. The plastic stoppers and rollers are the main wear parts, which can cause wobbling with frequent use.
3. Tightening screws is advisable but should not be the only measure taken.
4. To assess stability, the furniture must stand level on an even floor.
Recommendation: If the nightstand is still new and the wobbling exceeds the expected degree, exchanging it or making a claim with IKEA may be worthwhile. Otherwise, minor repairs such as replacing the stoppers, adding felt pads, and adjusting the drawer slides can help.
Technical details about the Malm series and its assembly system are explained in the IKEA assembly manual and serve as a reference for further work on the furniture.
1. The Malm nightstands primarily use particleboard with a laminate finish and basic drawer slides, which inherently allow for some play.
2. The plastic stoppers and rollers are the main wear parts, which can cause wobbling with frequent use.
3. Tightening screws is advisable but should not be the only measure taken.
4. To assess stability, the furniture must stand level on an even floor.
Recommendation: If the nightstand is still new and the wobbling exceeds the expected degree, exchanging it or making a claim with IKEA may be worthwhile. Otherwise, minor repairs such as replacing the stoppers, adding felt pads, and adjusting the drawer slides can help.
Technical details about the Malm series and its assembly system are explained in the IKEA assembly manual and serve as a reference for further work on the furniture.
sifope schrieb:
How noticeable is the wobbling? Is it slight, just a few millimeters, or are there larger gaps?Thanks for asking! The wobbling is more like a slight rocking when gently pressing on the front of the drawer, I feel maybe 2-3 millimeters (about 0.1 inch) of movement at most. No large gaps – it’s more like the drawer isn’t fully secure in the slide.
Dilen schrieb:
How often is the drawer opened and closed? Frequent use with a certain weight load can accelerate wear.The drawer is opened several times a day, usually with a few books and small items inside, so not very heavy but used regularly.
I’ll probably check the stops and rollers, even if that means removing the drawer completely. Thanks already for all the tips! I’ll update if I find anything or have more questions.
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