ᐅ How do I repair Malm drawer handles?

Hello everyone,

I have several Malm dressers from IKEA where the drawer handles are loose or sometimes even broken off. The handles are made of plastic and are often attached with small screws that loosen or have stripped threads.

I’m interested in how to best repair these handles without having to replace the entire drawer. Are there specific techniques to securely reattach the handles? And which tools or replacement parts are recommended?

I look forward to your experiences and tips, whether simple solutions or professional methods.

Hello bernd47,

your question is very well put, and repairing Malm drawer handles is indeed possible with a few tricks. Here is a brief guide:

1. First, carefully remove the handle and check the screw. Often the threads are stripped or the screw is too short.
2. You can use wood glue or a special thread locker to secure the screw better.
3. If the hole is too large, it helps to glue in a wooden or plastic dowel to provide a firm grip for the screw again.
4. If the handle is broken, you can glue it with epoxy resin, which creates a strong bond.

It is important to use the right tools (for example, a screwdriver that matches the screw) and not to overtighten, as this can cause damage.

Hope this helps! 🙂

PRA64 schrieb:
If the hole is too big, gluing in a wooden or plastic dowel can help

This is a common tip but not always the best solution. If the hole is too large, the question is whether the drawer’s stability might be compromised. Have you tested if the dowel can withstand the weight and frequent pulling forces in the long run? Sometimes metal screws with larger heads or internal reinforcement of the drawer might be a better option.

bernd47 schrieb:
I’m interested in how to best repair these handles without having to replace the entire drawer.

Could you describe exactly how the handles are attached on your end? Is the front material still intact, or are there cracks? This can significantly affect the repair method.

Natan schrieb:
Could you describe exactly how the handles are attached on your side? Is the surface material of the front still intact or are there cracks?

Thanks for the hint, Natan. So, the handles are fixed from the inside with two small screws that go through the drawer front. The front is made of particleboard with a thin plastic laminate, which still looks good and has no cracks. Most of the time, the threads in the hole loosen, so the screw no longer holds.

I would have assumed the problem is due to the front’s material being too soft. Is using a dowel inside a good solution? Or are there better alternatives I might not know about?

Good day,

I will go into a bit more detail: Malm drawers are usually made of particleboard with a melamine coating. The thin front panel often has soft and porous areas, especially where the screws are located.

To attach the handles in a durable way, I recommend the following procedure:

1. Remove the screw and clean the hole.
2. Glue a suitable plywood or plastic patch from the inside against the hole to better distribute the load.
3. To repair a worn-out hole, you can use wood filler or cold wood glue plus small wood chips to fill and reinforce the inside of the hole.
4. If you use dowels, make sure they do not press against the panel or damage the structure from the inside.

Tip: If you can use metal threaded inserts (Helicoils or similar), this significantly improves durability. However, this requires a bit more craftsmanship.

Could you specify which tools and materials you have available? Then I can provide a more detailed guide.

Simply use slightly thicker screws, fill the holes with wood glue and toothpicks, then tighten the screws again. Done.