ᐅ Why do Malm drawers keep getting stuck?

I have a somewhat technical question that probably concerns many of you who own IKEA furniture: Why do Malm drawers often stick?

I’ve noticed that especially with the newer models, the drawers can sometimes be hard to open or not quite align properly, making opening and closing uncomfortable. I suspect this might be related to the construction of the sliding rails or possibly the material quality. Maybe the weight of the contents also plays a role, or there could be small manufacturing tolerances?

I’m particularly interested if anyone has systematic experience with what exactly causes this issue and, of course, which solutions are practical to permanently fix the sticking.

Teemuteo schrieb:
Why do Malm drawers keep getting stuck?

It’s great that you brought this up! I had the same issue, and most of the time it’s due to the runners being a bit too tight or not perfectly aligned. For me, loosening the runners slightly and realigning them helped a lot – after that, the drawers slid much more smoothly! 🙂

Another tip: sometimes you can also treat the runners with a bit of wax or silicone oil. This makes the mechanism run much more smoothly. So don’t get frustrated, there’s definitely a way to improve it! 🙂

Christia59 schrieb:
For me, loosening the rails slightly and realigning them helped – after that, the drawers slid much more smoothly!

That sounds very reasonable. I can definitely relate to how frustrating it is when drawers stick. I have noticed that especially the wooden panels on the sides tend to expand or contract depending on humidity, which can further affect the drawer’s movement.

I’m wondering: to what extent does the air humidity play a role here? And have you ever tried adjusting or treating the drawers specifically before assembly? I’m also open to experiences on how to make the system more resistant to such issues.

Remove the drawers, clean the slides, and apply lubricant. Then reinstall and align the drawers properly. This usually solves the problem.

Teemuteo schrieb:
Why do Malm drawers keep sticking?

I think the "sticking" isn’t really a problem, but more like an IQ test for the user. 😉

Jokes aside – the real issue with Malm drawers is the combination of low-cost materials and mass production. The tolerances are often too wide, which means the drawer slides simply don’t fit perfectly.

Of course, regular maintenance and adjustments can help, but that’s more like a temporary fix. What would really help is a completely different quality approach from IKEA. But politically, that’s a tough sell. What do you think? Do you just have to accept these annoyances when buying budget furniture?

Franz schrieb:
To what extent does humidity play a role here?

Moisture is indeed a crucial factor. Wood naturally expands or contracts depending on the humidity. This can cause drawers to stick slightly, especially when they are fully loaded and there is little clearance.

bareynaldo schrieb:
Tolerances are often too large, which results in the runners not fitting perfectly.

I agree with that. It’s a combination of material and fit accuracy. My advice: if you are rebuilding the drawers anyway, carefully align the runners and add a thin cushioning, such as felt pads, on problematic sides to prevent sticking.

It may not be a perfect solution, but it is very helpful in everyday use.