Hello everyone, I have a general question about storing Malm furniture, especially regarding moisture: What mistakes or situations should be strictly avoided when storing Malm furniture in environments where moisture occurs regularly, such as unheated basements or garages? I ask because I have read that although this furniture made from coated chipboard seems sturdy, moisture can cause significant damage. I would appreciate practical experiences, warnings, or recommendations on what should definitely not be done to prevent warping, mold, or damage to the coating. Thanks in advance!
Hello Emellau, generally speaking, Malm furniture made from particleboard with a melamine coating can absorb moisture beneath the coating or into cracks and edges. This causes the particleboard to swell, often leading to unsightly warping or shrinking.
Therefore, I recommend:
1. Never place the furniture directly on damp floors – ideally, use wooden slats or similar supports that allow air circulation.
2. In basements or garages, where floor-level moisture is often higher, raised platforms or pallets are advisable.
3. Ensure good room ventilation and avoid stagnant moisture.
4. Do not place permanently damp or wet textiles or objects on or inside the furniture.
Common mistakes include direct contact with wet floors, poor ventilation, and blocking airflow, which traps moisture within the furniture.
Therefore, I recommend:
1. Never place the furniture directly on damp floors – ideally, use wooden slats or similar supports that allow air circulation.
2. In basements or garages, where floor-level moisture is often higher, raised platforms or pallets are advisable.
3. Ensure good room ventilation and avoid stagnant moisture.
4. Do not place permanently damp or wet textiles or objects on or inside the furniture.
Common mistakes include direct contact with wet floors, poor ventilation, and blocking airflow, which traps moisture within the furniture.
I once had the problem of storing a Malm dresser in my cool basement. Unfortunately, I didn’t consider proper air circulation back then, and after just six months, the bottom edge warped. That was really frustrating. I understand how annoying that is and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that you avoid this better. 🙂
It might also be helpful to check seasonally whether everything stays dry and the furniture doesn’t become damp.
It might also be helpful to check seasonally whether everything stays dry and the furniture doesn’t become damp.
Lyndon55 schrieb:
Moisture can penetrate beneath the coating or into cracks and edgesFrom my point of view, this is the critical issue. I don’t consider occasional splashes of water on the surface to be problematic. However, moisture coming “from below” or consistently high humidity levels do actually cause the material to become unbalanced. Unfortunately, IKEA keeps the proportion of solid wood in their furniture relatively low, which makes the construction more vulnerable to moisture damage.
I’m also wondering whether treating the edges with an additional protective oil or varnish would be worthwhile to reduce the risk. Has anyone had experience with this?
Jamalli schrieb:
I am also wondering to what extent treating the edges with additional protective oil or varnish is worthwhileI am skeptical about that. Such furniture is factory-coated with melamine resin; applying extra coatings on particleboard can actually cause layers to delaminate or create internal stresses. This increases the risk of cracks or blistering.
I believe preventive storage in dry, well-ventilated areas with furniture elevated off the ground to avoid moisture exposure is better than any after-treatment. This also helps prevent damage to the coating caused by mechanical stress.
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