ᐅ Are there any tips for making Ikea BESTA drawers easier to open and close more quietly?

Hello everyone,

I have installed some Ikea Besta drawers in my apartment and have noticed that they sometimes open and close rather stiffly and with rattling noises. Especially noticeable is the squeaking and slight noise when closing, which detracts from the otherwise clean appearance of the furniture.

So my question to you is: Are there any practical tips or proven methods to make the Besta drawers easier and, above all, quieter to operate? I am particularly looking for advice that helps not only in the short term but also improves the long-term user experience without having to retrofit new technology like soft-close mechanisms.

I am also interested if anyone has experience with specific lubricants or adjustments to the runners that have had a positive effect.

Looking forward to your advice and thanks in advance for your support!

Hello anjulu,

your topic sounds interesting and is indeed an issue that many people underestimate with Ikea BESTA. I have optimized this myself and would like to give you a small step-by-step guide on how to significantly improve the operation:

- First, completely remove the drawer to access the drawer slides.
- Then use a fine brush to remove dust and dirt from the slides.
- For lubrication, I recommend a silicone spray (not oil, as it attracts dust and becomes sticky). Carefully spray the glide rails and then move the drawer back and forth several times to distribute the lubricant evenly.
- Afterwards, check the alignment of the drawer: if the drawer is misaligned, it can cause increased resistance and noise. Usually, small adjustments can be made by tightening or loosening the screws on the guide rails.

Typical mistakes are:
- Using lubricants that are too thick,
- not cleaning before lubrication, and
- incorrect adjustment of the drawer slides.

Conclusion: With a little maintenance and fine-tuning, your BESTA drawers can run much smoother and quieter. Good luck!

miAlessio schrieb:
For lubrication, I recommend silicone spray (not oil, as it attracts dust and becomes sticky).

Exactly. I wouldn’t use anything else. Just clean, apply silicone spray, done.

If the drawers are very hard to open, it might also be due to overloading – you can usually tell quickly.

anjulu schrieb:
Are there any practical tips or proven methods to make the BESTA drawers easier and especially quieter to operate?

I can definitely understand how annoying the creaking and rattling noise can be, especially with such clean-looking furniture.

What often helps me personally is checking for loose screws or the way the drawer is hung, as these can cause unpleasant noises and resistance. So: carefully check all screws and tighten them slightly if needed.

Sometimes the runners also have small plastic stoppers or end caps that can wear out or break over time. Replacing them carefully can reduce the noise.

And if the inside of the drawer often gets damp (sometimes the case with kitchen furniture), check for any mold – this can also affect smooth movement.

I hope this helps a bit. Feel free to share what you try!