ᐅ Are there drawer slides that make IKEA Platsa cabinets operate more quietly?
Created on: 18 Nov 2015 08:43
A
anhao
Hello everyone,
I own several IKEA Platsa cabinets and have noticed that the drawer slides often feel quite rough and are noticeably loud when opening or closing the drawers. This reduces comfort and gives a somewhat cheap impression over time. Therefore, I would like to start a discussion: Are there drawer slides available that can be used as replacements or upgrades to make the IKEA Platsa furniture significantly smoother and more premium in everyday use?
Ideally, I am looking for recommendations for replacement slides that are compatible but noticeably quieter, smoother, or even soft-closing. If any of you have experience with suitable alternatives—whether from aftermarket accessories, third-party suppliers, or even custom solutions—I would appreciate a detailed description of the effects and what to watch out for during installation.
Thanks in advance for your tips and advice!
I own several IKEA Platsa cabinets and have noticed that the drawer slides often feel quite rough and are noticeably loud when opening or closing the drawers. This reduces comfort and gives a somewhat cheap impression over time. Therefore, I would like to start a discussion: Are there drawer slides available that can be used as replacements or upgrades to make the IKEA Platsa furniture significantly smoother and more premium in everyday use?
Ideally, I am looking for recommendations for replacement slides that are compatible but noticeably quieter, smoother, or even soft-closing. If any of you have experience with suitable alternatives—whether from aftermarket accessories, third-party suppliers, or even custom solutions—I would appreciate a detailed description of the effects and what to watch out for during installation.
Thanks in advance for your tips and advice!
I really appreciate the passion for detail here – that’s what makes DIY so enjoyable!
Just a small addition: when I was renovating my Platsa cabinets with new drawer slides, I also made sure not to damage the drawer fronts. Sometimes it’s better to focus on smooth operation rather than just damping, since the “quietness” also depends on the overall mechanism.
Also, if it fits your situation, you might want to try using silicone spray or special lubricants on the runners to see if that improves performance before completely replacing them.
At first, I used a minor interim solution that already made a noticeable difference until I felt confident enough to install better drawer slides.
Just a small addition: when I was renovating my Platsa cabinets with new drawer slides, I also made sure not to damage the drawer fronts. Sometimes it’s better to focus on smooth operation rather than just damping, since the “quietness” also depends on the overall mechanism.
Also, if it fits your situation, you might want to try using silicone spray or special lubricants on the runners to see if that improves performance before completely replacing them.
At first, I used a minor interim solution that already made a noticeable difference until I felt confident enough to install better drawer slides.
elgla schrieb:
Back then, I first tried a small temporary fix, which already helped quite a bit until I dared to install the better drawer slides.That was exactly the case for me as well! I first oiled the old runners a bit and applied silicone spray – that reduces the noise significantly, and you don’t have to take everything apart right away.
Then, since I wasn’t foolish, I bought the better full-extension slides, and the improvement was amazing!
Installing them took me about an afternoon, including measuring, drilling, and fitting. The result: drawers glide so quietly you can almost forget you’re using them! Simply brilliant!!
If you’re going for it, anhao, don’t be afraid of a bit of work. You grow with the challenge! 🙂
I think the idea is great and I’m fully on board: with a bit of personal initiative, you can really get a lot out of it!
Just one more tip when working with replacement guides: also check the drawer edges at the same time to ensure everything closes properly. Some new slides change small leverage points, which can cause the drawers not to fit perfectly.
So just keep checking during installation and adjust the cutouts if necessary. With patience, it will work out :-)
Just one more tip when working with replacement guides: also check the drawer edges at the same time to ensure everything closes properly. Some new slides change small leverage points, which can cause the drawers not to fit perfectly.
So just keep checking during installation and adjust the cutouts if necessary. With patience, it will work out :-)
temeli schrieb:
If you decide to tackle this, anhao, don’t be afraid of a little work. You grow with the challenge! 🙂Thank you all for the encouraging words and the many helpful tips!
Your temporary solution with silicone spray sounds good, elgla. I will definitely try that before investing in expensive products.
Can anyone recommend a specific silicone spray that doesn’t become sticky or attract dust to the drawers? And what is the best way to apply it? Just on the rails or also on the individual ball bearing rollers?
I suppose I will first try to optimize the existing setup and then consider full-extension drawer slides if necessary. I want to evaluate the effort and costs only after seeing some improvement.
If anyone else would like to share their own experience, please feel free!
anhao schrieb:
Can anyone recommend a specific silicone spray that doesn’t become sticky or attract drawers?I have had good experiences with a pure silicone spray from well-known manufacturers. It dries fairly quickly and does not leave a sticky surface. It is important to spray only sparingly and wipe off any excess with a cloth to prevent the small ball bearings from sticking.
It works great as a sliding layer on metal surfaces as well, especially when applied multiple times.
I have used it on kitchen and tool drawers — they have been running smoothly for months without any issues and noticeably quieter. Of course, it won’t make them completely silent, but the difference is clearly noticeable.
I’ll quickly jump in with a slightly different perspective: Since I often work with IKEA furniture myself, I know that sometimes the way the drawer is assembled can affect how smoothly it slides.
So before you completely switch out the drawer slides, check if the drawers sit properly straight and aren’t wobbling. Even minor misalignments can cause rattling or squeaking.
With smooth guides and evenly assembled drawers, everything will work much better.
A small tip: Adding a cushioning layer made of felt pads at the contact points can help reduce noise.
If you decide to go for a remodel, good luck – a bit of tinkering is often more fun than you might expect! 🙂
So before you completely switch out the drawer slides, check if the drawers sit properly straight and aren’t wobbling. Even minor misalignments can cause rattling or squeaking.
With smooth guides and evenly assembled drawers, everything will work much better.
A small tip: Adding a cushioning layer made of felt pads at the contact points can help reduce noise.
If you decide to go for a remodel, good luck – a bit of tinkering is often more fun than you might expect! 🙂
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