ᐅ How can I make the drawer slides on Ikea Besta units smoother and quieter?

Good morning everyone,

I have an Ikea Besta shelving unit with several drawers, and the slides feel quite rough and sometimes rattling when opening and closing. The noise isn’t very loud but is still annoying, and the movement doesn’t feel completely smooth. I suspect that the metal or plastic runners could be improved in some way.

Has anyone had experience with making Ikea Besta drawer slides smoother and noticeably quieter? I’m especially interested in practical methods or products that have proven effective, such as how to properly apply lubricants, or if certain parts should be replaced or adjusted differently.

Maybe there are also tricks to prevent the rattling from occurring in the first place. I look forward to helpful tips and solutions!

The easiest solution is silicone oil. Then, use a brush to lightly apply it to the sliding tracks. Rattle protection also helps somewhat; small felt strips at the contact points work well.

Hello alemsan,

Your explanations are already very helpful, thank you for that! Regarding drawer slides, especially with Ikea Besta, I can recommend the following:

- First, you should check whether the slides are installed correctly. The alignment of the runners and rollers is crucial for smooth operation.
- Cleaning is often underestimated. Dirt or dust in the metal tracks can cause rough movement. A thorough cleaning with a soft cloth and possibly some isopropanol can help.
- For lubrication, I preferably use a dry lubricant based on silicone or PTFE. Regular oil can attract dust and is counterproductive in the long run.
- The plastic parts are often sensitive, so avoid using aggressive greases.
- If the plastic guides are damaged or worn out, it is worthwhile to replace the parts. Ikea often offers suitable replacement parts.

Could you please describe in more detail where exactly the drawer slide is sticking or rattling? Is it at the front or rather at the back? What type of slides are installed (e.g. full extension or partial extension)?

kibutar schrieb:
Could you describe more precisely where the drawer is sticking or rattling? Is it at the front or rather at the back? What type of drawer slides are installed (e.g., full-extension or partial-extension)?

Thank you for your detailed reply! These are full-extension slides with metal runners attached to the sides of the drawer. The issue is mainly noticeable at the front where the drawer enters the cabinet, but occasionally there is also a slight clicking noise throughout the entire opening movement. The sound is more of a dry, slightly scratching noise, and the motion also feels somewhat rough.

I haven't been able to pinpoint the exact cause yet; when I remove the drawer and move individual parts by hand, the problem hardly or does not occur at all. It seems that the effect only happens under load or during normal use.

alemsan schrieb:
The noise is more like a dry, slightly scratching sound, and the movement also feels a bit rough.

Hey, that sounds like a classic combination of small dirt particles and metal that’s too dry. 😊 Sometimes a little silicone spray and a gentle “massage” of the tracks by sliding them open and closed a few times is enough.

If you’re a bit handy, you can upgrade the contact points with self-adhesive felt strips (I found them at my hardware store). This makes the movement smoother and also dampens the noise a bit. And as a bonus: no grease needed, no greasy fingers! 😉

I simply applied a few drops of WD-40 to the metal slides of my Besta drawers, and once the liquid absorbed, the rattling stopped and the slides operated much more smoothly.