ᐅ How can I readjust Malm drawers?

Hello everyone, I recently purchased an IKEA Malm drawer chest and noticed that the drawers don’t adjust quite properly. Specifically, some drawers are difficult to open and close, while others are slightly misaligned in the tracks, making closing them harder. I want to adjust the drawers so they operate smoothly, evenly, and without issues. Does anyone have experience with the mechanical adjustment of these Malm drawers? Is there a specific technique or trick to correctly calibrate the drawer slides or the drawers themselves? I would appreciate a detailed guide or tips, ideally with advice on aligning the drawers and ensuring smooth operation.

The Malm drawers come standard with telescopic runners, which are usually well adjusted at the factory. If the drawers stick or run unevenly, it’s worth first taking a close look at the installation fit and the runners themselves. Check that all screws on the guide rails are tightened and that there are no loose components. Then you can pull the drawer out of the runners and clean the guides. Dirt or packaging debris is often the cause of restricted movement. For side adjustment, there are usually small adjustment screws or locks that allow you to fine-tune the drawer horizontally or vertically.

Pull the drawer out completely and look underneath the sliding rail. Usually, there are small screws on the metal guides for adjustment, sometimes also plastic clips that can be easily moved with a screwdriver. Cleaning almost always helps.

I can relate to this well, especially with Malm drawers, as they often don’t slide perfectly. A small tip from me: The drawers are usually mounted on two telescopic rails on the sides, which can be adjusted via small plastic components. If one side is sticking, carefully pull out the drawer and gently adjust or realign these components with a small screwdriver. Be careful not to tighten the screws on the rail too much, as this can cause tension. The alignment of the drawer within the cabinet is also important – even a slight tilt when inserting it can cause issues.

Simply remove the drawers and check the slides on the sides. Correct any misalignments and slight adjustments to the screws can help. Usually, that is all that is needed.

I had a similar problem with my Malm drawers, which was really annoying because they were hard to open. What helped me was completely removing and reinstalling the slides. During this process, I slightly loosened the screws, realigned the drawer, and then tightened everything again. After that, the drawers operated much more smoothly, and the tilt was gone. Sometimes it really takes patience, but it’s worth it :-)