ᐅ How can I repair Malm dressers cost-effectively?

Hello everyone, I have a Malm dresser from IKEA that unfortunately shows some signs of wear: scratches, a small chip in the finish on one corner, and the door doesn’t close properly. Since I don’t want to spend too much money unnecessarily, I would like to know how to repair these kinds of damages myself in a cost-effective way. Do you have any tips on suitable repair products or methods, especially on how to restore the surface to a decent condition and possibly adjust the hinges slightly? Many thanks in advance for your answers!

For small scratches, you can touch up with a wood repair marker in the matching color. At the corner, fine sandpaper often helps, followed by acrylic paint. Simply tighten or adjust hinges, as they are usually adjustable.

That's great that you're tackling it yourself! 🙂 For the surface, you could try furniture polish or special repair paste for wood—they do a great job of concealing scratches! And for the hinges, try a little graphite powder for light lubrication; it lasts without leaving oily residues. Keep us updated—you’ll definitely do a great job!

Ryder35 schrieb:
For small scratches, you can touch up with a wood repair marker in the matching color.

Thanks, that sounds good so far. But I’m wondering if wood repair markers make sense for coated panels like the MALM dresser? The panel is melamine-coated, not solid wood.

fasefar schrieb:
For the surface, you can also try furniture polish or special repair paste for wood; they hide scratches really well!

Is there an affordable product you’d recommend for this, without having to buy a full repair kit? (I don’t want to invest too much.)

And regarding the door: What would you suggest for the hinges if the screw holes have become slightly stripped? Re-screwing would be expensive – are there any tricks?

Repair pens usually don’t work well on melamine-coated boards because the surface is too smooth. It’s better to use a fine abrasive pad and apply a thin layer of clear varnish.

For stripped screws, it helps to insert small wood chips or toothpicks into the hole before reinserting the screw. This provides a secure hold again, and is inexpensive and quick.

Hello! 🙂 I had exactly the same problem with my MALM chest of drawers! I filled small scratches with colored wax paste, which is also quite affordable online. For the door, I lightly refinished the hinges with very fine sandpaper and then used graphite powder, which really helps and costs almost nothing!

barEsperan schrieb:
For stripped screws, it helps to put small wood chips or toothpicks into the hole, then insert the screw.

That also worked great for me, really clever.