Hello everyone,
I have an IKEA Malm chest of drawers at home with multiple drawers. Unfortunately, for some time now, the drawers almost completely come out of the frame when pulled. This seems to be because the current drawer slides or mounts no longer engage properly or have become loose.
Now I am looking for a reliable way to securely fix the Malm drawers so that they remain easy to open but cannot accidentally be pulled out completely. Does anyone know of practical solutions or suitable replacement parts for this?
I have already tried adjusting the mechanism myself, but I may have missed something—so I would also appreciate any tips on whether the system can be simply repaired or if a different mechanism might be more appropriate.
Thanks in advance for your expertise!
I have an IKEA Malm chest of drawers at home with multiple drawers. Unfortunately, for some time now, the drawers almost completely come out of the frame when pulled. This seems to be because the current drawer slides or mounts no longer engage properly or have become loose.
Now I am looking for a reliable way to securely fix the Malm drawers so that they remain easy to open but cannot accidentally be pulled out completely. Does anyone know of practical solutions or suitable replacement parts for this?
I have already tried adjusting the mechanism myself, but I may have missed something—so I would also appreciate any tips on whether the system can be simply repaired or if a different mechanism might be more appropriate.
Thanks in advance for your expertise!
Hello Karn70 and community,
I understand how frustrating it can be when Malm drawers don’t stay closed properly. I had the same issue last year, and it annoyed me quite a bit since I use the dresser daily at home.
What helped me was not only looking at the hardware but also reflecting on how I was using it: Often, drawers are pulled out at an angle or yanked too roughly, especially when in a hurry. This can damage the stoppers or impair the entire system.
Before that, I double-checked the following just to be sure:
- Are the drawers properly hung on the side rails?
- Are any soft-close or damping mechanisms working correctly?
Then I carefully checked the screws and made slight adjustments—not too tight, otherwise the guide can become misaligned.
I can only recommend taking your time and handling it gently. It saves both nerves and money. 🙂
I understand how frustrating it can be when Malm drawers don’t stay closed properly. I had the same issue last year, and it annoyed me quite a bit since I use the dresser daily at home.
What helped me was not only looking at the hardware but also reflecting on how I was using it: Often, drawers are pulled out at an angle or yanked too roughly, especially when in a hurry. This can damage the stoppers or impair the entire system.
Before that, I double-checked the following just to be sure:
- Are the drawers properly hung on the side rails?
- Are any soft-close or damping mechanisms working correctly?
Then I carefully checked the screws and made slight adjustments—not too tight, otherwise the guide can become misaligned.
I can only recommend taking your time and handling it gently. It saves both nerves and money. 🙂
Hey Karn70,
just to go back to the basics: MALM drawers typically come with full-extension drawer slides that usually include a small built-in stop element designed to prevent the drawer from falling out. If these stops are missing or damaged, the drawers will obviously come out.
What you should definitely do first is locate these stops on the slide and check if they are still secure and not worn out. Sometimes a plastic stopper can be loose or cracked – which isn’t always obvious at first glance.
If available, you can order replacements for these stops through the IKEA spare parts service or find suitable universal versions at hardware stores.
Even though these are "just" plastic parts, I believe it’s important to replace them because they serve a critical safety function.
If you don’t want to replace them right away, as a temporary solution you can try using adhesive felt pads – they provide better cushioning and can at least prevent the drawer from simply sliding out.
I hope this helps you sort out your ideas!
just to go back to the basics: MALM drawers typically come with full-extension drawer slides that usually include a small built-in stop element designed to prevent the drawer from falling out. If these stops are missing or damaged, the drawers will obviously come out.
What you should definitely do first is locate these stops on the slide and check if they are still secure and not worn out. Sometimes a plastic stopper can be loose or cracked – which isn’t always obvious at first glance.
If available, you can order replacements for these stops through the IKEA spare parts service or find suitable universal versions at hardware stores.
Even though these are "just" plastic parts, I believe it’s important to replace them because they serve a critical safety function.
If you don’t want to replace them right away, as a temporary solution you can try using adhesive felt pads – they provide better cushioning and can at least prevent the drawer from simply sliding out.
I hope this helps you sort out your ideas!
Hello everyone 🙂
I find it really amusing how many people sometimes struggle endlessly with such simple pieces of furniture – I know that problem all too well!
For my MALM, as an “adventurer,” it helped to thoroughly clean and lubricate the drawer slides. At first, I thought the stuck-on dirt was ruining everything – but it turned out that it was “only” the friction interfering with the drawer stop system.
A bit of silicone spray on the rails, checking the stoppers, and voilà – suddenly the drawers fit perfectly.
Of course, you should use lubricants sparingly and only treat the metal parts, not the plastic stoppers directly. But sometimes, these small details are the secret to success.
So don’t hesitate to try simple solutions; often the answer lies in the details when you take a closer look :-)
Good luck!
I find it really amusing how many people sometimes struggle endlessly with such simple pieces of furniture – I know that problem all too well!
For my MALM, as an “adventurer,” it helped to thoroughly clean and lubricate the drawer slides. At first, I thought the stuck-on dirt was ruining everything – but it turned out that it was “only” the friction interfering with the drawer stop system.
A bit of silicone spray on the rails, checking the stoppers, and voilà – suddenly the drawers fit perfectly.
Of course, you should use lubricants sparingly and only treat the metal parts, not the plastic stoppers directly. But sometimes, these small details are the secret to success.
So don’t hesitate to try simple solutions; often the answer lies in the details when you take a closer look :-)
Good luck!
Thanks for all your helpful advice so far!
I just checked: my MALM dresser is from around 2016 and doesn’t have soft-close drawers, so it’s more of the older model with simple metal runners and small plastic stoppers. When removing the drawers, I noticed that the stoppers on some of them are quite worn out, which explains a lot.
This matches my problem exactly – with a slight lift, the drawers almost fell out completely.
I’ll get replacement stoppers and check the runners again carefully. Cleaning and lubricating sounds like a good idea too, thanks for the tip, KNUTGI! 🙂
Can you also recommend which replacements fit well? Do I need to order the exact "MALM original parts," or are there compatible alternatives you would suggest?
Best regards!
I just checked: my MALM dresser is from around 2016 and doesn’t have soft-close drawers, so it’s more of the older model with simple metal runners and small plastic stoppers. When removing the drawers, I noticed that the stoppers on some of them are quite worn out, which explains a lot.
Filippo schrieb:
Pull the drawer out, lift it slightly, and then try to remove it completely.
This matches my problem exactly – with a slight lift, the drawers almost fell out completely.
I’ll get replacement stoppers and check the runners again carefully. Cleaning and lubricating sounds like a good idea too, thanks for the tip, KNUTGI! 🙂
Can you also recommend which replacements fit well? Do I need to order the exact "MALM original parts," or are there compatible alternatives you would suggest?
Best regards!
Hello again,
I’m glad you can provide more details about your model, as this greatly helps in diagnosing the issue.
Regarding your question about replacement parts: I would generally recommend ordering the original stoppers from IKEA if possible. They usually fit precisely and the combination of materials is designed to ensure optimal hold.
However, there are so-called universal drawer stoppers available on platforms like Amazon or eBay – these can sometimes be installed more flexibly since they are made of flexible plastic. The rule here is: the more precisely the part fits, the better, especially when the start or end positions in the drawer extension need to engage cleanly.
Sometimes I’ve also seen people use small metal strips or brackets from hardware stores to improve the hold. But be careful, as this can easily cause damage to the cabinet if done incorrectly.
One more tip: when you remove the guides, take photos of the original setup (for your reference) and note exactly how the stoppers are positioned. This will make reinstallation easier.
Please feel free to update on your progress.
I’m glad you can provide more details about your model, as this greatly helps in diagnosing the issue.
Regarding your question about replacement parts: I would generally recommend ordering the original stoppers from IKEA if possible. They usually fit precisely and the combination of materials is designed to ensure optimal hold.
However, there are so-called universal drawer stoppers available on platforms like Amazon or eBay – these can sometimes be installed more flexibly since they are made of flexible plastic. The rule here is: the more precisely the part fits, the better, especially when the start or end positions in the drawer extension need to engage cleanly.
Sometimes I’ve also seen people use small metal strips or brackets from hardware stores to improve the hold. But be careful, as this can easily cause damage to the cabinet if done incorrectly.
One more tip: when you remove the guides, take photos of the original setup (for your reference) and note exactly how the stoppers are positioned. This will make reinstallation easier.
Please feel free to update on your progress.
Hello Karn70,
I would like to agree with Filippo. If you don’t mind waiting, it’s best to order the original IKEA replacement parts. They will definitely fit and work as intended.
If you want to try universal stoppers, make sure they provide the same holding function and do not damage either the rail or the side of the drawer.
Also important: test the drawer thoroughly after installation. Pull it out completely and press it lightly to check that it still won’t come out unintentionally.
If you like, I can also send you a checklist on how to clean and maintain drawer slides before installation – that worked wonders for me!
Best regards and good luck!
I would like to agree with Filippo. If you don’t mind waiting, it’s best to order the original IKEA replacement parts. They will definitely fit and work as intended.
If you want to try universal stoppers, make sure they provide the same holding function and do not damage either the rail or the side of the drawer.
Also important: test the drawer thoroughly after installation. Pull it out completely and press it lightly to check that it still won’t come out unintentionally.
If you like, I can also send you a checklist on how to clean and maintain drawer slides before installation – that worked wonders for me!
Best regards and good luck!
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