Hello everyone, I have a problem with my IKEA Malm drawers, which continue to squeak despite thorough care and lubrication when opening and closing them.
I have already treated the drawer slides with silicone spray and cleaned all visible parts. However, the unpleasant noise remains, especially when moving the drawers quickly.
I would be interested to know if anyone has had similar experiences and which solutions have proven effective. Are there perhaps special maintenance tips for these drawers or materials that work better than silicone?
I’m grateful for any advice, as the squeaking is really annoying and the drawers themselves are great.
I have already treated the drawer slides with silicone spray and cleaned all visible parts. However, the unpleasant noise remains, especially when moving the drawers quickly.
I would be interested to know if anyone has had similar experiences and which solutions have proven effective. Are there perhaps special maintenance tips for these drawers or materials that work better than silicone?
I’m grateful for any advice, as the squeaking is really annoying and the drawers themselves are great.
Very good point about the lubricant layer being too thick, as that can actually be counterproductive. Here is a structured approach to permanently silence Malm drawers:
1. Remove the drawer and fully expose the side rails.
2. Clean off the old residues with isopropanol – important: leave no greasy residues behind.
3. If rough spots are visible, lightly sand the surfaces with fine sandpaper (grit 400 to 600). Be careful not to sand too much to avoid altering the fit.
4. Clean the rails again afterwards.
5. Now apply PTFE spray or a dry lubricant very sparingly to the contact points – better less than too much. The lubricant should form a thin, smooth layer.
6. Reinsert the drawer and slowly open and close it several times to distribute the lubricant evenly.
Important: If the closing mechanism contains rubber or plastic buffers, check and clean these as well, since noises can also originate there.
If noises persist afterwards, you can try using petroleum jelly on the rails – but only very sparingly, as it tends to attract dust more than PTFE.
Summary: Clean, lubricate minimally and precisely, and gently smooth if needed.
1. Remove the drawer and fully expose the side rails.
2. Clean off the old residues with isopropanol – important: leave no greasy residues behind.
3. If rough spots are visible, lightly sand the surfaces with fine sandpaper (grit 400 to 600). Be careful not to sand too much to avoid altering the fit.
4. Clean the rails again afterwards.
5. Now apply PTFE spray or a dry lubricant very sparingly to the contact points – better less than too much. The lubricant should form a thin, smooth layer.
6. Reinsert the drawer and slowly open and close it several times to distribute the lubricant evenly.
Important: If the closing mechanism contains rubber or plastic buffers, check and clean these as well, since noises can also originate there.
If noises persist afterwards, you can try using petroleum jelly on the rails – but only very sparingly, as it tends to attract dust more than PTFE.
Summary: Clean, lubricate minimally and precisely, and gently smooth if needed.
Tip: If the squeaking persists despite maintenance, lightly oiling the drawer can also help – a drop of sewing machine oil on moving wheels or metal parts.
The oil is thin and provides a good lubricating film. Important: Don’t use too much, or it will drip.
This is how I managed to effectively stop the squeaking on my Malm drawer.
The oil is thin and provides a good lubricating film. Important: Don’t use too much, or it will drip.
This is how I managed to effectively stop the squeaking on my Malm drawer.
Those squeaky drawers really sound like a little nuisance! 😉
I really appreciate how thoroughly you’ve described the maintenance – thank you so much for that!
I once had a similar issue with my Malm and tried using PTFE spray, which made all the difference!
LOGEMIN’s tip about carefully sanding was brilliant – I hadn’t realized before how “rough spots” can cause so much noise.
Fingers crossed you manage to stop the squeaking at last! Keep us updated :-)
I really appreciate how thoroughly you’ve described the maintenance – thank you so much for that!
I once had a similar issue with my Malm and tried using PTFE spray, which made all the difference!
LOGEMIN’s tip about carefully sanding was brilliant – I hadn’t realized before how “rough spots” can cause so much noise.
Fingers crossed you manage to stop the squeaking at last! Keep us updated :-)
hannes61 schrieb:
Could it be that an excessively thick layer of lubricant might also be the cause?Absolutely! That has annoyed my girlfriend too. Too much lubricant tends to make things sticky rather than smooth – and the areas start to squeak or creak. So it’s better to use it sparingly and then reapply more often.
And while you’re at it, check the drawer screws! Loose screws can also cause noises, especially if the drawer is under a lot of weight.
Good luck, and soon you’ll have peace and quiet again.
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