ᐅ IKEA Malm Drawers Squeaking – What Solutions Work?

Interesting topic! The squeaking issue with IKEA Malm drawers is actually quite common. First, it’s important to mention that the slides usually consist of a combination of metal profiles with plastic gliders. If you use overly aggressive lubricants, parts can swell or the surface can get damaged. I recommend the following procedure: 1. Completely remove the drawers and clean all the sliding rails from dust, lint, and old lubricant. It’s best to use isopropyl alcohol or acetone-free cleaners, and don’t forget to let them dry. 2. For lubrication, silicone oil or dry lubricants based on PTFE are suitable, as they are non-sticky and do not attack plastics. 3. Apply the lubricant thinly with a fine brush. 4. Reinsert the drawer and open and close it several times to ensure even distribution. Important: avoid oil-based products like WD-40, as they attract dust and can dirty the sliding rails. How are your sliding rails designed? Rollers or flat gliding elements? This information helps to provide the best recommendation.

rickey schrieb:
The trick for me was to thoroughly clean the rails while dry, removing dust and lint, and then carefully lubricate them with a small drop of sewing machine oil.

Thanks for the tip, that sounds very practical. However, I wonder if sewing machine oil might be too thin and the lubrication could wear off quickly?

pauPierce schrieb:
How are your sliding rails constructed? Rollers or flat sliding elements?

My rails are classic metal guides with plastic sliders, no rollers. Therefore, I find pauPierce’s experience very helpful.

Ixfu2 schrieb:
WD-40 is not ideal because it attracts dust and can cause the rails to stick.

That confirms my concern, so I will avoid using WD-40. Many thanks to everyone so far for your detailed feedback!

I would like to question the use of silicone spray – although it is widely used, it is not always the best solution. Silicone generally attracts less dust than oil, but when it spreads effectively on plastic glide surfaces, it can sometimes alter friction values and even affect the mechanical feel. Also, I know that some people prefer PTFE lubricants, which tend to be more stable over time. Are there any studies or practical experiences showing that silicone spray works better in the long run on Malm drawers compared to other lubricants? Because some still squeak despite lubrication.

I think the problem sometimes also lies in bent rails or incorrect adjustment, not just the lubrication. Therefore, I would ask the original poster: Are your rails still straight and functional, or are there mechanical wear issues that could explain the squeaking?

BAUEVA schrieb:
I think sometimes the problem is also caused by bent rails or incorrect adjustment, not just lubrication.

I agree with that. I had a similar issue with my Malm, which turned out to be a slightly bent tab on the rail that affected the movement and caused the squeaking. After carefully straightening it, the noise stopped. So I would really recommend checking whether the mechanism itself is still functioning properly before considering lubrication.

Fingers crossed the problem can be solved like this. :-)