ᐅ IKEA Malm drawers are very loose – how can I secure them?

Hello everyone, I have a problem with my IKEA Malm dresser drawers, which wobble quite a bit when pulled out. It feels like the drawer slides are not properly aligned or that the drawer itself is not securely fixed. I have removed and reinstalled them several times, but the wobbling remains.

My specific question is: How can I secure or adjust the drawers of the Malm dresser so that they fit more snugly and don’t wobble as much? Are there any special tips, replacement parts, or assembly steps to consider in order to fix this issue permanently? Maybe someone here has experience with this exact model and can provide a practical guide. Thanks in advance for any help!

Drawers often wobble because the side metal runners are not securely attached.

Check if the screws on the guide rails are tight. If not, tighten them.

Sometimes it also helps to inspect the plastic stops on the edges and replace them if necessary.

Regarding the topic "IKEA Malm drawers wobble a lot – how to fix them?" I would like to provide a brief guide that can help you address the issue effectively:

1. Remove the drawer: Pull the drawer out completely and take it out following IKEA’s instructions.
2. Check the runners: Often, the screws holding the runners to the cabinet loosen. Tighten these screws using the appropriate screwdriver.
3. Inspect the plastic stoppers: Check if the stoppers for the drawer runners are undamaged and correctly positioned. If broken, consider ordering replacements.
4. Adjust the drawer in the runners: Reinsert the drawer, making sure it fits precisely into the runners without sitting crooked.

Summary: The wobbling usually results from loose screws or worn plastic parts. By tightening and checking these components carefully, you can significantly improve the stability.

KUDAISY schrieb:
Summary: The wobbling effect almost always results from loose screws or wear in the plastic parts.

I fully agree and would like to add the following: The guidance system in the Malm series is mechanically quite simple, consisting of metal rails and plastic guides that hold individual rollers. If the wobbling is severe, it could be caused by worn or damaged plastic rollers on the drawer or the guide rails.

Therefore, I recommend carefully inspecting the rollers. If they no longer roll smoothly or are broken, they can be replaced with appropriate spare rollers from the IKEA spare parts service.

Additionally, slight adjustment of the guide rails by repositioning the screws (if possible) can help stabilize the guidance. Important: Sometimes drawers themselves can become misaligned if they are not set perfectly parallel to the cabinet—small inaccuracies add up to cause wobbling.

Have you measured whether the drawers run exactly centered? If not, that would be a good next step.

I had the same problem with my Malm dresser and know how annoying the wobbling can be, especially when you use the drawers frequently.

Fortunately, I was able to fix it by carefully checking and slightly tightening all the screws on the drawer slides and connections. I also used a bit of silicone spray, which made the slides move more smoothly and noticeably reduced the wobbling.

Sometimes it’s just a matter of patience and careful observation. I completely understand how frustrating it is when the drawers don’t fit properly. I would recommend checking out the tips from KUDAISY and pauPierce, as they really helped me. If you have any more questions, just let me know—we’ll figure it out 🙂

Timmyse36 schrieb:
Sometimes it’s simply a matter of patience and careful observation.

I can’t just leave it at that. Patience alone is not a solution when the construction has weaknesses.

In my opinion, a more thorough analysis is needed to understand why the wobbling occurs. Are loose screws really the cause, or is there a fundamental weakness in the structure?

I would suggest checking the specific tolerances of the rails and the drawer dimensions. Especially with affordable furniture like IKEA, manufacturing tolerances can sometimes cause issues.

Furthermore, I wonder if some users might be placing too much load on the drawers, which could increase the play. Has anyone here ever tested or documented the weight limits of the Malm drawers?