ᐅ IKEA MALM dresser wobbles – how to secure it permanently?
Created on: 21 Mar 2020 07:42
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bauwaltrauB
bauwaltrau21 Mar 2020 07:42Hello everyone,
I have had an IKEA Malm chest of drawers at home for some time now. Although I assembled it according to the instructions, it noticeably wobbles, which is especially annoying when opening the drawers or placing items on top of it. The floor is level, the angle bracket has been screwed in, and it stands on a fairly stable surface.
My question to the community is: How can the MALM chest of drawers be permanently stabilized so that the wobbling is completely eliminated? Your tips or experiences with modifications, additional reinforcement, or other methods would be very helpful.
Thanks in advance!
I have had an IKEA Malm chest of drawers at home for some time now. Although I assembled it according to the instructions, it noticeably wobbles, which is especially annoying when opening the drawers or placing items on top of it. The floor is level, the angle bracket has been screwed in, and it stands on a fairly stable surface.
My question to the community is: How can the MALM chest of drawers be permanently stabilized so that the wobbling is completely eliminated? Your tips or experiences with modifications, additional reinforcement, or other methods would be very helpful.
Thanks in advance!
Hello bauwaltrau,
the issue with the MALM dresser wobbling is often caused by slightly uneven floors and loose connections during assembly. To ensure the dresser is stable over the long term, I recommend the following steps:
1. Carefully check all screw connections and tighten them if necessary. The connection between the frame and the back panel is often a bit tight.
2. Use additional corner brackets on the back of the dresser. These significantly increase stability.
3. Place felt or rubber pads under the feet if the floor is slightly uneven – this helps prevent rocking.
4. If possible, secure the dresser to the wall using the included sealing strips and screws – this is the most effective way to prevent wobbling permanently.
This combination has proven to be successful and long-lasting in several cases.
the issue with the MALM dresser wobbling is often caused by slightly uneven floors and loose connections during assembly. To ensure the dresser is stable over the long term, I recommend the following steps:
1. Carefully check all screw connections and tighten them if necessary. The connection between the frame and the back panel is often a bit tight.
2. Use additional corner brackets on the back of the dresser. These significantly increase stability.
3. Place felt or rubber pads under the feet if the floor is slightly uneven – this helps prevent rocking.
4. If possible, secure the dresser to the wall using the included sealing strips and screws – this is the most effective way to prevent wobbling permanently.
This combination has proven to be successful and long-lasting in several cases.
elliot schrieb:
1. Check all screw connections thoroughly and tighten them if necessary.This is very important. I often notice with MALM dressers that the wooden dowels and cam lock fittings loosen slightly over time if they are not precisely fitted. You can counteract this by applying wood glue before securing everything again. Also, you should carefully inspect the base of the furniture piece, as unevenness of just a few millimeters can cause it to wobble.
BARSAN schrieb:
Attaching the back panel often helps with wobbling.Additionally, I recommend securing a metal or flat wooden strip to the back with screws, which can also be fixed to the wall. If you don’t want wall mounting, a horizontally installed strip near the bottom of the back panel can greatly stiffen the entire structure.
Another issue is the weight inside the drawers: unevenly distributed loads increase wobbling, so it’s best to fill them evenly.
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bauwaltrau22 Mar 2020 06:38kulau schrieb:
Unevenly distributed loads increase the wobblingThat’s interesting—I hadn’t thought of that before. The drawers are indeed filled unevenly, although it's mostly lightweight clothing.
elliot schrieb:
If possible, secure the dresser to the wall using the supplied mounting straps and screwsSo far, I’ve deliberately avoided wall mounting because the dresser is meant to stand freely. Therefore, it would be good if there were enough stability without attaching it to the wall.
My question is: Are there other ways to assemble the MALM dresser so that it remains stable and wobble-free permanently if wall mounting is not an option? For example, special joining methods, additional reinforcements, or other tips?
Hello bauwaltrau,
I understand your concern well—freestanding wobbly furniture can be frustrating. Without wall anchoring, stability usually depends on internal bracing and the floor.
1. Consider installing furniture shims or adjustable feet directly under the dresser’s legs. These allow you to level the dresser with millimeter precision.
2. Inside, additional braces can be helpful, such as horizontally installed wooden battens that rigidly connect the sides.
3. Applying thin foam or rubber strips at the contact points of the back panel can also improve the fit by eliminating small air gaps.
4. Check whether the drawers slide smoothly and are properly adjusted—sometimes lateral play in the hardware causes slight movement.
One more tip: if you can access the underside, mounting brackets there might reduce side-to-side play. This requires some DIY skills but provides a lasting solution and protects the wall.
Good luck with your adjustments!
I understand your concern well—freestanding wobbly furniture can be frustrating. Without wall anchoring, stability usually depends on internal bracing and the floor.
1. Consider installing furniture shims or adjustable feet directly under the dresser’s legs. These allow you to level the dresser with millimeter precision.
2. Inside, additional braces can be helpful, such as horizontally installed wooden battens that rigidly connect the sides.
3. Applying thin foam or rubber strips at the contact points of the back panel can also improve the fit by eliminating small air gaps.
4. Check whether the drawers slide smoothly and are properly adjusted—sometimes lateral play in the hardware causes slight movement.
One more tip: if you can access the underside, mounting brackets there might reduce side-to-side play. This requires some DIY skills but provides a lasting solution and protects the wall.
Good luck with your adjustments!
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