Hello everyone,
I have an IKEA Malm bedside table with drawers that have increasingly been sticking lately. This means the drawers no longer open or close fully; often the closing mechanism jams or the drawer gets stuck at a certain point. I don’t use them with heavy loads, and at first glance, the runners appear undamaged.
Has anyone experienced this issue? I’m wondering if there is any kind of maintenance, adjustment, or repair option that doesn’t require completely replacing the drawer runners or even the entire bedside table. Tips or detailed repair instructions would be very helpful.
Thank you in advance!
I have an IKEA Malm bedside table with drawers that have increasingly been sticking lately. This means the drawers no longer open or close fully; often the closing mechanism jams or the drawer gets stuck at a certain point. I don’t use them with heavy loads, and at first glance, the runners appear undamaged.
Has anyone experienced this issue? I’m wondering if there is any kind of maintenance, adjustment, or repair option that doesn’t require completely replacing the drawer runners or even the entire bedside table. Tips or detailed repair instructions would be very helpful.
Thank you in advance!
Hey everyone! 🙂
I think the tip about adding shims is really practical and quick to do. Sometimes it’s worth taking small steps instead of immediately thinking about a major renovation.
I once had a problem where a wooden drawer had swollen a bit too much—humidity can sometimes cause unpredictable changes. Lightly sanding the edges worked wonders.
Maybe that’s the case with Zhibo too? Just check if the sides are rubbing against each other. And don’t be afraid of a little manual work—it’s quick and enjoyable when everything slides smoothly again in the end! 😉
I think the tip about adding shims is really practical and quick to do. Sometimes it’s worth taking small steps instead of immediately thinking about a major renovation.
I once had a problem where a wooden drawer had swollen a bit too much—humidity can sometimes cause unpredictable changes. Lightly sanding the edges worked wonders.
Maybe that’s the case with Zhibo too? Just check if the sides are rubbing against each other. And don’t be afraid of a little manual work—it’s quick and enjoyable when everything slides smoothly again in the end! 😉
tra_nina schrieb:
If that doesn’t help, a minimal application of silicone spray or a suitable lubricant on the rails can make the drawers slide more smoothly again.I think that is a one-sided view. I suspect that many issues are also caused by improper installation or even material warping. Simply spraying lubricant on the rails is often just treating the symptom rather than addressing the root cause.
Furthermore, I wonder whether the material used by IKEA is suitable for long-term, durable use. Does anyone have experience with the long-term stability, and whether replacing the drawer slides might be a more sustainable solution than maintenance measures?
What are your thoughts?
BLAKEO schrieb:
I suspect that many problems also stem from poor installation or material warping.That is correct and important to mention. However, I recommend a structured approach: observe, clean, adjust, maintain – and only replace components if it becomes clear that there is a mechanical or material defect.
BLAKEO schrieb:
whether replacing the running rails might be more sustainable than maintenance measures?Yes, especially if the rails are warped or damaged. IKEA offers replacement parts, and technically the replacement does not take long.
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