ᐅ Malm Drawer Slides Squeaking – Which Lubricant Should I Use?
Created on: 11 Jun 2021 10:23
J
Juanatol
Hello everyone,
I have several IKEA Malm dressers at home, and recently I’ve noticed that the drawer slides squeak when I open or close the drawers. This is not only annoying but also makes me doubt the long-term functionality of the drawers.
My question is: which lubricant works best to eliminate the squeaking of the Malm drawer slides? I have considered silicone spray, graphite powder, or perhaps a classic multipurpose grease, but I’m unsure because I want to avoid dirt sticking to the rails or the slides becoming stiff over time.
I would really appreciate if anyone could share experience or recommendations on suitable lubricants or the correct application. Many thanks in advance!
I have several IKEA Malm dressers at home, and recently I’ve noticed that the drawer slides squeak when I open or close the drawers. This is not only annoying but also makes me doubt the long-term functionality of the drawers.
My question is: which lubricant works best to eliminate the squeaking of the Malm drawer slides? I have considered silicone spray, graphite powder, or perhaps a classic multipurpose grease, but I’m unsure because I want to avoid dirt sticking to the rails or the slides becoming stiff over time.
I would really appreciate if anyone could share experience or recommendations on suitable lubricants or the correct application. Many thanks in advance!
kibutar schrieb:
One more question for you, Juanatol: How old are the dressers, and are the drawers under heavy use?Thanks for the detailed post! The dressers are about 3 years old, and the drawers are filled with clothes, including some fairly heavy items like jeans, so they are under moderate load.
I have already cleaned all the slides roughly with a damp cloth but haven’t used any special cleaning agents yet. That’s a good tip—I will definitely do that before applying the lubricant.
What cleaning agents would you recommend? Is isopropyl alcohol from the pharmacy okay, or would something more specialized be better?
Juanatol schrieb:
Which cleaning agents would you recommend?Isopropanol is generally well-suited because it evaporates quickly, cleans without leaving residues, and does not affect sliding friction.
Alternatively, a small amount of dish soap in warm water can be used initially to remove dust and dirt. However, with this method, you must ensure everything is completely dry before lubrication.
It is important that no oily residues or silicone remnants from previous applications remain, as these can negatively affect the adhesion of the new lubricant.
After cleaning, the rails should be wiped down with a lint-free cloth. This provides the best conditions for lubrication.
Hey Juanatol and everyone following this :-)
A while ago, I had a similar squeaking issue with my Malm dresser. I ended up using a silicone spray that I specifically bought for lubricating plastics – it was a game changer! The spray is really dry, makes the runners glide smoothly, and you don’t have to wipe forever to clean it off.
Important: Don’t apply too much, or it can cause problems. Also, avoid using generic WD-40, as it definitely attracts dust. And don’t use greases or oils, or you’ll soon have a real mess behind the dresser.
Finally: Make sure to ventilate well after spraying – that way you won’t get any strong odors. Good luck! 🙂
A while ago, I had a similar squeaking issue with my Malm dresser. I ended up using a silicone spray that I specifically bought for lubricating plastics – it was a game changer! The spray is really dry, makes the runners glide smoothly, and you don’t have to wipe forever to clean it off.
Important: Don’t apply too much, or it can cause problems. Also, avoid using generic WD-40, as it definitely attracts dust. And don’t use greases or oils, or you’ll soon have a real mess behind the dresser.
Finally: Make sure to ventilate well after spraying – that way you won’t get any strong odors. Good luck! 🙂
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