ᐅ Malm drawers come loose after repeated opening – how can they be secured?

Hello everyone,

Some time ago, I bought a Malm dresser set from IKEA, and I’ve noticed a technical issue with the drawers: after opening and closing them multiple times, the back panels of some drawers start to come loose on their own. They become loose or shift, which reduces the stability and functionality. The drawers have not been overloaded or misused, so it seems to be more of a design or material problem.

I’m especially interested in any methods or tips you can recommend to securely fix these back panels permanently. Ideally, the solution should not require major disassembly or special tools but still reliably hold the back panel in place. Has anyone had practical experience or recommendations on how to repair Malm drawers to keep them stable long-term?

Thanks for your help!

Malm drawers are known to have issues with the back panels bending or coming loose after frequent use due to the thin particleboard and simple sliding fit. This is because the back panels are usually only slotted into grooves without any additional fastenings.

For a long-lasting fix, I recommend the following procedure:

1. Fully extend the drawer and place it on a stable surface.
2. Carefully remove the back panel from the groove.
3. Apply small dabs of wood glue to the back edges of the drawer (i.e., on the side panels) to bond the back panel in place.
4. Additionally, secure the back panel to the side panels with small nails, such as 12mm (0.5 inch) steel pins or fine brad nails, to ensure mechanical stability.
5. If you want to keep the interior appearance unchanged, I suggest driving the nails in at an angle from the inside and sealing the outside with wood filler or putty.

This method avoids fully disassembling the furniture and requires only a hammer, wood glue, and a few thin nails. It significantly improves stability and prevents the back panels from coming loose.

If there are existing holes or if desired, small wooden dowels can also be used, but this is more labor-intensive and generally unnecessary for Ikea furniture.

AUSTINREN schrieb:
the back panels are usually only slotted in grooves, without additional fastening

That is the core of the problem. I wonder if it really makes sense to fully glue the back panel—especially since the tongue-and-groove system is supposed to allow for flexible fixing.

Has anyone checked whether the groove profiles can be improved by reworking (smoothing edges / cleaning grooves)? Sometimes simply sanding or removing wood chips helps the back panel fit better.

I would also like to know how adhesive holds up in the long term with furniture movement. Does it cause any stress buildup?

My preferred idea: small metal brackets could be screwed on inside the corners. This way, the material remains flexible, and the back panel is still secured. Has anyone tried or even proven this?

Natan schrieb:
You could screw small angle brackets on the inside of the corners.

Not bad! That sounds like a sturdy yet reversible trick.

I did something similar with a dresser by attaching small self-adhesive felt pads to the back panels, which pushed the board slightly forward against the sides – making the piece more stable. Not a permanent fix, but it gives a temporary feeling of "more support" ;-)

Otherwise, I also use glue and nails. From my experience, the back panel of a Malm dresser remains somewhat wobbly if it isn’t properly secured with nails or brackets. The lightweight material bends easily.

If you don’t want to drill right away, you could also try some hot glue. It’s not the most elegant solution, but it works surprisingly well and can be removed cleanly if needed. 🙂

For anyone who’s dealt with this issue, I’d say: small repairs usually last longer than you expect. Just give it a try!