ᐅ Malm drawers keep falling out – what are the best ways to secure them?

Hello everyone,
I have several Ikea Malm dressers in my apartment, and I’ve noticed that the drawers sometimes come completely out with frequent use. This usually happens when the drawers are fully extended and loaded a bit heavier. Especially with small children in the household, this is naturally frustrating and can also be dangerous.

I’m interested in hearing what options you know of to securely and permanently prevent the Malm drawers from falling out. Are there specific safety catches or stops that can be easily retrofitted without technically modifying the dresser? Or have some of you already created your own solutions? It would be great if you could share your experiences, ideally with advice on easy installation, load capacity, and reusability. Thanks in advance for your tips!

A proven solution is to use drawer locks with a locking mechanism. These prevent the drawer from being fully pulled out unless it is slightly lifted or a lever is activated. Such locks are available as retrofit kits specifically for Ikea furniture, sometimes marketed as "child safety drawer locks." It is important to choose a product that can be installed without drilling or screwing in order to preserve the appearance of the Malm drawer.

I personally use a lock with a plastic catch that simply clips in. This keeps the drawers securely on their runners even when fully loaded. Another option is metal stops mounted underneath the drawer slides, but this is a bit more complex to install.

I found a good illustrated guide here, in case someone is looking for a step-by-step solution: https://www.Ikea hackers.net/ (just search for "Malm Schubladensicherung").

nubar schrieb:
Such safety locks are available as retrofit kits specifically for Ikea furniture,

Exactly, and my tip: These locking clips are super easy to install and can even be removed without leaving any marks! 🙂 They’re ideal if you don’t want to drill holes.

Alternatively, you can use small magnetic catches. It sounds funny, but it actually works – my drawers now stay firmly closed, and there’s no chance they’ll pop open anymore! 😉

It also gets creative if you secure the drawers with a simple rubber band – not the most attractive solution, but it helps a lot with kids. For regular use, though, I would recommend the professional safety locks; they look neat and are practical.

The most efficient solution is using drawer stops like those Ikea offers for the Malm.

Easy to install, they reliably prevent drawers from falling out.

Other safety devices are usually more complicated or may cause damage.

tijajan schrieb:
Especially when there are small children in the household, this is naturally frustrating and can also become dangerous.

This is a key point. From a safety perspective, I recommend a combination of two measures: First, retrofitting drawer locks with a locking mechanism that prevents accidental opening.

Second, the weight inside the drawer should be evenly distributed, and heavy items should preferably be stored in lower drawers to prevent the dresser from tipping over.

tutan schrieb:
Alternatively, small magnetic catches can also be used.

This method works technically, but depending on the quality of the magnets, they can quickly lose their hold. This reduces reliability with frequent use.

For a long-term solution, I recommend off-the-shelf safety kits specifically designed for Ikea Malm drawers. They are usually easy to retrofit and provide reliable protection without affecting the look.

When installing, make sure the drawer slides are properly aligned to ensure smooth closing and opening of the drawers.

If you have any further questions about installation, I’d be happy to provide a step-by-step guide.