ᐅ MALM drawers squeak and stick at the same time – how can they be fixed?
Created on: 2 Mar 2017 08:17
E
emrah36
Hello everyone,
I have the following problem with my Malm chest of drawers from IKEA: The drawers squeak quite loudly when pulled out, and at the same time, they sometimes stick so they don’t slide out properly. It sounds like the runners aren’t working smoothly or are somehow catching. I have already tried cleaning the runners, but that only helped minimally. Does anyone have an idea how to permanently fix this combination of squeaking and sticking? I suspect it has something to do with the drawer slides, but I’m unsure whether I need to lubricate them, replace them entirely, or adjust them differently. I would really appreciate any advice, including tips on how to maintain and properly handle these drawers. Thanks in advance!
I have the following problem with my Malm chest of drawers from IKEA: The drawers squeak quite loudly when pulled out, and at the same time, they sometimes stick so they don’t slide out properly. It sounds like the runners aren’t working smoothly or are somehow catching. I have already tried cleaning the runners, but that only helped minimally. Does anyone have an idea how to permanently fix this combination of squeaking and sticking? I suspect it has something to do with the drawer slides, but I’m unsure whether I need to lubricate them, replace them entirely, or adjust them differently. I would really appreciate any advice, including tips on how to maintain and properly handle these drawers. Thanks in advance!
emrah36 schrieb:
Could it be that the material of the rails simply becomes more brittle over time, which is why the squeaking persists despite lubrication?Yes, that can definitely happen—especially with older drawers or those subjected to heavy use. Plastics become more brittle, and metals develop micro-scratches that can quickly cause noise.
I always find it surprising how a little maintenance (and careful inspection) can make such a difference. If the rails are already significantly deformed, replacing them is more worthwhile than endlessly reapplying lubricant. It may sound like more effort, but the lifespan will be much longer. 😉
I had a similar issue with my Malm dresser: squeaking and sticking, especially under heavy load.
What helped me was slightly bending the side rail inward to give the rollers more support. Don’t overdo it, or it will become too tight.
I also used silicone spray, and I made a habit of not overloading the drawer. Less weight means less sticking – logical, but often overlooked. 🙂
What helped me was slightly bending the side rail inward to give the rollers more support. Don’t overdo it, or it will become too tight.
I also used silicone spray, and I made a habit of not overloading the drawer. Less weight means less sticking – logical, but often overlooked. 🙂
One more technical note:
Jamming can also be caused by uneven loading of the drawer, such as irregular weight distribution or a slight tilt in the cabinet.
If you have a spirit level, check whether the furniture is perfectly level. Even small tilts can cause drawers to not slide smoothly.
If you have leveled the piece of furniture and the problem persists, the only solution is to replace the drawer slides.
Jamming can also be caused by uneven loading of the drawer, such as irregular weight distribution or a slight tilt in the cabinet.
If you have a spirit level, check whether the furniture is perfectly level. Even small tilts can cause drawers to not slide smoothly.
If you have leveled the piece of furniture and the problem persists, the only solution is to replace the drawer slides.
keelko schrieb:
The rail on the side is slightly bent inward Interesting tip! That could very well be a factor in my case too. I haven’t actually checked how the rails fit on my MALM. I should try carefully bending them back a bit.
CHENNE schrieb:
If you have a spirit level, ... check if the piece of furniture is perfectly level Yes, it actually is quite tilted. I never noticed it before because the room has an irregular shape.
So it seems my problem is a combination of construction, load, and inaccurate positioning.
I will thoroughly check everything again today, clean it, maybe slightly readjust the rails, and apply silicone spray. If it doesn’t improve, I’ll order replacement parts. Thanks to everyone for the good ideas so far!
emrah36 schrieb:
I will check everything carefully again today, clean it, possibly adjust the rails slightly, and apply silicone spray.Very good plan!
One final tip: after cleaning and lubricating, make sure to tighten all the screws on the guide rails again. Loose screws can later cause uneven stress, which you already mentioned in relation to "jamming."
Good luck with the repair!
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