ᐅ The Malm dresser keeps wobbling – what are the best solutions?

Hello everyone,
some time ago I bought a Malm chest of drawers from IKEA, which fits perfectly in my space. However, it keeps wobbling constantly, which I find quite annoying. I have already checked that all screws are properly tightened, but even then, there is noticeable wobbling. The floor is level, and the chest is not standing on uneven tiles or anything like that.
My question to you is: What are the best and most reliable solutions to eliminate this wobbling permanently? Are there any tricks related to the IKEA construction, or special tips for confident stabilization? I would prefer not to completely disassemble and rebuild the chest of drawers, but if necessary, I’m willing to do so.
Thanks for your experiences and advice!

leous schrieb:
I already checked that all screws are tightened properly, but there is still noticeable wobbling.

This is a common reason why a Malm chest of drawers may wobble. Most people overlook that IKEA furniture like the Malm uses a cam lock system, which often needs some readjustment to ensure everything fits tightly.

I would recommend completely removing all screws and fittings first, then systematically reassembling all parts. Pay special attention to ensuring the connectors fit together cleanly without any noticeable play.

Another tip is to place small felt pads under one side of the feet if the floor is slightly uneven. Even if you think the floor is flat, a tiny difference can increase wobbling. Precisely leveling here often helps a lot.

If you can secure the chest of drawers to the wall, this greatly improves stability. Many Malm models include brackets for wall mounting, which should completely eliminate wobbling.

In general: even with minimal tools, you can achieve quite good results by carefully retightening and compensating for uneven floors.

leous schrieb:
I prefer not to completely disassemble and rebuild the dresser, but if necessary, I would accept that.

Hello leous,

to properly address the issue of your Malm dresser wobbling, a complete rebuild is often the best solution. This type of furniture features a relatively thin frame, which can quickly feel unstable due to slight imbalances.

I would recommend the following steps:
1. Fully disassemble the dresser.
2. Inspect all joints, especially the dowels and cam lock fasteners. Check if any of the wooden panels show minor cracks or swollen areas, as these can reduce stability.
3. Clean the connection points from dust and old glue residues.
4. Replace any damaged dowels if necessary.
5. When reassembling, tighten all cam lock screws firmly but not overly tight to avoid splitting the wood.
6. Check the dresser’s base: even small floor unevenness can be compensated with furniture glides or thin shims under the feet.

Another useful tip is to secure the dresser to the wall. The Malm series usually includes mounting hardware for this purpose, which you should use, as it significantly increases stability and almost completely prevents wobbling, especially if you have children or move the dresser frequently.

If the dresser stands on carpet, the soft surface can also cause wobbling, which is another reason to level the feet carefully.

I’m curious about how exactly the wobbling occurs for you: do you feel it when pressing on the front, or does the whole piece move slightly back and forth? This information would help to pinpoint the issue more accurately.

emmaju schrieb:
to slide small felt pads under one side of the feet

This often provides enough stability.

Also, make sure the back panel is properly secured. The back panel significantly stabilizes the chest of drawers, and if it is only loosely attached, it will wobble much more.