ᐅ Malm dresser squeaks despite cleaning – how can I reduce the noise?

Hello everyone,

I have a Malm chest of drawers from IKEA that started squeaking after some use, even though I have already cleaned it thoroughly. I checked the rails and rollers and lubricated all moving parts, but the noise remains.

My question is: How can I effectively reduce the noise in a Malm chest of drawers when cleaning alone is not enough? Are there specific lubricants, damping techniques, or mechanical solutions you would recommend? I would prefer not to completely disassemble the drawer, but if that is necessary, I would also appreciate tips on that.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

Liolau schrieb:
How can I effectively reduce noise from a Malm dresser when cleaning alone is not enough?

The squeaking in a Malm dresser usually comes from insufficient lubrication or friction on the drawer slides and runners. I recommend the following:

1. Use a dry lubricant such as silicone spray instead of oil or grease, since the latter can attract dust and make the noise worse.

2. Check the screws and fasteners, as loose connections can cause noise from vibrations.

3. Optionally, you can apply small foam or felt strips at contact points to minimize metal-on-wood friction.

4. If the squeaking persists, carefully review the assembly instructions, as parts may not be installed perfectly or could be worn.

These steps have been tested and generally reduce noise effectively.

Hey Liolau,

I completely understand, that annoying squeaking can really get on your nerves 😅. You’ve already cleaned and lubricated it thoroughly, but have you tried graphite powder? It’s a dry lubricant, perfect for situations like this because it doesn’t become sticky and often stops the squeaking completely.

Also, if that doesn’t work, try attaching some felt pads to the sides of the drawers or the contact surfaces—I did that on my chest of drawers, and suddenly it was completely silent! 🙂

Sometimes a little hands-on work helps too: take the drawer out, check the runners, and adjust them if necessary. But don’t worry—it’s usually a quick fix! Good luck 😄

Apply graphite powder to the guides.
Tighten any loose screws.
Attach felt pads to friction points.
Then test again.

Hey Liolau, great that you already cleaned the dresser thoroughly! I had the same problem and just used petroleum jelly on the wooden strips – easy and very effective! I can really recommend that 🙂

And if you take the drawers apart, be careful not to tighten the screws too much, or else everything will warp. I managed it, and now everything is quiet again – I’m really happy about no more squeaking concerts in the bedroom! Good luck and let me know if you need more tips!

REOHEINRIC schrieb:
I recommend the following: Use a dry lubricant like silicone spray instead of oil or grease

I agree with this. Applying silicone spray to the metal parts reliably reduces friction noise.

In addition, make sure to completely remove dust and dirt from the sliding tracks, as even the smallest particles can affect functionality and increase noise.

If the dresser is older, mechanical wear might be present – in that case, replacing the affected runners is often the only solution. Replacement parts are available from IKEA and are relatively affordable.

A long-term clean solution involves both cleaning and using the appropriate lubricant.