ᐅ Malm dresser squeaks despite being secured to the wall – any solutions?

Hello everyone,

I have an IKEA Malm chest of drawers, which I have securely fixed to the wall with a safety bracket to prevent tipping. Despite this attachment, the chest still squeaks during normal use of the drawers. The noise seems to occur when moving the drawers and sounds somewhat metallic or creaky.

I have already checked that all screws are properly tightened, and the chest is standing level, but the squeaking unfortunately persists. My question is: What specific causes could be responsible for the squeaking despite the wall bracket? Are there any proven solutions or maintenance tips to permanently eliminate the noise?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Most likely, the aluminum rails of the drawers or a lack of lubricant are causing the issue.

Try treating the runners with a suitable silicone spray or dry lubricant.

Squeaking in Malm dressers is often caused by the metal drawer slides, which can become noisy over time due to dryness or dirt buildup.

Recommendation: Clean the drawer slides with a lint-free cloth, slightly dampened if necessary with isopropyl alcohol, to remove dirt. Then apply a dry lubricant, preferably silicone spray or PTFE spray. Avoid using oils or greases, as these attract dust and can cause the squeaking to return quickly.

Important: The wall mounting has little effect on drawer squeaking, as the noise is primarily caused by the drawer runners.

I took the liberty of analyzing the problem in more detail – I personally own several Malm dressers, so I’m trying to cover all possible causes.

First, about the drawer slides: they are made of galvanized steel and usually have small plastic runners. Over time, this plastic wears down or deforms slightly, which can cause squeaking. The slides might also be slightly bent, especially if the dresser is older or unevenly loaded.

Step 1: Check if the slides move smoothly when pulling out the drawers and don’t stick. Look for visible dirt, dust, or fibers.

Step 2: Clean the slides thoroughly, for example with a vinegar-based cleaner, then let them dry.

Step 3: Use a dry lubricant based on silicone or PTFE. It’s important not to use oily or greasy lubricants – these will attract dirt again.

If that doesn’t help:

Sometimes the squeak comes from the connection point between the dresser and the back panel or the wall mounting itself, especially if screws are slightly loose or the mounting bracket is under tension. Check all screws here to make sure they are tight.

Important: Are there differences in the squeaking when you fully close the drawer versus only partially opening it? This can help pinpoint the source of friction.

Do you have more information about the model (e.g., height, number of drawers) and the age of the dresser? This might help determine if material fatigue is a factor.

I know exactly what you mean!!! My Malm drawer also used to make noises like it was retiring :-).

Here’s what I did: I took out the drawer, tightened all the screws again (you just learn those by heart after a while!). Then I grabbed my silicone spray can from the garage, sprayed it thoroughly, and the squeaking was gone!!!

Seriously, give it a try! It feels like you’re giving your furniture a little spa day 😉 Good luck!!!

RETRAVIS schrieb:
Wall anchoring hardly affects the drawer squeaking, as it is mainly caused by the drawer slides.

Thanks for the note, RETRAVIS – I wasn’t aware of that. I had assumed the entire chest of drawers would be more stable with wall anchoring and that the squeaking would disappear, but apparently this only affects the tipping behavior.

pauPierce schrieb:
Is there a difference in squeaking when you push the drawer fully in or only partially use it?

That’s a good point: I’ve tested it several times, and the squeaking occurs both with slightly open and fully closed drawers, but somehow it’s a bit louder when the drawer is fully pulled out. Could this indicate some shifting or stress in the area of the slides?

I will start by cleaning the slides and treating them with silicone spray, then I will report back.

Thanks for the advice, very helpful so far!