ᐅ Malm chest of drawers squeaks under heavy load – how to fix it?

Hello everyone,

I have a Malm chest of drawers from Ikea that starts squeaking under heavier loads, for example when I pull out several drawers fully or store something heavy on or inside the drawers. The noise seems to come from the runners or the connections between the drawers and the frame.

I’m mainly interested in: What exactly could be causing this squeaking? And what would be the best approach to fix the problem without compromising the mechanical functionality or stability?

I have considered lubricants like silicone oil or graphite spray but am unsure whether these are recommended for this type of furniture system.

I would appreciate any well-founded advice or tips!

lipeje schrieb:
When heavier load is applied, for example when I pull out several drawers fully or store something heavy on or inside the drawers, it starts to squeak.

It’s interesting that you only notice the squeaking under load. I would almost say that for a piece of furniture of this price range and construction style, such noises are inevitable. The design usually relies on thin particle boards and simple runners that are not meant to withstand heavy loads.

lipeje schrieb:
I have thought about lubricants like silicone oil or graphite spray but I’m uncertain if those are recommended.

Honestly, many users tend to try lubricants as a standard approach, which sometimes only helps temporarily or attracts dirt. The root of the problem might be deeper, such as play in the tracks or very small cracks at the bearing points.

My radical tip: especially for Malm dressers, it’s worth upgrading to better drawer slides or inserting small plastic sleeves to prevent metal rubbing directly against wood. Sounds like an advanced modification, but it’s worthwhile in the long run. What do you think? Just wanted to offer a different perspective 🙂

I would first completely remove the drawers and clean the drawer slides. Then apply silicone spray to the metal slides, not oil. Oil attracts dust and makes it worse.

Regarding the cause of squeaking under increased load, it should be noted that the Malm dresser is fitted with simple metal drawer slides, which can start to squeak over time due to friction and material wear.

Proper maintenance involves cleaning the tracks of dust and dirt, followed by application of a lubricant-friendly treatment. I strongly recommend a dry lubricant based on silicone or Teflon, as these do not attract dirt or interfere with the mechanism.

Oily lubricants are not recommended because they can build up a greasy film that attracts dust particles, causing increased friction.

Additionally, it is important to check whether the drawer slides are correctly installed and not warped. Misalignment can intensify the squeaking.

If available, plastic glide strips with appropriate Teflon protection can provide further improvement.

SIAURORA schrieb:
Many users probably try lubricants by default, but this often only provides short-term relief or attracts dirt.

That sums it up well.

However, I would add that the squeaking might also be due to material fatigue. Has your dresser perhaps been used beyond the manufacturer’s specified maximum load?

edisondan schrieb:
Proper maintenance involves cleaning [...] I strongly recommend a dry lubricant based on silicone or Teflon that does not attract dirt

I completely agree with this. Additionally, I recommend checking for visible cracks or small damages, especially around the drawer mounting points. The drawer slides’ fittings should be firmly secured.

How long have you been using the dresser? This information can be helpful for the diagnosis.

janeo schrieb:
How long have you been using the dresser?

Thanks for your initial feedback! The dresser is now about 4 years old and has mostly been used under normal conditions, not overloaded. It’s possible that the runners are squeaking due to slight misalignments or minor dirt, as I haven’t checked them regularly.

So far, I haven’t noticed any visible cracks or poor assembly; the drawers slide fairly smoothly, except for this squeaking under load.

edisondan schrieb:
I definitely recommend a dry lubricant without adhesive based on silicone or Teflon

Can anyone recommend a specific product? There are many sprays and waxes available, so it’s easy to lose track. Also, does the consistency of these lubricants change after a few months? How often should one typically reapply under normal use?