ᐅ Malm dresser squeaks when moved – how to lubricate it without leaving residue?

Hello everyone,

I have a Malm dresser from IKEA that increasingly squeaks when moved or slid around. It’s especially annoying because the dresser often needs to be repositioned or pushed against the wall. I understand that the noise usually comes from the hinges or the moving parts of the drawers, and I suspect that applying some lubricant might help.

My question is: How can I lubricate the Malm dresser thoroughly and appropriately without leaving any residue that could stain the floor or furniture? Are there specific oils or lubricants that remain discreet yet durable? What is the best way to identify the exact squeaky spots and treat them without damaging the dresser?

I would appreciate any detailed instructions, tips, or product recommendations!

I know this problem well; squeaking furniture can be really annoying, especially when it suddenly gets loud while you’re moving it.

What has helped me is thoroughly cleaning the affected hinges or runners before applying anything. Otherwise, dirt settles in the lubricant and it actually makes things worse.

From my experience, I often use silicone oil or dry lubricant for furniture like the Malm – these don’t leave stains and don’t become sticky. But this is often a matter of personal preference.

Are you sure the squeaking is coming from the drawer slides or more from the hinges at the back? Sometimes it’s also caused by the bottom edge if the chest of drawers is scraping.

First, thoroughly clean all moving parts. Then apply silicone spray. It dries quickly, leaves no residue, and is completely odorless. Often lasts for months.

I can totally relate, it’s really frustrating to constantly be careful about how you move the dresser so it doesn’t squeak loudly.

At first, I tried using some sewing machine oil, but unfortunately, it left stains on the wood and felt greasy. Later, I switched to a dry lubricant with PTFE. That was a great solution because you can barely see that anything was applied, and it really stopped the squeaking.

I can also understand wanting to be cautious since you don’t want to damage the piece of furniture.

Silicone spray is ideal. First, clean the tracks with a lint-free cloth. Then apply one or two short sprays to the affected areas. Wipe off any excess spray with a cloth to prevent residue on the floor or other furniture.

I’ll just say: Silicone spray is basically the “insider tip” among furniture enthusiasts ;-) Clean the surface, spray lightly, done. No more squeaking! And the dresser won’t end up looking like an oil spill in a parking lot 😂

A little tip from me: Work on newspapers to protect the floor, and wear gloves if needed so you don’t get silicone residue on your hands. It worked perfectly for me 🙂