ᐅ Malm chest of drawers squeaks when opening – any tips on how to fix it?

Hello everyone,

Some time ago, I bought a Malm chest of drawers from IKEA, which has proven very practical in everyday use. However, the drawers have recently started squeaking loudly when being pulled out. The noise clearly comes from the rollers or rails, which no longer operate smoothly.

Does anyone know this issue and can offer advice on how to reliably fix the squeaking? I have considered cleaning and lubricating the drawer slides but want to avoid causing any damage or leaving residues.

Which lubricants are recommended, and what is the best way to proceed? Should the slides be completely removed, or is it possible to work on them without disassembly? I look forward to your experiences and suggestions. Thanks in advance!

The squeaking in Malm dressers usually comes from dry rollers. Use silicone spray, which lubricates well and doesn’t stay sticky.

It’s best to fully pull out the drawers, spray the tracks and rollers, then open and close several times. Do not use oil, as it attracts dust.

Bechen30 schrieb:
I have been thinking about cleaning and re-lubricating the sliding rails, but I don’t want to make things worse

I know that feeling well—when a noise is annoying, it’s easy to worry you might accidentally make it worse. But don’t worry—carefully cleaning and then applying silicone spray really helps without causing damage. I had similar issues myself and was able to get rid of the squeaking that way.

Go ahead and give it a try, and if you’re unsure, start with a small area. Sometimes it’s even small debris caught in the rail tracks. Good luck—it will be fine!

NoValentin schrieb:
It’s best to fully pull out the drawers and spray the rails and rollers

That is correct. Additionally, I recommend thoroughly cleaning the tracks with a lint-free cloth before applying lubricant to remove dust and old residues.

For Malm dressers, silicone sprays are suitable because they are water-repellent and do not attract dirt. Teflon sprays can also be used; however, you should ensure they are compatible with plastic components, as the rails are often made of a combination of plastic and metal.

When sliding the drawer after spraying, move it slowly to help evenly distribute the lubricant.

Removing the rails is not absolutely necessary but can be helpful if they are heavily soiled.

Bechen30 schrieb:
Which lubricants are recommended and what is the best approach?

I’d say: a little silicone spray usually quiets down your dresser quite nicely ;-). Just pull it out, spray, move it back and forth a few times – done!

That was fun for the dresser, less so for your ears, right? 🙂 If it’s really stubborn, you can also gently “massage” the rollers with a cotton swab to help spread the lubricant better.

Good luck, and don’t be afraid of minor squeaks – you can always get rid of them!