ᐅ Malm furniture appears to have become unstable – how can I stabilize it again?

Hello everyone, I have an issue with my IKEA Malm furniture, especially the dressers and beds: after several years of use, they have become noticeably less stable, showing significant wobbling and creaking. The fasteners seem to have loosened, although I have regularly tightened them. Are there any proven methods or effective techniques to restore the stability of this furniture? I would like to know if there are specific reinforcements that can be added to the joints or if it would be advisable to strengthen the connections with other materials. I would greatly appreciate practical and long-lasting tips.

I would recommend first loosening all screws and fasteners completely, then tightening them again securely. Small dabs of wood glue at the joints often help as well. If available, you can also install metal brackets on the inside to reinforce the corners.

Gitori schrieb:
The fasteners seem to have loosened, even though I have regularly tightened them.

Regularly tightening indicates that the original connection is no longer holding adequately. A proven method is to reinforce the joints with wooden dowels or self-adhesive reinforcement plates, as the material used in Malm furniture is often particleboard, which wears out under stress.

Additionally, installing metal brackets at the corners can improve load distribution and prevent further loosening. Avoid using screws that are too large, as they could damage the structure.

BEATE schrieb:
Install metal brackets inside to support the corners.

This is an effective measure. Additionally, I recommend thoroughly cleaning and lightly sanding the surfaces before installing the brackets to improve the contact area between the brackets and the furniture.

Furthermore, any loose biscuits can be replaced with new, properly cut ones. If the load-bearing capacity of the chipboard is significantly reduced, attaching thin battens along the inner edges helps to reinforce the overall structure.

Gitori schrieb:
I would like to know if there are special reinforcements that can be applied at the connection points

Yes, there are several options:

1. Metal corner brackets (also called angle brackets) for furniture frames, which you secure with small wood screws; make sure to install them on the inside to avoid affecting the appearance.

2. Plywood strips or battens applied on the inside of warped areas to provide additional stability.

3. Replacement or addition of wood or plastic dowels; sometimes a dowel becomes loose, which significantly reduces stability.

4. Wood glue applied on all edges and joint surfaces, which hardens during assembly and adds extra strength.

When working with Malm furniture, use caution because the MDF or particleboard panels used are not infinitely load-bearing. Sometimes it helps to remove all screws including cam locks, repair the drill holes with wooden dowels or wood filler, and then reassemble.