Hello everyone,
I have a question that might be familiar to some of you: my Malm nightstands from IKEA always squeak when I open or close the drawers. It’s quite annoying, especially at night or when trying to be quiet. I’ve already tried realigning the drawers a bit, but that hardly helped.
My guess is that the noise might be caused by friction between the wooden parts or the drawer slides. Does anyone have experience with products or techniques that reliably stop the squeaking? Maybe lubricants, special waxes, or something else?
I would really appreciate practical tips that also work specifically with Malm furniture, as I’ve read that due to its particular construction, it behaves a bit differently than regular wooden cabinets.
Thanks in advance!
I have a question that might be familiar to some of you: my Malm nightstands from IKEA always squeak when I open or close the drawers. It’s quite annoying, especially at night or when trying to be quiet. I’ve already tried realigning the drawers a bit, but that hardly helped.
My guess is that the noise might be caused by friction between the wooden parts or the drawer slides. Does anyone have experience with products or techniques that reliably stop the squeaking? Maybe lubricants, special waxes, or something else?
I would really appreciate practical tips that also work specifically with Malm furniture, as I’ve read that due to its particular construction, it behaves a bit differently than regular wooden cabinets.
Thanks in advance!
Hey sipeko!
Oh, I totally know what you mean! These Malm nightstands are really popular, but the squeaking is definitely a classic issue 🙂
What worked really well for me was simply spraying a bit of silicone spray on the drawer slides. It’s great because it doesn’t get sticky and almost completely eliminates the squeaking! Just pull the drawer out, spray lightly, and move it back and forth a few times. Worked like a charm for me, really effective!
If you don’t have silicone spray, sometimes rubbing a small piece of regular soap carefully on the slides can also help.
Don’t give up, you’ll get it fixed and then it will be completely quiet! 🙂
Oh, I totally know what you mean! These Malm nightstands are really popular, but the squeaking is definitely a classic issue 🙂
What worked really well for me was simply spraying a bit of silicone spray on the drawer slides. It’s great because it doesn’t get sticky and almost completely eliminates the squeaking! Just pull the drawer out, spray lightly, and move it back and forth a few times. Worked like a charm for me, really effective!
If you don’t have silicone spray, sometimes rubbing a small piece of regular soap carefully on the slides can also help.
Don’t give up, you’ll get it fixed and then it will be completely quiet! 🙂
Hello sipeko,
I would like to add that the squeaking is often not caused solely by the sliding tracks – sometimes it also comes from the wooden joints, which can produce noises due to moisture or slight tensions.
The first step is indeed to check all screws and fittings on the nightstand and tighten them if necessary, as many drawers squeak when the parts are not properly secured.
Once that is done, I recommend using silicone spray or graphite powder on the sliding tracks. Graphite is dry and does not grease, which makes it a good solution especially for wood and metal combinations, as it does not attract dirt. For the wooden areas, furniture wax or some beeswax can be applied to friction points – this also helps to reduce noise.
It is important to use these products sparingly and open and close the drawers several times afterward so that everything is well distributed.
I hope this helps you! 🙂
I would like to add that the squeaking is often not caused solely by the sliding tracks – sometimes it also comes from the wooden joints, which can produce noises due to moisture or slight tensions.
The first step is indeed to check all screws and fittings on the nightstand and tighten them if necessary, as many drawers squeak when the parts are not properly secured.
Once that is done, I recommend using silicone spray or graphite powder on the sliding tracks. Graphite is dry and does not grease, which makes it a good solution especially for wood and metal combinations, as it does not attract dirt. For the wooden areas, furniture wax or some beeswax can be applied to friction points – this also helps to reduce noise.
It is important to use these products sparingly and open and close the drawers several times afterward so that everything is well distributed.
I hope this helps you! 🙂
Hello everyone,
I recently went through the same issue with a Malm nightstand, and I know how annoying that squeaking can be, especially when you’re trying not to disturb anyone.
I can definitely confirm that. It was exactly the same for me—the wood warped slightly, and every time there was that irritating noise. Besides tightening the screws, I also treated the contact points with regular wood oil, which helped relieve some of the tension.
Sometimes simply moving the furniture to a different spot with different humidity levels helps as well. I know it sounds odd, but I felt it made a difference.
One more tip from my experience: if you slightly lift the drawer when closing it, the parts avoid direct pressure contact, and the squeaking can sometimes be reduced.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the problem gets resolved for everyone soon! 🙂
I recently went through the same issue with a Malm nightstand, and I know how annoying that squeaking can be, especially when you’re trying not to disturb anyone.
Jeanbar schrieb:
sometimes it’s also due to the wooden joints, which can produce noises from moisture or slight tension.
I can definitely confirm that. It was exactly the same for me—the wood warped slightly, and every time there was that irritating noise. Besides tightening the screws, I also treated the contact points with regular wood oil, which helped relieve some of the tension.
Sometimes simply moving the furniture to a different spot with different humidity levels helps as well. I know it sounds odd, but I felt it made a difference.
One more tip from my experience: if you slightly lift the drawer when closing it, the parts avoid direct pressure contact, and the squeaking can sometimes be reduced.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the problem gets resolved for everyone soon! 🙂
Hello sipeko and everyone interested,
I would like to share a simple step-by-step guide on how to systematically eliminate squeaking in Malm nightstands:
1. Check all screws and connections on the nightstand and tighten them if necessary. Loose parts can cause wobbling and noise.
2. Carefully remove the drawer and inspect the runners for dirt. Dust and small particles often accumulate, hindering smooth sliding.
3. Clean the runners with a dry cloth. Please avoid oily cloths, as they can attract dirt.
4. Then apply silicone spray to the runners. Silicone spray is ideal because it is non-sticky and provides long-lasting lubrication.
5. For areas where wooden parts rub against each other or other components, I recommend furniture wax, which reduces friction and protects the surface. Apply it sparingly and buff it in lightly.
6. Reinsert the drawer and test the smoothness by opening and closing it several times.
7. If noises persist, check that the nightstands sit flat on the floor—wobbling can cause additional stress.
Common mistakes I often see:
- Excessive use of oil on wooden surfaces, which can cause swelling
- Lubricants that attract dust and cause squeaking again shortly afterward
In summary: regular tightening of fasteners plus targeted, dry lubrication is the key.
Good luck! 🙂
I would like to share a simple step-by-step guide on how to systematically eliminate squeaking in Malm nightstands:
1. Check all screws and connections on the nightstand and tighten them if necessary. Loose parts can cause wobbling and noise.
2. Carefully remove the drawer and inspect the runners for dirt. Dust and small particles often accumulate, hindering smooth sliding.
3. Clean the runners with a dry cloth. Please avoid oily cloths, as they can attract dirt.
4. Then apply silicone spray to the runners. Silicone spray is ideal because it is non-sticky and provides long-lasting lubrication.
5. For areas where wooden parts rub against each other or other components, I recommend furniture wax, which reduces friction and protects the surface. Apply it sparingly and buff it in lightly.
6. Reinsert the drawer and test the smoothness by opening and closing it several times.
7. If noises persist, check that the nightstands sit flat on the floor—wobbling can cause additional stress.
Common mistakes I often see:
- Excessive use of oil on wooden surfaces, which can cause swelling
- Lubricants that attract dust and cause squeaking again shortly afterward
In summary: regular tightening of fasteners plus targeted, dry lubrication is the key.
Good luck! 🙂
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