ᐅ What to do if MALM drawers no longer slide smoothly?

Hello everyone,

I have a problem with an IKEA Malm chest of drawers where the drawers no longer slide as smoothly as they used to. They sometimes stick or jerk when being pulled out, especially the larger drawers with wooden or metal runners. Occasionally, it seems like the sliding rails may misalign slightly.

Has anyone had experience with what exactly can be done to restore the drawers to smooth, like-new operation? I have already considered cleaning and re-lubricating, but I would like to know precisely which lubricant is suitable and if there are any alignment issues to watch out for when adjusting the drawers.

I appreciate any helpful tips and possibly notes on known weak points of these MALM models. Thanks in advance!

First, completely pull out the drawer slides and clean them thoroughly, removing dust and lint. Then use a good silicone spray or graphite powder, which lubricates without attracting dirt.

Hello dufifo,

I can help organize the topic a bit:

1. Cleaning: Completely remove the drawers and clean the runners with a damp cloth, especially the metal tracks. Avoid using harsh cleaning agents.

2. Alignment check: Especially with MALM drawers, they can become misaligned if inserted improperly. Make sure the drawer sits straight and is fully engaged in the runners.

3. Lubrication: I recommend silicone spray because it doesn’t stick and repels dirt. WD-40 is often too liquid and attracts dust.

4. Check for damage: Sometimes the wood warps or the runners bend slightly—in that case, replacement is the only solution.

Summary: Clean, check alignment, use silicone spray, replace damaged parts. Hope this helps.

Moisture can also affect wooden drawers. Is your chest of drawers located in a damp area? This can impact the mechanism. If so, open the drawers fully on a dry, breezy day and let them dry out.

Jensson schrieb:
WD-40 is often too liquid and attracts dust.

Thank you, Jensson, that’s a helpful tip. I would also add that I’ve sometimes noticed scratches or slight deformations on the edges of the drawers in MALM dressers, which seem to occur from pulling them out under load.

Does anyone have advice on how to fix or at least reduce these minor deformations without having to buy a new drawer?

I can understand your frustration when a drawer sticks—especially in a piece of furniture that you use daily. For me, occasional adjustments and cleaning have helped. Sometimes it’s also due to overloading the drawer, which puts stress on the slides and causes misalignment.

Maybe check if the overall load is too high; that can really make a difference.