ᐅ What should you do if the screws in an IKEA BESTA unit come loose?

Hello everyone,

I have an IKEA BESTÅ shelving system at home that I have been using for some time. I have noticed that some of the screws holding the system together gradually loosen over time. This mainly affects the connections between the side panels and the shelves. I am wondering what the best way to deal with this is without having to completely disassemble and reassemble the entire construction.

I am particularly interested in whether there are specific types of screws or fastening techniques that work especially well for this furniture to prevent loosening. For example, should thread-locking compounds be used, or are there other mechanical methods or tips to improve the stability permanently?

Additionally, it would be helpful to know if regularly tightening the screws is recommended or if this might potentially damage the construction.

So, specifically: What should be done if the screws in the IKEA BESTÅ start to loosen? Which methods or precautions do you recommend to keep the furniture piece stable in the long term?

Thank you very much for your experiences and advice!

Basically, retightening the screws on IKEA BESTÅ furniture is quite advisable, as connections made from engineered wood materials like particleboard or MDF can loosen over time due to stress and temperature changes.

- Using threadlocker (such as medium-strength threadlock adhesive) can help but does not fully solve the problem, since material fatigue is often the underlying cause.
- Regular inspection and careful retightening are recommended to avoid damaging the threads.
- If screws loosen significantly, it is worthwhile to repair the drilled holes with wood glue and small wood chips or wooden dowels before re-screwing.

In short: using threadlocker is good, but it is especially important to check the mechanical stability of the fixing.

Siflo schrieb:
Thread-locking compounds (such as medium-strength threadlocker) can help but do not fully solve the problem, since material fatigue is often the cause.

This brings me to the provocative idea that IKEA furniture like BESTÅ simply isn’t designed for long-term durability. If someone uses this system intensively and expects it to last for many years, they will inevitably be disappointed because the materials and construction are simply not meant to last for decades.

Therefore, one might consider, when screws repeatedly loosen, either upgrading entirely to stronger screws and joints or retrofitting with metal components – or accepting that the furniture is only intended for temporary use.

In other words: if a loose screw on the BESTÅ is a problem, this is actually symptomatic of the overall design concept – so “professional solutions” are essentially just patches.

TEOKA schrieb:
What can I do if the screws on IKEA BESTÅ come loose? What methods or precautions do you recommend to keep the furniture stable over time?

I fully understand how frustrating it can be when you rely on a piece of furniture and constantly have to readjust it. I had similar experiences and learned to be patient: tightening is not annoying, but rather a form of maintenance.

Still, I advise against using excessive force when tightening to avoid weakening the material. If you notice that individual screws keep loosening, you could try using small wooden or plastic shims to better cushion the screw’s fit – this often helps the screw hold more securely.

It also helped me to develop a feel for the material when tightening—not too tight, but not too loose either. This takes some practice but is better than having to carry out complex repairs.

I think it’s important to see this not as a flaw, but as part of normal furniture use.