ᐅ Why do MALM drawers sometimes open by themselves?

Created on: 30 Sep 2020 08:12
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SAUBAR
Hello everyone, recently I've been experiencing a strange issue with my IKEA Malm dresser: the drawers keep opening on their own without anyone touching them. I have checked several times to make sure the drawers are properly closed and also inspected the drawer slides for any damage or misalignment – everything seems fine. I’m curious about what might cause the drawers to open by themselves. Could it be a design flaw, a problem with the hardware, or perhaps something related to physical conditions like air pressure, temperature, or humidity? If anyone has practical experience or suggestions for solutions, I would appreciate any help.
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SAUBAR
30 Sep 2020 09:05
lochen schrieb:
Temperature fluctuations cause the wood to expand or contract slightly, which can lead to movement.
That’s interesting, thanks! The dresser is located directly under the window in my case, and I’ve noticed that the drawers tend to open by themselves more often on sunny days. So it really seems to be related to the material issue or the mechanical design.
GEKAU51 schrieb:
They deliberately avoid using stoppers or a self-locking mechanism.
I can understand IKEA’s cost-saving measures, but I think the risk should also be minimized. A well-functioning soft-close or stopper would be useful here.
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mabla
30 Sep 2020 09:12
Compressed air or drafts through windows can sometimes cause slight movement, especially if the front is slightly tilted. This is often enough to open a drawer, particularly with smooth-running tracks.
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Ryder35
30 Sep 2020 09:20
I had the same problem, and in my case, it was the floor – slightly uneven. A small wooden strip used as a wedge helped a lot. Since then, everything stays closed.
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lochen
30 Sep 2020 09:35
In addition to the previous tips: Have you checked whether the drawer slides are thoroughly clean and free of dust? Sometimes a creeping movement can occur when small particles affect the slide in such a way that the drawer does not stay properly engaged in a certain position. You might not notice this directly, but it is enough to cause the drawer to have a kind of “life of its own.”
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SAUBAR
30 Sep 2020 10:10
lochen schrieb:
Have you checked if the drawer slides are completely clean and free of dust?
I can rule that out; I just cleaned and lubricated them. So far, they work very well.
mabla schrieb:
Compressed air or drafts through windows can sometimes cause slight movements
Very good point, thanks! My window is right next to the dresser, and I often notice small drafts. Sometimes the drawer does slightly open due to these minor air movements.
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GEKAU51
30 Sep 2020 10:43
It's interesting how many here underestimate the environmental factor. Whether temperature, air pressure, or mechanical stress, the Malm drawers are simply not designed optimally for these conditions. It would be interesting to know if other furniture brands have managed to solve this problem better—or if this is a general issue with dressers that have rolling drawers. My theory is that IKEA simply wanted to save costs and is thereby risking a loss of comfort.