ᐅ Why do Malm drawers sometimes get stuck for no apparent reason?
Created on: 18 Feb 2022 09:12
G
georgsinHello everyone,
I have a rather specific problem that I haven’t been able to find much clarity on so far: “Why do Malm drawers stick without any obvious reason?”
I own several Malm dressers from IKEA, all relatively new with no significant signs of wear, but their drawers frequently stick. There is no visible damage or warping, and the drawer slides all appear to be in perfect condition. This happens regardless of whether the drawer is fully loaded or nearly empty.
I am particularly interested in what factors, despite everything appearing to be in order and correctly assembled, could cause this sticking. Is it due to the design? The materials? Temperature or humidity influences? Or perhaps something entirely different?
Maybe someone here has noticed similar issues or understands the technical background that could help prevent or fix this sticking without having to disassemble the entire drawer.
I look forward to your insights and experiences!
I have a rather specific problem that I haven’t been able to find much clarity on so far: “Why do Malm drawers stick without any obvious reason?”
I own several Malm dressers from IKEA, all relatively new with no significant signs of wear, but their drawers frequently stick. There is no visible damage or warping, and the drawer slides all appear to be in perfect condition. This happens regardless of whether the drawer is fully loaded or nearly empty.
I am particularly interested in what factors, despite everything appearing to be in order and correctly assembled, could cause this sticking. Is it due to the design? The materials? Temperature or humidity influences? Or perhaps something entirely different?
Maybe someone here has noticed similar issues or understands the technical background that could help prevent or fix this sticking without having to disassemble the entire drawer.
I look forward to your insights and experiences!
Hello Georgsin,
A drawer rarely sticks just to annoy us; usually, there’s a small cause behind it that is often overlooked. Malm is known for its relatively affordable design, which means the parts sometimes don’t fit perfectly, so a bit of adjustment is often necessary.
Often, it’s tiny irregularities on the drawer slide that catch crumbs or dust. Fluctuating humidity can also cause the wood to swell slightly – this can tighten the sliding path even if nothing is visible.
My tip: Clean the drawer slides and lightly lubricate them (with silicone or Teflon spray, not oil!). This will make the drawer glide much more smoothly. 🙂
By the way, it’s sometimes important to distinguish between sticking when opening and when closing, as these can point to different causes.
A drawer rarely sticks just to annoy us; usually, there’s a small cause behind it that is often overlooked. Malm is known for its relatively affordable design, which means the parts sometimes don’t fit perfectly, so a bit of adjustment is often necessary.
Often, it’s tiny irregularities on the drawer slide that catch crumbs or dust. Fluctuating humidity can also cause the wood to swell slightly – this can tighten the sliding path even if nothing is visible.
My tip: Clean the drawer slides and lightly lubricate them (with silicone or Teflon spray, not oil!). This will make the drawer glide much more smoothly. 🙂
By the way, it’s sometimes important to distinguish between sticking when opening and when closing, as these can point to different causes.
KAUDRA62 schrieb:
Often, it is tiny irregularities on the guide rail that trap crumbs or dust.This is an important point. In addition, I recommend checking the drawer runners for proper alignment. Especially with simple furniture like Malm, assembly errors can occur that are not immediately noticeable, for example, a slightly crooked screw or uneven spacing to the cabinet wall. This leads to increased friction.
Furthermore, overloading combined with slight warping of the cabinet can affect functionality. Especially with chipboard under moisture exposure, even minor deformation can cause the drawer to stick.
A technical detail on the side:
Malm drawers are usually fitted with simple mechanical full-extension slides, which are not as precise as high-quality ball-bearing drawer slides.
These simple mechanisms are more susceptible to dirt, small particles in the track, or slight warping caused by temperature and humidity changes.
Therefore, occasional maintenance or readjustment is recommended, such as tightening screws, cleaning the slides, and applying light lubrication.
Another possible cause can be jammed plastic guides. Over time, they may warp or slightly break, causing the drawer to stick in the mechanism.
Malm drawers are usually fitted with simple mechanical full-extension slides, which are not as precise as high-quality ball-bearing drawer slides.
These simple mechanisms are more susceptible to dirt, small particles in the track, or slight warping caused by temperature and humidity changes.
Therefore, occasional maintenance or readjustment is recommended, such as tightening screws, cleaning the slides, and applying light lubrication.
Another possible cause can be jammed plastic guides. Over time, they may warp or slightly break, causing the drawer to stick in the mechanism.
FEKAU schrieb:
Malm drawers usually come with simple mechanical full-extension slides, which do not offer the same precision as high-quality ball-bearing drawer slides.That sums it up well. Combined with the materials used—mostly particleboard with a foil coating—this can lead to short-term swelling when exposed to moisture.
Additionally, it is important to check whether any door or drawer fronts have warped, especially in larger or poorly ventilated rooms.
With temperature fluctuations (for example, heating turning on or off), the wood can expand and contract, which reduces the fit accuracy and thus explains the sticking.
E
edisondan18 Feb 2022 12:50I would like to add that with Malm dressers, the cross fasteners between the drawer and the slide rail are often not tightened properly. This can cause the drawer to hang slightly and eventually stick when pulled.
It is also helpful not to overload the drawers too heavily. Even if the slides are designed for certain weights, excessive load can put increased force on the slide and the cabinet, which may cause sticking.
If the drawer truly sticks, sometimes removing it completely and reinserting it helps. During this process, check the slides and adjust them slightly if necessary.
It is also helpful not to overload the drawers too heavily. Even if the slides are designed for certain weights, excessive load can put increased force on the slide and the cabinet, which may cause sticking.
If the drawer truly sticks, sometimes removing it completely and reinserting it helps. During this process, check the slides and adjust them slightly if necessary.
Similar topics