Hello everyone, I recently bought a Malm nightstand from IKEA. Lately, I have noticed that the drawers of this nightstand seem to have some looseness. Specifically, the drawers do not fit firmly but instead wobble slightly and do not feel as stable as I expected. I have already tried tightening the screws a bit, but the problem remains. Can anyone explain why this looseness occurs? Are there any known design flaws or material issues? And how could I properly fix this without having to replace the nightstand entirely?
That sounds really frustrating, especially when you specifically bought a nightstand to have order and stability. I once had a similar issue with another piece of furniture – it was a combination of slightly warped wood parts and screws that didn’t fit perfectly. Loose connections always make you a bit unsure if the furniture is truly stable. Maybe the drawer slides or those small plastic stops are somewhat damaged? I would first carefully check everything to see if anything is loose or if there are actual material defects. And before making any fixes that might make things worse, it often helps to share your experiences, so you’re definitely in the right place here.
Hello Bahabla, your issue with the Malm drawers wobbling can usually be traced back to two main technical causes: First, the drawer slides at IKEA are often made from thin metal, which over time can lead to slight play. This results in the wobbling sensation. Second, the mounting points for the drawer sides or the rollers may not have been manufactured perfectly, which can happen in mass production.
I would recommend systematically checking the screws on the inside of the drawers and on the drawer slides, and tightening them with a screwdriver if needed. Additionally, it makes sense to inspect the rollers and drawer slides for wear or damage. Sometimes applying a bit of lubricant or a small piece of carpet tape at the contact points can help reduce uneven movement.
It is also important that the drawer is properly aligned—if it is inserted slightly crooked, this can cause even more play. Please also check whether the furniture piece itself is standing level, as unevenness can worsen the issue.
Could you possibly also let us know if the problem was present from the beginning or developed over time? That would help identify the cause.
I would recommend systematically checking the screws on the inside of the drawers and on the drawer slides, and tightening them with a screwdriver if needed. Additionally, it makes sense to inspect the rollers and drawer slides for wear or damage. Sometimes applying a bit of lubricant or a small piece of carpet tape at the contact points can help reduce uneven movement.
It is also important that the drawer is properly aligned—if it is inserted slightly crooked, this can cause even more play. Please also check whether the furniture piece itself is standing level, as unevenness can worsen the issue.
Could you possibly also let us know if the problem was present from the beginning or developed over time? That would help identify the cause.
Domau0 schrieb:
Sometimes, applying a bit of lubricant or even a small piece of carpet tape at the contact points is enough to reduce unwanted movement.Thank you for the detailed post! The idea of using carpet tape sounds interesting—can you explain exactly how you mean that? Do you place it somewhere between the drawer and the sliding rail, or on the sides of the drawer?
Regarding your last question: I only noticed the wobbling after about three weeks of intensive use; everything was fine at the beginning. I suspect the screws might have loosened slightly, but tightening them didn’t help much. At first glance, the sliding rails don’t appear to be damaged or bent.
The furniture seems to stand level, at least I believe so—I use it on a hardwood floor, which might be slightly uneven. I could try using a spirit level or something like that.
What would you recommend if the screws are already tightened well but the wobbling still persists?
Bahabla schrieb:
What would you recommend if the screws are already tightened well but the wobbling still remains?Hello! If tightening the screws alone is not enough, the wobbling could be caused by minor wear on the drawer slides or slight warping of the wood itself. Especially with furniture made from particleboard with a laminate finish, like from IKEA, connection points may no longer fit as tightly as when new.
One common solution is to use small felt or rubber pads at the contact points between the drawer and the cabinet or under the drawer slides. This can help reduce any play and make the fit more stable.
Also, you should check whether the drawer is inserted straight and evenly into the slides—uneven loading can sometimes cause wobbling.
It might also be worth completely loosening the screws and realigning everything “dry” before tightening again. Sometimes a screw can sit slightly crooked, causing the drawer mechanism not to run smoothly.
If the wobbling persists, replacing the drawer slides or at least the rollers could be an option. This isn’t the easiest fix but is certainly doable with some basic DIY skills.
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