ᐅ The MALM bed sometimes squeaks very loudly – how can this be fixed?

Hello everyone,

I have a MALM bed from IKEA, and I’ve noticed that it sometimes squeaks quite loudly, especially when moving in bed or getting up. The noise is quite annoying, particularly at night. I’ve already tried tightening all the screws, but that didn’t provide a lasting solution.

Does anyone know this problem and have tips on how to permanently reduce or eliminate the squeaking? I would appreciate knowing if there are any special lubricants or other simple tricks that work particularly well with MALM beds. Thanks in advance!

asenbi schrieb:
I have already tried tightening all the screws, but that did not provide a lasting solution.

Hello asenbi,

It’s good that you have already worked on the screws, as that is usually the first step. Many quiet or loud noises actually come from loose joints or friction points between wood and metal.

My recommendation: Check not only all the screws again but also the slats on which the bed frame rests. Sometimes the squeaking is caused by friction between wooden slats and frame parts.

For treatment, you can use special silicone sprays or graphite powder, which help reduce friction without attracting dust, as can happen with regular oils. It’s important not to use oily substances that could cause the wood to swell.

Good luck!

In addition to naudans’ explanation: If you have checked all the screws and the slat supports are not squeaking either, you should look at the connection points between the bed sides and the headboard as well as the footboard. Material stretching may occur there.

Sometimes it also helps to attach felt or foam pads at the contact points. This prevents direct material contact, which often causes these noises.

Loosen the screws again and reinsert them, applying a bit of wood glue to the threads. This prevents them from loosening due to movement.

For me, it helped to lightly sand all wooden surfaces at the connection points and then treat them with wax. The squeaking stopped.

naudan schrieb:
Check not only all the screws again but also the slats on which the bed base rests.

Thanks, I will take a closer look at that. The slats still seem quite smooth to me, with no obvious damage, but friction can’t be ruled out.

Midra schrieb:
Attach felt or foam rubber pads at the contact points.

The idea of using pads is interesting – are they easy to find everywhere, for example at hardware stores? And how exactly should I install them to prevent slipping?

I’d appreciate any practical tips on that. Thanks!