ᐅ IKEA MALM bed squeaks when moving – how to make it quieter?

No drama: Tighten screws, treat contact points with wax or dry lubricant. If wood squeaks against wood, use felt pads underneath.

Hello! I can also confirm that the slatted base area tends to squeak sometimes with the Malm bed. Be sure to check the support points where the slats rest on the frame, as they can become deformed or worn over time. A thin strip of felt or cork often helps in this case. Occasionally tightening the screws can also be beneficial, since the wood can change under pressure. For me, cleaning the joints (removing dust and lint) brought a noticeable improvement as well. If you like, feel free to get back to me with details, and we can look further into it.

Isn’t the squeaking just a reflection of the value-for-money structure of IKEA furniture? ;-) Seriously though, a Malm bed is made from relatively inexpensive wood that naturally moves over time and causes noise. You can try to fix it with sealing tapes and lubricants, but it will never completely go away. In my opinion, that’s just part of it; otherwise, you’d have to switch to the luxury segment.

kemeo68 schrieb:
Seriously, a Malm bed is made from relatively inexpensive wood that naturally shifts over time and causes noises.

There is some truth to that, but I believe that with the right techniques, these issues can be minimized quite effectively. It would be a shame to dismiss such a piece of furniture too quickly. Besides, affordable furniture is essential for many people.

I see it a bit differently. You can also give a cheap bed some care— a little wax, felt, something soft—and it works. Also, trying out how to live with the noises is part of it 🙂 You don’t have to treat every creak as the end of the world; it actually makes life more interesting 🙂

If desired, you can also use graphite powder instead of wax. Simply apply it into the screw holes and joints. It stays dry and still provides lubrication.