ᐅ Why does the Malm bed creak when you turn or move on it?

Hello everyone,

Some time ago, I bought the Malm bed from IKEA. I’ve noticed that it regularly squeaks when turning during sleep, which is quite annoying. My question is: why does the Malm bed squeak when turning?

I suspect the noise might come from the connection points between the individual wooden parts or possibly from the support of the slatted frame. Are there common areas or causes where this model tends to squeak more often? And most importantly – how can this issue be fixed permanently without causing any damage or compromising stability?

I look forward to your opinions, tips, and experiences!

Ryen68 schrieb:
Why does the Malm bed squeak when turning?

Hey, great question! 😊 The Malm bed has a fairly simple design, and its joints can rub against each other when moving—especially the connections between the side panels and the headboard or footboard. A bit of maintenance usually helps: applying some lubricant or simply tightening all the screws.

Sometimes even a tiny gap is enough for the wood to squeak like an old floorboard. So, check the screws, inspect the wooden slats for tension, and if needed, quiet it down with some wax. This way, your sleep stays noise-free! 😉

Nauman5 schrieb:
Sometimes even a tiny gap is enough, and the wood squeaks like an old wooden floor.

Exactly. To understand the problem, you need to know that with the Malm bed, stability is mainly ensured by the connection of the headboard and footboard to the side panels using tension pins and screws. These connection points are often under slight tension, which can loosen or shift through movement.

The friction occurs at these wood-on-wood contacts or metal-on-wood points, especially when wood fibers slip slightly against each other. Additionally, the type of wood and moisture levels play a role – dry environments cause the wood to shrink, which worsens the fit.

My tip: systematically loosen all screws, gently smooth the wooden slats and contact points with fine sandpaper (carefully!), then thoroughly coat them with wax or silicone spray and retighten all screws with the proper torque. That should help.

I’m curious: does the squeaking occur more when turning your body on the mattress or during movement of the slatted bed base?

FAZAR schrieb:
Does it squeak more when turning the body on the mattress or when the slatted frames move?

Or both?

If the slatted frame squeaks due to the wooden slats, simply stick some felt or foam rubber between the frame and the slats.

Thanks in advance for all the helpful information!

@FAZAR: The squeaking definitely occurs more when turning over on the mattress—that is, when the body shifts—not when lifting or moving the slatted frame itself.

I’ve already started tightening the screws a bit – does the standard IKEA Phillips screwdriver hold well? I’m a bit worried about overtightening and stripping the thread or damaging the wood.

What do you mean by “with the right torque”? Is there a recommended maximum tightening force for furniture like the Malm?

Regarding the wax: Is regular furniture wax sufficient, or should it be something more specific? And exactly which areas should I apply it to?

I appreciate any tips so the bed stops squeaking and I can finally get a good night’s sleep again!

Ryen68 schrieb:
What do you mean by "with the right torque"?

Good point.

For furniture like the Malm series, there isn’t a specific torque recommendation, but more important than a set number is the feel. The screws should be tight, but since wood is soft, tighten them until you feel resistance without over-tightening to the point that the threads spin or the wood fibers get damaged.

When retightening, it’s best to do it gradually in small increments and check if the bed remains stable in between.

Ryen68 schrieb:
Is regular furniture wax enough?

Yes, ordinary furniture wax or even special beeswax works well. The key is to use it sparingly to avoid sticking on the surface. Apply the wax at wood-on-wood contact points, such as where the side panels meet the headboard or footboard.

If you don’t have anything like that, a little silicone spray also works – just be careful with metal screws to prevent corrosion.

It’s great that you described the problem so clearly!