ᐅ Malm Bed Squeaks After Reassembly – Possible Causes?

Hello everyone,

I recently assembled a Malm bed from IKEA and unfortunately, it starts squeaking in several places whenever I move or turn over. The squeaking is quite annoying, especially at night, and seems to come from the bed frame or the slatted bed base area. I have already checked that all screws are tightened properly, but the noise persists.

My question to the experienced DIYers in this forum: What are common causes of squeaking that occur after a fresh assembly? Are there specific parts of the Malm bed that are more prone to such noises? And do you have any tips on how to fix this permanently without having to completely redo the assembly?

I would be very grateful for any advice or ideas!

Best regards,
bapra

Hey bapra,

This is a typical Malm bed issue! 😊 It often happens because the wood and metal parts rub slightly against each other at the joints. Even if all screws are tight, some components can still move just enough to cause that annoying squeaking.

What helps? Usually, a bit of soap, a few drops of oil, or even graphite powder applied to the connection points works wonders. Also, make sure to check the slatted frame thoroughly – it’s often the main culprit. Sometimes, the solid wood slats themselves can cause squeaking if they rub lightly against each other.

So: tighten the screws again, apply a thin layer of lubricant, and then move the bed a few times to spread it evenly. After that, the noise should be gone. 🙂 Good luck – and don’t worry, you’re not the only one dealing with Malm squeaks!

raulso schrieb:
Often, the cause is that wood and metal rub slightly against each other at the connection points.

It’s not always that simple, unfortunately. I believe you shouldn’t automatically assume that a few drops of oil or lubricant will fix the problem. If a bed squeaks, the cause needs to be identified systematically: Are all the screws and dowels tightened properly? Were the brackets installed correctly and properly aligned?

Another point: Stress within the wood itself can also cause squeaking, especially if the bed is on an uneven floor, leading to uneven load distribution. So here’s my advice: First, check carefully whether the slatted frame is stable and properly positioned, then check the floor. Only after that would I consider using lubricant – otherwise, you might only temporarily cover up the squeaking.

Squeaking usually occurs at moving joints. Tighten screws and check the slatted frame. Lightly sand wooden surfaces or treat them with wax.

bapra schrieb:
The squeaking is quite annoying, especially at night, and seems to come from the area of the bed sides or the slatted frame support.

I know that well; such a noise can bother you more quickly than you might expect. 🙂 In my experience, squeaking often indicates that a small spot is under minimal pressure or friction, which repeats over hours.

If the bed is really important to you, I would carefully check the assembly again and go through everything step by step. Try particularly to smooth the contact surfaces under the slatted frame or relieve them with felt pads.

And if the cause isn’t clear, a conversation with the manufacturer can also help—there is often support or exchange options. Keep your spirits up—the issue sounds annoying but is usually fixable! :-)