ᐅ IKEA Malm bed squeaks after moving – how to readjust?

Hello everyone,

I recently reassembled my IKEA Malm bed after moving, but unfortunately it now creaks loudly whenever I move or turn over. It’s really annoying because it makes quite a loud squeaking and cracking noise, even though everything was quiet before.

I understand that moving and reassembling furniture often means the parts aren’t as tight as they used to be. I’ve already tried tightening all the screws and connections again, but that only helped somewhat.

My question is: Does anyone have specific tips on how to ‘adjust’ the Malm bed to eliminate or at least significantly reduce the creaking? Which parts should I pay special attention to? And are there any tricks beyond just tightening or using lubricants that I should know about?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Jumadelein schrieb:
I recently reassembled my IKEA Malm bed after moving, but unfortunately it now squeaks quite loudly when I move or turn over.

Ah, the classic squeaky bed dilemma! 😉 This often happens after moves, as small gaps or slight looseness can develop during reassembly. My first tip: Check the joints where the slatted frame rests. Often, placing a small piece of felt or cork there helps reduce friction.

Jumadelein schrieb:
I have already tried tightening all the screws and connections again, but that only helped moderately.

I know that feeling! Tightening screws is important, but sometimes the wood needs a bit of care too. A little furniture wax or even beeswax can work wonders when rubbed between wooden parts. Just don’t use too much, or everything might slip.

Give that a try and let us know if it helps. Good luck!

Basically, a squeaking bed is almost always caused by movement between two parts that are supposed to be firmly connected. In the IKEA Malm bed, this is usually found at the four corners of the frame, at the support points of the slatted frame, and at the connections between the side panels and the headboard and footboard.

My structured approach to solving this:

1. Systematically loosen screws and fasteners and apply a small drop of wood glue (if wood on wood is squeaking) or an appropriate lubricant (e.g., silicone spray for metal connections), then tighten them firmly again. Important: Tighten all screws in the frame in small increments so the frame contracts evenly.

2. Check whether the slatted frame fits easily into the bed frame or if it hits anywhere. If it does, consider inserting cardboard or felt between the frame and slatted frame to prevent direct friction.

3. Under the bed legs, not only adjust the position if necessary, but also check for any loose screws under the frame. With wood screws, the threads can loosen in the wood—sometimes replacing screws or stabilizing them with wood glue helps.

4. If present, inspect metal brackets (corner connectors) to see if they are bent or incorrectly positioned.

Example: A commonly underestimated issue is the load on the frame—if the bed stands on a carpet, the floor can warp, causing greater pressure on the support points, which increases squeaking.

I hope this helps you approach the problem systematically!

teyosef schrieb:
One often overlooked aspect is the stress on the frame: When the bed is placed on a carpet, the floor can flex and create greater pressure on the support points, which increases the squeaking.

I can only confirm that – I had exactly the same problem after my move. Our bed was also on a soft carpet, which caused annoying squeaking with every move.

Additionally, it helped me to tighten the screws deliberately in opposite directions: first securing the diagonally opposite points, then gradually tightening in small steps instead of tightening them all at once. This ensures the wood does not warp.

I also applied some talcum powder or baby powder to the joints before tightening to reduce friction. Yes, it sounds funny, but it really helped me!

Fingers crossed you’ll get rid of the squeaking soon 🙂