ᐅ How can Malm beds be made quieter?

Hello everyone, I hope someone here can help me. I own a Malm bed from Ikea, which I generally like a lot, but unfortunately there is an annoying problem: it creaks and squeaks quite loudly with every movement, which is especially disturbing when turning over in bed. I have already tried tightening all the screws, but that didn’t help much. My question is: What proven methods are there to make Malm beds quieter? Are there specific lubricants to use, or should certain parts be replaced? Any tips on the common sources of squeaking within the bed would be really appreciated. Thank you in advance!

Hey Jureo31, great that you described the problem so clearly! It’s awesome that you’ve already checked the screws :-) Often, the squeaking in Malm beds is actually caused by the slatted frames or the joints between the side panels and the headboard or footboard. A real insider tip is to treat these connection points with a little silicone grease or Teflon spray – this greatly reduces friction! But be careful: use sparingly! And if you’re feeling ambitious, try attaching felt pads or felt strips at the contact points where wooden parts meet. It worked wonders for me! Don’t get discouraged, the issue is fixable, and you can make your bed a peaceful place again!

retau schrieb:
Treating the joints with a bit of silicone grease or PTFE spray can greatly reduce friction resistance!

I completely agree and would like to add that especially the screws and fasteners can often loosen slightly in a circular pattern, causing some friction. A tip: systematically loosen the screws, apply some lubricant to the threads, and then tighten them again. Also, check the slatted frame, especially if it consists of wooden slats, as wood can expand and warp.

Silicone grease is usually better than oil in this case because it does not gum up. Additionally, you can find specialized furniture lubricants on relevant platforms that are specifically designed to address these issues.

I can understand how stressful constant squeaking sounds in your own bedroom can be.

Jureo31 schrieb:
It squeaks and creaks quite loudly with every movement

– that can really keep you awake at night.

Maybe it also helps to completely disassemble the bed occasionally and inspect all the joints. Often, small irregularities like wood splinters or peeling paint cause friction. In such cases, small wooden or felt pads used as buffers can work wonders.

If you have the time, try this and feel free to share whether you notice any improvement!

1. Tighten the screws.
2. Apply silicone grease to the joints.
3. Place felt pads between wooden surfaces.

This is how I make my Malm beds quieter.

Espen schrieb:
3. Place felt pads between wooden surfaces.

That's a really great tip! 🙂 I tried it myself, and the bed definitely squeaks much less.

Here’s a little extra idea: before applying lubricants, try cleaning the surfaces at the really squeaky spots with a clean, dry cloth. Sometimes the squeaking comes from dust or small particles that make the surfaces rough.

Overall: don’t give up; most annoying noises can be fixed with a bit of patience. And by the way, over time the wood of a bed frame often develops some twists and warping – a little care and attention can work wonders! ;-)