ᐅ Why is it difficult to disassemble my Malm bed?

Hello everyone,

I have a Malm bed from IKEA that I now need to disassemble because I am moving. However, it is proving to be much more difficult than expected. The individual parts are very tightly fitted together, especially the connections between the bed sides and the headboard and footboard, which are hard to separate despite using a screwdriver and some force. I checked the instructions, where the disassembly is shown as fairly simple – but in practice, it seems different. Can anyone explain why the Malm bed is so hard to take apart? Are there any special tips or tools that could help with this without damaging the bed?

Looking forward to your advice!

Tubigla schrieb:
The individual components fit together very tightly, especially the connections between the bed sides and the headboard and footboard, which are almost impossible to separate

Hey, yes, I know exactly what you mean! These IKEA beds, especially the Malm series, are known for fitting together really snugly – which is actually good to keep everything stable. 😅 Try gently loosening the metal brackets and the so-called furniture dowels using a rubber mallet (just tap lightly, don’t hit hard!). Sometimes it also helps to fully remove the screws and then loosen the fittings by carefully wiggling them back and forth.

But be careful: don’t use excessive force, or the edges and wood can easily get unattractive dents or marks. If you don’t have a rubber mallet, you can place a piece of wood between a regular hammer and the bed. Good luck! 🙂

Tubigla schrieb:
Why is the Malm bed so difficult to take apart?

The issue with the Malm bed often comes down to its construction. IKEA typically uses cam-lock fasteners combined with wooden or plastic dowels. These are designed to create a very tight connection to ensure stability. When disassembling, you should primarily keep the following in mind:

1. Loosen screws completely by unscrewing them, not just partially. Cam-locks often only release when the associated screw is fully removed.

2. For the connector bolts that may be secured with metal clips, you might need to gently remove these clips using a small screwdriver.

3. Be careful not to pry or twist the bed frame excessively—forcing it can damage the dowels or particleboard.

4. Especially after extended use, the materials may have slightly swollen due to moisture, which can make the fitting even tighter.

I would also recommend reviewing the original instruction manual carefully or downloading the assembly/disassembly guide from IKEA’s website—official instructions often include additional helpful tips.

What tools have you used so far, and have you been able to remove all the screws?

kibutar schrieb:
I would also recommend carefully reviewing the original instruction manual again or downloading the assembly or disassembly guide online from IKEA

Thanks already for the detailed explanation! Yes, most of the screws are already removed – I used a cordless screwdriver with the appropriate bit, so loosening them worked well. The main problem is that the parts still feel stubbornly stuck together afterward. The bed doesn’t appear damaged, but the wood joints seem to be practically snapped together.

maugi schrieb:
Try gently loosening especially the metal brackets and the so-called “furniture dowels” using a rubber mallet.

I will try that; unfortunately, I don’t have a rubber mallet, but I do have a piece of wood and a regular hammer.

Does anyone have advice on whether it’s helpful to apply heat? I’ve heard that slight warming can loosen wood or glue a bit, but I’m unsure if that would be beneficial for the Malm bed or if it might cause more harm.

Tubigla schrieb:
Does anyone have advice on whether it makes sense to use heat?

In short: heat usually does not help with this type of furniture. The Malm bed is mainly held together by mechanical fasteners, and the materials do not react to heat in a way that would make the joints easier to loosen.

The resistance mainly comes from the wood or chipboard being firmly fixed by the dowels and metal brackets. Additionally, small micro-damages caused by years of stress can cause the parts to hold together under tension.

My advice:

- Remove all screws completely.
- If very stubborn, gently score the joints.
- Use a flat tool (e.g. a wedge) to carefully loosen the parts—obviously very gently.
- Avoid applying force to prevent damage.

A rubber mallet is actually a good tool. If you don’t have one, borrowing from a neighbor or improvising is better than using brute force.

Good luck!

Tubigla schrieb:
Does anyone have a tip on whether it makes sense to use heat?

On the topic of heat, I can add: in some cases, wood glue softens under heat, but with IKEA furniture, there is often very little or no glue involved, as the joints are mostly held mechanically.

If edges or joints are still sticking, a hot air blower (set to low temperature) might help, but be careful: too much heat can damage the surface or cause the particleboard to swell.

I would see this more as a last resort if mechanical methods fail.

To make disassembly easier, it’s recommended to systematically check all screws and special fasteners to ensure nothing is still connected before applying force.

Here’s another tip for the procedure:

- Try gently levering the corners of the bed frame first, in small increments rather than large movements.
- Sometimes edge joints are twisted or slightly wedged, and a small, targeted levering motion can help.

By the way, how is it with your bed’s slatted frame? Have you removed it yet? Sometimes the slatted frame can also cause blocking.

Best regards!