ᐅ Are there ways to make Malm bed frames quieter?

I would like to briefly explain how I reduced the noise on my Malm bed. Maybe this will help others as well.

1. Check and tighten the screws, especially the connections between the side panels and the headboard/footboard. These are often the cause of movement.

2. Apply thin felt strips to all contact surfaces where wood meets wood or wood meets plastic. It’s best to clean the surfaces beforehand so the tape adheres properly.

3. For the screw connections, I also used a little PTFE tape (similar to what is used for water pipes). This further dampens small movements.

4. Finally, I coated all metal nuts and screws with a bit of threadlocker to prevent them from loosening easily.

Important: Never spray WD-40 or any other oil directly onto the wood, as it will eventually damage the surface.

This method helped me a lot—the squeaking is now almost completely gone. I recommend working step-by-step: first screws, then damping materials, followed by additional measures.

KODAN32 schrieb:
1. Check and tighten screws, especially the connections between the side panels and head/foot panels.\

Exactly! Also, while the Malm isn’t exactly a heavy-duty piece of furniture, repeated use can cause those kinds of noises. A little squeaking now and then isn’t the end of the world.

If you don’t want your neighbor or partner to be disturbed, don’t forget the felt pads. They’re inexpensive, easy to install, and often make the difference between a noisy experience and a peaceful rest.

If you like, I can share a list of sources for felt pads and suitable lubricants here. 🙂

Good luck!

If someone prefers not to use felt pads or adhesive, rubber mats or thin rubber strips also work well. They are a bit more durable than felt and don’t slip as easily.

Additionally, sometimes the bed can be stopped from squeaking by slightly adjusting its position on the floor if it rubs or rocks against the surface.

blaki schrieb:
Malms are not monsters among furniture, but with frequent use, you get those kinds of noises.

Exactly. Small movements can cause noises despite good screwing techniques because the wooden parts sometimes give slightly.

Regarding your idea about sources: I find that helpful, as many should pay attention to quality when buying felt pads or rubber adhesive tapes. Cheap ones tend to slip quickly or don’t hold well.

My last tip: If your bed is placed against a wall, it also helps to insulate the wall gap with felt or foam rubber if noises occur there. It’s a small trick that’s not immediately obvious.

There are already some valuable tips here on how to make Malm bed frames quieter. I’d like to add a small bonus tip that’s not entirely serious but does help:

Place a small bottle of baby powder or talcum powder next to your bed. When you notice it creaking again, sprinkle a small amount on the contact points (of course, when the bed is lifted). The powder works somewhat like felt as a drying agent and reduces friction.

The advantage: no greasy residue, no dirt, relatively clean and inexpensive.

Give it a try—maybe that’s exactly the soft touch your Malm needs 😊

zardi schrieb:
Rubber pads or thin rubber strips also work well. They are a bit more durable than felt and don’t slide away as easily.

Thanks to everyone for your detailed tips and explanations! Yesterday, I checked and tightened all the screws. During that, I also noticed that the slats’ support points are actually rubbing against the wood.

I will now experiment with felt pads and possibly thin rubber strips to see which works better. The idea of talcum powder also sounds interesting and I will give that a try.

If anyone has a long-term tip on how to permanently reduce the squeaking, I’d really appreciate it! Thanks again to everyone, this is a great forum!