ᐅ The IKEA Malm bed keeps squeaking – any permanent solutions?

Hello everyone,

I have an IKEA Malm bed (180cm x 200cm (71 inches x 79 inches)) that has been squeaking on and off for quite some time. It especially happens when turning over or sitting down, which is pretty annoying. I’ve already taken the bed apart and reassembled it several times, checked and tightened all the screws, but the squeaking persists.

I suspect the issue might be with the wooden joints or the slatted frame, maybe also the frame supports. Has anyone found a permanent solution to completely eliminate the squeaking? I would like to know if the problem can be fixed long-term with additional aids (such as felt pads, lubricants) or if specific parts need to be replaced.

Thanks for your help!

Hello,

In many cases, squeaking in a Malm bed is caused by loose wood-to-wood connections. Even if all screws appear to be tightened, minimal movement in the frame is often enough to trigger the noise.

A proven and long-lasting solution is to use PTFE felt or foam rubber strips on the contact surfaces of the frame parts. These absorb friction and prevent wood-on-wood rubbing. Additionally, all screws should be systematically retightened with the appropriate torque (about 4-5 Nm) and the slatted bed base supports should also be checked.

WD-40 or similar lubricants usually provide only a short-term fix and can often cause the wood to swell, which may be problematic.

If the squeaking continues, replacing the slatted bed base supports with higher-quality plastic versions can help.

I often wonder whether structural issues in IKEA furniture might be the cause of such noises.

usbla schrieb:
A proven and durable solution is to use PTFE felt or foam rubber strips on the contact surfaces

This recommendation is not bad, but it is also important to check whether the bed sides might be creaking due to tension or an uneven floor. Especially with inexpensive furniture, the wood-based material is often sensitive to pressure points.

Who has experience with individual slatted bed bases and whether a complete replacement is necessary to permanently eliminate the squeaking?

Hello napiet69,

I had a similar issue with my Malm bed. After trying many methods, the following steps helped me:

1. Tightened all screws with the correct torque, including fully loosening and reassembling them.
2. Attached thin felt pads to the contact points between the slatted frame and the bed frame. This significantly reduces friction.
3. Replaced the slatted frame with a slightly sturdier one that has rubber supports.

These measures completely eliminated the noises after a few weeks. So, it requires patience and a combination of steps.

Hope this helps you!

First, check that all screws are properly tightened. Often, just one loose screw can cause the squeaking.

Then use felt strips at wood-to-wood contact points.

Most of the time, this will permanently eliminate the noise.

I would also recommend treating the contact surfaces with wax. Special furniture wax reduces friction and is less aggressive than oils or WD-40.

For Malm beds, it can help to rub the flat joints with some wax or paraffin before assembling them. This cushions the connection and reduces movement noise in the long term.