ᐅ IKEA MALM bed squeaks when moving – how to make it quieter?

Thanks in advance for the many tips! I will try using wax and felt at the contact points. I find the suggestion about

Timofa schrieb:
silicone spray

interesting, but I take your warning seriously and will be careful.

Is there a difference between liquid lubricants and dry ones like graphite powder, as

jokau schrieb:
mentioned

? I want to keep the bed as low-maintenance and permanently quiet as possible without having to take everything apart again in a short time.

And what is the best way to keep the screws tight and free of creaking over the long term? Thanks in advance for your evaluation!

Hello JENNIFERSA, regarding your question: Liquid lubricants like silicone spray penetrate well and are easy to apply, but they can attract dust and dirt, which may cause new problems over time. Dry lubricants such as graphite powder repel dirt and are ideal for screws and moving metal parts, although applying them sometimes requires a bit of experience. If you want to keep the bed stable in the long term, I recommend a combination: first, tighten the screws properly, possibly using some assembly adhesive or threadlocker if you want to be extra safe; then, apply felt or foam rubber at the wood-on-wood contact points and use graphite on the metal connections.

This also requires follow-up maintenance, especially during the first few weeks. For some beds, investing in better tools (e.g., a ratchet) for evenly tightening the screws is worthwhile. Good luck!

Thank you @Katau for the detailed explanation and your tips! This really helps me better understand how to work with the different materials. I will try using threadlocker and also add felt pads to the suspect areas. I’ll get back to you later with the results.

One more tip: Make sure the slatted frame fits precisely into the designated guide rails. Even slight movement in between can cause creaking. A bit of Teflon tape there often helps as well.

A quick update from me: Over the weekend, I tightened all the screws and applied felt strips to the wood contact surfaces. I also used graphite powder on the metal joints. The result is much better; the squeaking is almost gone!

Thanks again to everyone for the very helpful tips and for your patience with my questions. 🙂 It’s clear that many of you have gained a lot of hands-on experience here.

Great, that sounds excellent! I'm glad you managed to handle the issue so well. 🙂 It's always nice to hear when effort and patience pay off. If the squeaking returns, just check it again, otherwise you’ve gotten the best out of the Malm bed.