Hello everyone, I have an IKEA Malm bed that has recently started squeaking when I sit on the edge. The noise probably comes from the joints between the side panels and the headboard or footboard. I’m interested to know if anyone here has experience with this problem and how to reliably fix the squeaking. All the screws have been tightened, but the noise still occurs under pressure. Are there any special tricks or products to reduce the friction and the related noise? Thanks in advance for your tips!
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Leonardteo25 Jan 2020 10:57The squeaking in IKEA Malm beds is often caused by the metal connectors, which can produce noise when combined with wood. Small felt strips or furniture felt can be applied at contact points to reduce movement. It is also important to check the dowels or metal pins in the connection area, as loose parts can trigger the annoying noise. Therefore, a thorough inspection of all connections and the slatted bed base support is recommended.
I went through the whole drama with my Malm bed as well. What helped me was checking the screws, treating all the moving wooden parts with beeswax, and then inserting small felt pads between the joints. That got rid of the squeaking, and I was able to sit without earplugs again 🙂
Leonardteo schrieb:
Small felt strips or furniture felt pads can be applied at contact points to dampen movement.Thanks for the tip, that sounds reasonable. Can you recommend a specific thickness for the felt strips? I’ve only seen very thin felt in hardware stores – is that enough, or should it be thicker to better absorb the friction?
Felt strips between 2 and 3 millimeters (0.08 and 0.12 inches) are ideal for furniture joints. Felt that is too thin can compress too quickly and lose its insulating effect, while felt that is too thick impairs the fit and creates stress. It is important to place the felt only in areas where wood rubs against wood or wood against metal, without compromising the stability of the joint.
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GUSTAVO5625 Jan 2020 15:26nunau0 schrieb:
The slatted frame fits a bit looselyRegarding the slatted frame: On IKEA Malm models, the attachment to the bed sides is usually done with recessed metal brackets or plastic clips. If there is already slight wear or play in these, even small movements can cause squeaking. One option is to order and replace special mounting clips or secure the existing ones with an adhesive that remains removable (e.g., mounting paste). The goal is to fix the frame without play while avoiding damage to the wood.
tutan schrieb:
to wedge small felt pads between the connecting partsYesterday, I ordered felt strips in 2 mm (0.08 inches) thickness and will try using those. I also plan to try applying beeswax. I’ll report back on how it worked. Above all, I want to securely fix the slatted frame based on your advice. Thanks for all the great tips so far!
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