ᐅ IKEA Malm bed creaks with temperature changes – why?

Hello everyone, I have an IKEA Malm bed that starts to creak when the temperature changes. I mainly notice it when the weather gets cooler or the temperature drops at night. The noises seem to come from the wooden slats or the connection point between the slatted frame and the bed frame. Interestingly, the bed is otherwise firm and stable, with no visible loose parts. My question is: Why does the Malm bed creak during temperature changes? Is it due to the type of wood, the construction, or a lack of maintenance? Are there any recommendations on how to prevent or fix this without having to completely take the bed apart or rebuild it? Thanks in advance for your insights!

The squeaking is usually caused by the wood expanding and contracting due to temperature changes. Check if screws or joints are tight. Occasionally, applying a bit of wax or silicone spray to the friction points can also help.

Hello Nizam5, the squeaking of your IKEA Malm bed during temperature changes has a physical cause that I would like to explain in more detail. Wood is a hygroscopic material, which means it absorbs moisture from the surrounding air and releases it again. With fluctuations in temperature and humidity, the wood fibers constantly change their volume slightly. Especially with the Malm bed, where the individual wood panels and structural parts are often tightly screwed together, different expansions cause friction or stress at the joints, which leads to creaking or squeaking. A common mistake is that some users assemble the bed too tightly or overtighten the screws, which hinders the natural movement of the wood.

My tip: First, check all screws to make sure they are tight but not overly so. Then you can treat all contact surfaces with wax or a special wood care product. This reduces the friction. It is also important not to store the bed in conditions that are too dry or too humid; the ideal indoor relative humidity is around 40-60%. If you are using a wooden slatted frame, also check its support points within the frame. Often, attaching small felt pads or leather patches as buffers helps here.

Summary:
1. Check screws and loosen slightly if necessary
2. Treat friction points with wax
3. Monitor indoor climate
4. Use felt or leather pads as buffers under the slatted frame

This way, you can permanently avoid the squeaking without having to disassemble the entire bed.

SUDAN schrieb:
Wood is a hygroscopic material

Exactly, that is the main point. I would like to add that IKEA furniture, such as the Malm bed, is usually made from veneered chipboard. These materials react more strongly to temperature and humidity changes than solid wood. Due to the layered construction and fixed joints, stresses can develop that may cause noises.

In addition, metal fittings like screws and brackets can expand or contract slightly with temperature fluctuations, causing small movements that may be perceived as squeaking.

Therefore, it is advisable to regularly check all connections, gently tighten them (without over-tightening), and, if necessary, treat contact points with a suitable lubricant.

Another point is that normal wear and slight signs of use can appear on the support surfaces of slatted frames or bed frames, which can also cause noises. Installing soft pads (felt, rubber) in these areas often effectively eliminates squeaking.

I can understand your frustration when the bed creaks with temperature changes, which is especially annoying in the evening when you want to relax. What has worked for me is checking every week during room cleaning whether any screws have loosened – because daily lying and movement can cause a lot of changes.

Sometimes I also felt that the wood shrinks due to overly dry air, which causes these creaks. I then used a humidifier in the bedroom, which significantly improved the problem.

Additionally, I fixed the contact points between the slatted frame and the bed frame at the corners with small felt pads, which reduced the friction.

So, if you feel like the bed is slowly driving you crazy: stick with it, regularly check the screws, and use slatted frame pads, and with a little patience, you’ll be able to solve the problem. 🙂