ᐅ IKEA Malm bed squeaks when turning over – cause and solution?

Created on: 24 Aug 2021 21:37
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Bauzar
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Bauzar
24 Aug 2021 21:37
Hello everyone,

I have had an IKEA Malm bed for some time now and have noticed that it squeaks repeatedly when turning over or making slight movements during sleep. The noise seems to come from the area where the slatted frame connects to the bed frame, but I am not sure if the actual cause might be a screw, the bed frame itself, or even the slatted frame.

Can anyone explain in more detail what the typical cause of this squeaking in a Malm bed might be? And what specific steps can I take to resolve the issue as permanently as possible? Maybe there are common tricks or tools that could be helpful.

Thanks in advance for any help!
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Rensan3
24 Aug 2021 22:12
Have you already checked all the screws of the bed frame? Often, loose screws cause the squeaking. Just tighten them all again.
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angel
24 Aug 2021 22:47
Hello Bauzar,

Your approach of checking the connection points between the slatted frame and the bed frame is a good start. Squeaking in a Malm bed often results from friction between wooden parts, and sometimes between metal and wood.

The following steps might be helpful:
1. Check that all screws are tightened – including those holding the slatted frame.
2. Lightly lubricate or treat the wood at contact points with wax (e.g., candle wax or special assembly wax).
3. If you have plastic or felt pads, you can place them between the joints to reduce friction.

Be careful not to use too much lubricant to prevent the slatted frame from slipping.

Best regards and good luck!
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enrique7
25 Aug 2021 06:59
Rensan3 schrieb:
Have you checked all the screws of the bed frame?

That is a good first step, but I wonder if the problem runs deeper.

The Malm bed has a construction where the wood expands or contracts with humidity, which can create mechanical stresses at the joints. Loose fastenings alone don’t always explain the squeaking.

Furthermore, the slatted base itself should be examined more closely. Often, the support points wear out over time or develop pressure marks due to tension.

My suggestion: systematically check all contact points for movement or stress and, if needed, dampen them with thin felt strips. This could provide a more lasting solution than just tightening screws.
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LIELCHEN
25 Aug 2021 11:26
Honestly, I think squeaking is almost a given with IKEA beds!
angel schrieb:
Squeaking in the Malm bed often occurs due to friction between the wooden parts
– typical, right? But you know what? IKEA deliberately keeps this issue cheap so that people keep buying replacements or look for new slatted bed bases on online classifieds.

The supposed "squeaking" almost becomes a feature. And the whole "tightening screws" routine is just a temporary fix to give the illusion of quality.

But seriously: if you want complete quiet, replace the wooden frame with a metal bed. These constant squeaking sounds are a self-inflicted problem caused by wood constructions with too little clearance. Unfortunately, this necessary gap is rarely provided.
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retau
25 Aug 2021 12:37
Hey Bauzar,

don’t get discouraged! 🙂 I had exactly the same problem with my Malm bed and managed to fix it really well!

1. Tightened the screws (check)
2. Applied a bit of wax under the joints (a candle works really well!)
3. Stuck felt pads in between ✅

All of this together made all the annoying noises disappear for me – now I sleep much better! I really think it’s great how little tricks like these can help. So: don’t give up, you can do it! ;-)