ᐅ Malm bed squeaks when turning over at night – how can this be fixed?

Created on: 8 Feb 2021 21:37
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jatinar
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jatinar
8 Feb 2021 21:37
Hello everyone,

I have been experiencing an issue for some time now where my Malm bed starts squeaking when I turn over at night. The noise seems to occur whenever I move or change position, and it is quite disturbing as it interrupts my sleep. The bed is about three years old and was fully assembled by me back then.

I have already checked that all the screws are tight, but that did not stop the squeaking. Are there any special tricks or proven methods to eliminate the squeaking? Perhaps materials or maintenance techniques I could use?

I would appreciate any tips and possible causes so I can finally get this night noise under control.
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liRaul49
8 Feb 2021 22:05
Take a look, usually it helps to tighten all screws properly once again and then apply some lubricant (e.g., WD-40) to the contact points. This often eliminates squeaking without much effort.
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PAR63
9 Feb 2021 08:18
Hello!

The squeaking in Malm beds often comes from friction at the joints, especially on metal fittings or where wood meets wood. I recommend the following steps:

1. Loosen the screws and clean them (dust and dirt can increase friction).
2. Check all parts for damage (broken or warped panels).
3. Tighten the screws again with gentle torque, not too tight, as this can damage the wood.
4. Lightly sand the friction surfaces with a dry cloth or treat them with furniture wax or grease.

Avoid applying oil directly onto the wood surfaces, as this can cause stains. If metal parts squeak, a thin layer of graphite powder or silicone spray can help.
liRaul49 schrieb:
Tighten the screws and use WD-40

WD-40 can help with metal contacts, but for wood, it’s better to use appropriate waxes. This ensures long-lasting protection without staining.

In summary: the cause is usually friction, and the solution lies in careful cleaning, light sanding, and targeted use of lubricants.
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Espen
9 Feb 2021 12:41
I had the same problem. For me, attaching felt pads under the cross beams helped to prevent metal-to-wood contact. After that, the squeaking stopped.
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jatinar
10 Feb 2021 19:23
Thank you for all the tips so far!

@PAR63: Your instructions are very helpful. I will completely loosen the screws again, clean the joints, and then try using some furniture wax.
Espen schrieb:
Stick felt pads under the crossbars

That also sounds very reasonable. Can you say how thick the felt pads were in your case? I ask because they shouldn’t be too thick in order not to affect the bed’s stability.

I suspect that the squeaking comes exactly from the contact between the wooden boards and metal fittings, as the sound is a short, sharp creak.
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jelite
11 Feb 2021 07:44
Good morning!

To complement this, here is a structured approach I recommend:

- Step 1: Check all screws and tighten them if necessary using a hex key.
- Step 2: Visually inspect the contact surfaces for dust, lint, or small foreign particles that could increase friction.
- Step 3: Sand rough spots with fine sandpaper (grit 240 or higher) to smooth the wood surfaces.
- Step 4: Apply furniture wax to the wooden strips and graphite powder or dry Teflon spray on metal-to-metal contact points.

Be careful not to use oily lubricants on the wood areas, as this can damage the wood.

Finally, let the bed sit undisturbed for several days after treatment to allow the lubricants to settle properly.
jatinar schrieb:
Ich vermute, dass das Quietschen durch Metall-auf-Holz-Kontakt entsteht

This is often the case. Good luck fixing it!