ᐅ The MALM bed creaks when temperatures change – should I do something about it?
Created on: 21 Jan 2020 09:37
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Nonti5Hello everyone,
I have an IKEA Malm bed that has been quite comfortable in normal use. However, I’ve recently noticed the following issue: when the room temperature changes – for example, from the warm heating air during the day to cooler temperatures at night, or vice versa – the bed starts to creak. The noise usually occurs when getting up or turning over and sounds as if parts of the frame are slightly rubbing against each other or shifting a little.
I’m wondering if I should take any action or if this is normal for wood or particleboard furniture, especially with temperature changes? Is there a way to prevent or at least significantly reduce the creaking without taking the bed apart?
I have considered tightening all the screws again or maybe applying some lubricant, but I don’t want to risk damaging the piece of furniture.
Has anyone had similar experiences or maybe some advice on how to properly deal with this issue? I look forward to your feedback!
I have an IKEA Malm bed that has been quite comfortable in normal use. However, I’ve recently noticed the following issue: when the room temperature changes – for example, from the warm heating air during the day to cooler temperatures at night, or vice versa – the bed starts to creak. The noise usually occurs when getting up or turning over and sounds as if parts of the frame are slightly rubbing against each other or shifting a little.
I’m wondering if I should take any action or if this is normal for wood or particleboard furniture, especially with temperature changes? Is there a way to prevent or at least significantly reduce the creaking without taking the bed apart?
I have considered tightening all the screws again or maybe applying some lubricant, but I don’t want to risk damaging the piece of furniture.
Has anyone had similar experiences or maybe some advice on how to properly deal with this issue? I look forward to your feedback!
Hello Nonti5,
First of all, thank you for the detailed description of your problem; it really helps with the assessment. It is actually not uncommon for a MALM bed to squeak with temperature fluctuations. Wood and wood-based materials like MDF or particleboard react to moisture and temperature by expanding or contracting slightly. If the furniture has tight or stiff joints, this can cause squeaking sounds.
A good first step is to check the screws and connections and carefully tighten them if needed, without overtightening. This can prevent the bed from wobbling or shifting – such small movements tend to cause noise.
A well-known tip is to apply some lubricant, such as an oil-based spray or wax, to the metal connectors or screws. However, you should be careful to apply the lubricant only on the contact points to avoid staining the wood surfaces.
Additionally, you can try placing small felt or rubber pads where wood meets wood or metal contacts wood. This cushions the friction and can effectively reduce squeaking.
If the bed is several years old, it is also worth inspecting for any worn indentations, cracks, or damaged joints – moisture entering these areas can increase squeaking.
I hope this helps for now! If you like, I can also share some sources or IKEA-specific advice related to the MALM bed.
Good luck!
First of all, thank you for the detailed description of your problem; it really helps with the assessment. It is actually not uncommon for a MALM bed to squeak with temperature fluctuations. Wood and wood-based materials like MDF or particleboard react to moisture and temperature by expanding or contracting slightly. If the furniture has tight or stiff joints, this can cause squeaking sounds.
A good first step is to check the screws and connections and carefully tighten them if needed, without overtightening. This can prevent the bed from wobbling or shifting – such small movements tend to cause noise.
A well-known tip is to apply some lubricant, such as an oil-based spray or wax, to the metal connectors or screws. However, you should be careful to apply the lubricant only on the contact points to avoid staining the wood surfaces.
Additionally, you can try placing small felt or rubber pads where wood meets wood or metal contacts wood. This cushions the friction and can effectively reduce squeaking.
If the bed is several years old, it is also worth inspecting for any worn indentations, cracks, or damaged joints – moisture entering these areas can increase squeaking.
I hope this helps for now! If you like, I can also share some sources or IKEA-specific advice related to the MALM bed.
Good luck!
Ianlau schrieb:
A good first step is indeed to check the screws and joints and carefully tighten them if necessaryI just want to agree with that and add how I usually approach it when minor noises occur in a piece of furniture made of wood or wood-based materials:
1. Clean the joints: Sometimes dust or small wood particles accumulate between connection points, which can amplify the noises. Start by cleaning them with a vacuum cleaner or a dry cloth.
2. Check the screws: Using an appropriate screwdriver, gently tighten all visible screws and fasteners. Be careful not to overtighten, as this can damage the thread or the material.
3. Use lubricants: If there is squeaking between metal parts or between metal and wood, a few drops of a dry lubricant (e.g., silicone spray) often help. For wood-on-wood contact, a wax stick or furniture wax is better suited to reduce friction.
4. Attach felt or rubber pads: At direct wood-on-wood contact points, stick cut-to-size felt gliders or thin rubber strips. This cushions movements and significantly reduces noise.
If you have frequently moved the bed or if the assembly is not 100% tight, reestablishing firm connections can also work wonders.
Important: Also check the IKEA assembly instructions – they often include helpful tips and warnings specific to the model.
If you like, I can also prepare a short step-by-step guide that you can follow practically.
Hello Nonti5,
I can provide a more detailed technical perspective on this topic, as I have disassembled, repaired, and optimized several IKEA furniture pieces—and I’m familiar with squeaking caused by temperature fluctuations.
Basically, MALM beds are made of particleboard and MDF with a coating, and the frame is connected by metal fittings and screws. These materials react differently to temperature and humidity changes:
- Particleboard swells slightly when humidity increases and shrinks when the air is dry.
- Metal parts hardly respond to temperature changes.
- Different coefficients of thermal expansion cause small stresses to build up, leading to movement and the annoying squeaking noises.
The squeaking usually occurs at joints that aren’t completely tight or where parts rub against each other.
Here is my specific suggestion on how to proceed:
1. Visual inspection: First, check all connections to rule out loose screws or bent brackets.
2. Tightening: Tighten all screws using the appropriate tools. A cordless drill with adjustable torque can help avoid overtightening.
3. Treat friction surfaces: Loosen the screws, then lightly sand the connecting surfaces with fine sandpaper (grit 220–320) to remove old paint residues or dirt. This creates a smooth surface.
4. Lubricants: Apply a dry lubricant such as PTFE spray or furniture wax (not oil!) to reduce dust attraction and friction.
5. Sliding materials: Insert thin layers of tissue paper (similar to baking paper) or felt between the joints. This absorbs pressure and provides damping.
6. Assembly: Reassemble everything and let it rest for at least 24 hours to allow the materials to settle.
If you move the bed frequently or it is heavily loaded (e.g., two people sleeping with high weight), I also recommend checking the load-bearing capacity and possibly adding additional supports.
One more question: How old is your bed exactly, and how intensively is it used? This could indicate wear that might require different treatment.
Good luck!
I can provide a more detailed technical perspective on this topic, as I have disassembled, repaired, and optimized several IKEA furniture pieces—and I’m familiar with squeaking caused by temperature fluctuations.
Basically, MALM beds are made of particleboard and MDF with a coating, and the frame is connected by metal fittings and screws. These materials react differently to temperature and humidity changes:
- Particleboard swells slightly when humidity increases and shrinks when the air is dry.
- Metal parts hardly respond to temperature changes.
- Different coefficients of thermal expansion cause small stresses to build up, leading to movement and the annoying squeaking noises.
The squeaking usually occurs at joints that aren’t completely tight or where parts rub against each other.
Here is my specific suggestion on how to proceed:
1. Visual inspection: First, check all connections to rule out loose screws or bent brackets.
2. Tightening: Tighten all screws using the appropriate tools. A cordless drill with adjustable torque can help avoid overtightening.
3. Treat friction surfaces: Loosen the screws, then lightly sand the connecting surfaces with fine sandpaper (grit 220–320) to remove old paint residues or dirt. This creates a smooth surface.
4. Lubricants: Apply a dry lubricant such as PTFE spray or furniture wax (not oil!) to reduce dust attraction and friction.
5. Sliding materials: Insert thin layers of tissue paper (similar to baking paper) or felt between the joints. This absorbs pressure and provides damping.
6. Assembly: Reassemble everything and let it rest for at least 24 hours to allow the materials to settle.
If you move the bed frequently or it is heavily loaded (e.g., two people sleeping with high weight), I also recommend checking the load-bearing capacity and possibly adding additional supports.
One more question: How old is your bed exactly, and how intensively is it used? This could indicate wear that might require different treatment.
Good luck!
kibutar schrieb:
One more question: How old is your bed exactly, and how intensively is it used?Thanks for the detailed explanation! My bed is about 1.5 years old (approximately 18 months), so still relatively new. It is used daily by me alone; I usually sleep in it at night and otherwise use it normally as a place for reading or occasionally working with my laptop.
There is basically no pulling, pushing, or heavy strain; I make sure that the pressure on the frame is always evenly distributed. The squeaking is mainly noticeable on cooler mornings, but it can also be heard on warmer afternoons when the temperature rises again.
I understand the tip about sandpaper and furniture wax, but I’m a bit hesitant to try that right now because I’m worried I might cause some damage. However, I will first check all the screws and tighten them if necessary.
If the squeaking doesn’t go away after that, I might get back in touch and then we can see about treating the friction surfaces. Thanks so far!
Great that you’re double-checking the screws! 🙂
I’m familiar with the creaking when temperatures change from my MALM bed as well – it’s really annoying when you’re just getting up and the bed squeaks.
A little tip from me that sometimes works really well: if the screws are tight but noises still persist, try applying a very thin layer of candle wax (such as beeswax) to the contact areas of the wooden panels. This reduces friction and results in quieter joints.
No worries at all! Tightening the screws is the best first step, and everything else can be tried calmly afterward.
And if something does go wrong, the bed usually can be disassembled and readjusted easily – no need to panic :-)
Keep us updated on how things go for you!
I’m familiar with the creaking when temperatures change from my MALM bed as well – it’s really annoying when you’re just getting up and the bed squeaks.
A little tip from me that sometimes works really well: if the screws are tight but noises still persist, try applying a very thin layer of candle wax (such as beeswax) to the contact areas of the wooden panels. This reduces friction and results in quieter joints.
Nonti5 schrieb:
I understand the tip about sandpaper and furniture wax, but I’m not quite confident to try it at the moment because I’m worried I might damage something. For now, I’ll check all the screws and tighten them if needed.
No worries at all! Tightening the screws is the best first step, and everything else can be tried calmly afterward.
And if something does go wrong, the bed usually can be disassembled and readjusted easily – no need to panic :-)
Keep us updated on how things go for you!
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