ᐅ My KALLAX creaks after moving in – is there a permanent solution?

Hello everyone,

I recently moved into my new apartment and assembled a KALLAX shelf from Ikea. Since moving in, I’ve noticed that the KALLAX shelf repeatedly makes a creaking noise whenever something is moved inside or the doors are opened. The noise is not only annoying but also makes me question the stability of the unit.

Has anyone experienced this issue and knows if there is a permanent solution? I have already tried tightening all the screws, but it seems the creaking comes from somewhere in the wood or the joints. Is there perhaps something to reduce friction, or is this kind of noise just to be expected?

I would appreciate any tips or suggestions!

nefesan schrieb:
Is there perhaps a way to reduce the friction, or do you basically have to live with such a noise?

I know that feeling all too well – that creaking can be really annoying, especially when you’ve just set everything up.

I once had a KALLAX where, after assembly, the wooden panels at the joints rubbed slightly against each other. Tightening the screws only helped temporarily.

What worked for me in the long run was rubbing some wax (candle wax or special furniture wax) onto the affected edges and joint areas on the inside. This really reduces friction, and the creaking became much quieter or disappeared completely.

Maybe you could try that too. Just be careful that the wax doesn’t smear too much and dries thoroughly, otherwise it might get dirtier rather than better. I hope this helps you find some peace 🙂

Henry schrieb:
What helped me in the long run: I rubbed the relevant edges and joints on the inside with some wax (candle wax or special furniture wax).

I agree with that – here’s a small tip from me: sometimes a little silicone spray on the joints or hinges helps, making the movement smoother and protecting the material.

But be careful not to use too much silicone spray, or everything will become slippery and attract dust.

Other than that, I can only say that a bit of creaking is unfortunately part of furniture’s “character.” ;-) But if you take good care of it, it usually stays quieter for longer. Good luck!

🙂

I would like to clarify the technical issue in more detail:

The creaking noise in shelves like KALLAX often comes from small movements between the wooden panels caused by stress and load. Temperature and humidity changes can cause the wood to slightly expand or contract, which increases friction.

For a long-lasting solution, I recommend the following steps:

- Thoroughly check all screw connections and tighten them, of course without over-tightening the screws.
- Use washers on the screws to better distribute pressure and minimize unwanted movement.
- Apply liquid paraffin or furniture wax to the contact surfaces to reduce friction.
- Make sure the shelf is not placed directly on an uneven floor; even a slight tilt can cause stress.

I do not recommend oils, as they can soften the wood and worsen the problem.

If the creaking persists, placing small felt or rubber pads at contact points can help dampen vibrations.

These are proven methods that work well with most IKEA furniture. Hope this helps!

blapau schrieb:
Thoroughly check all screw connections and tighten them, of course without over-tightening the screws.

This is exactly a sensitive issue. With my KALLAX, I almost panicked and kept tightening all the screws repeatedly. But overtightening can really cause serious damage.

blapau schrieb:
If the creaking remains despite everything, inserting small felt or rubber pads at contact points can also help to dampen vibrations.

That’s a very good tip that I haven’t tried yet, but I’ll definitely add it to my list for the next day.

Sometimes a bit of patience helps, and the furniture really needs time to settle in. Tension in the structure releases over days to weeks, and everything calms down. Still, I understand that no one wants to deal with annoying creaking permanently.

Thanks for your additions, your explanations help to better understand the problem!