ᐅ The Malm bed only squeaks when turning – what could be the cause?

I have a Malm bed from IKEA that only makes a squeaking noise when I turn over in bed. It doesn’t happen when lying down or getting up, but specifically when I’m moving around in bed. The squeaking sounds like a light rubbing or scraping and is quite annoying. Does anyone know possible reasons why the Malm bed might squeak exactly when turning? There could be friction or loose parts, but where should I start checking first without taking everything apart? Are there any common problem areas or known weak points that could explain the noise?

totupar schrieb:
It’s not when lying down or getting up, but really only when I turn over in bed.

Hey! That sounds like the friction occurs precisely with sideways, turning movements. Usually, this is caused by the joints between the slatted frame and the bed frame or by screws that have slightly loosened over time – which can lead to very subtle creaking or squeaking noises.

A small tip: Try tightening the screws at the connection points a little. Don’t overdo it, or it might get stiff. And if you have some silicone spray, apply a minimal amount on the contact points – that often reduces the noise. 😊

popodi schrieb:
Try tightening the screws at the connection points a bit.

I would suggest a more nuanced approach. Just because the screws are loose doesn’t necessarily mean they are the source of the squeaking. The noise could also be coming from the slat support on the bed frame, where wood rubs against wood or wood against metal.

It would be helpful to specifically identify the areas where the friction occurs – is it at the head or foot end, or maybe on one side? Without this narrowing down, any action remains rather random.

It often helps to treat the wooden slats or supports with some wax or candle wax. It lubricates well and stops squeaking.

Here is a brief overview of the issue and possible steps to resolve it:

1. Cause: The Malm bed has several connection points, typically screw joints on the sides and beneath the slatted frames. Movement while lying down, especially turning, can cause these connections to rub slightly against each other.

2. Diagnosis: To pinpoint the squeaking, try moving the bed without the mattress and listen for sounds. This can help narrow down the area.

3. Measures:
- Tighten the screws so that the frame is secure.
- Wooden joints can often be treated with furniture wax or a special silicone spray.
- If the slatted frame and bed frame rub against each other, a thin layer of felt or felt pads can help.

4. Avoiding the source of the problem: Also check whether the mattress is positioned correctly and not causing noise due to unevenness.

Summary: Usually, slight movements at connection points are the cause. Tightening and lubricating is a sensible first step.

Franklin36 schrieb:
Tighten the screws so the frame is secure.

That’s exactly what I did with my Malm bed! After that, it was quiet. You hardly notice at first, until small movements cause the squeaking—which is really annoying. A little lubricant applied to those spots does the trick perfectly. 🙂