ᐅ Why do you sometimes hear creaking sounds when sitting on a Malm?

Hello everyone,

I have noticed for some time that my Ikea Malm chair occasionally makes a creaking sound when I sit on it or move. The noise varies—it can be quiet at times and louder at others—and mainly occurs when gently rocking or shifting my sitting position.

My question to you is: What are the most common causes of creaking in a Malm chair? Is it due to mechanical friction from screws or perhaps material fatigue in the construction? Is it possible to fix the creaking mechanically, for example by tightening or lubricating parts, or is it more likely to be a persistent issue?

I am especially interested to know whether this noise is a typical problem with Malm chairs or if it results from individual assembly errors or wear and tear.

Thank you for your insights!

lionell61 schrieb:
What are the most common causes of creaking in a Malm chair?

Hey, you’ve already summed it up well!

Usually, creaking in furniture like the Malm comes from small friction points – either screws that have loosened slightly or wood and metal parts rubbing against each other.

Especially if you change your sitting position frequently, the load shifts, which can cause these small noises.

I recommend tightening all screws and then treating the joints with a bit of wax or silicone spray. This often works very well to reduce friction. 🙂

If that doesn’t help, you might also want to check if any parts are slightly warped or damaged. Good luck!

tutan schrieb:
Usually, the creaking in furniture like the Malm comes from small friction points

Very well explained. I would like to add some more detail:

The Malm product, assuming we are talking about the chair and not the dresser, is typically made from a combination of metal (frame / hinges) and particleboard or coated engineered wood. The connections between these materials, especially at mechanical fastenings like screws and rivets, are prone to slight movements due to material tolerance or fluctuations in humidity.

This creaking often occurs at the mountings for the seat or at the joints that enable rocking. A common assembly mistake is not fully tightening the screws, which results in minimal shifts.

To specifically address the creaking, I recommend the following steps:
1. Tighten all screws according to the manufacturer’s specifications using the correct torque – not too tight to avoid material deformation.
2. Lightly treat the contact points with appropriate lubricants, such as Teflon spray or furniture wax.
3. Check whether the seat itself is intact, as cracks here can often cause creaking noises.

If you want, feel free to share the exact model name or whether the chair is already older. Then I can go deeper into the details.

lionell61 schrieb:
Is it mechanical friction from the screws or possibly material fatigue in the construction?

The cause of occasional creaking in the Malm chair is usually due to mechanical stress on moving parts. Screws and fasteners loosen slightly over time with use, leading to friction and thus noise.

Material fatigue mainly occurs after prolonged use or under certain overload conditions. However, this is less common with normal household use.

From a practical standpoint, it is advisable to first tighten screws, check fastenings, and lubricate contact surfaces with furniture wax or similar. Permanent wear, on the other hand, can only be resolved by replacing the affected parts.

Therefore, a general statement labeling the Malm chair solely as a "problem piece of furniture" is unfounded.

Domau0 schrieb:
The Malm product, assuming we’re talking about the chair and not the dresser

😀 Good clarification, I would have been surprised if the dresser creaked when you sit on it!

I’m actually familiar with the Malm item too – a little tightening here and there and some lubricant work wonders. When sitting, it’s not just the pressure that matters, but the small movements that put stress on the screws and joints.

And if the creaking happens intermittently, there’s probably some play somewhere that only shows up sometimes.

Maybe just clean the joints with a dry cloth and then apply a bit of silicone spray – not too much, as that attracts dirt. Hopefully, this keeps your Malm creak-free so you can sit comfortably! 🙂