ᐅ Why is my Malm bed squeaking?

Created on: 1 Jan 2023 08:13
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Senai41
Hello everyone,

I have had an IKEA Malm bed for some time now, and unfortunately, it squeaks quite loudly when I move or turn over. This is very annoying, and I’m wondering why my Malm bed squeaks at all. Does anyone have experience with this and know what the cause might be? I suspect it could be related to the construction or the joints, but I assembled the bed according to the instructions and have checked all the screws.

Are there common causes for squeaking specifically with this model, and how can it be fixed as permanently as possible?

Thanks in advance for your advice!
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Leote
1 Jan 2023 14:02
In addition to the tips mentioned: Check the bed legs as well. If they move slightly or stand on an uneven floor, this can also cause squeaking. Sometimes a teaspoon of filler or some rubber padding underneath can help.
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theota
2 Jan 2023 10:11
Senai41 schrieb:
Are there specific areas that are particularly prone to squeaking?

Typically, the corners and the joints at the headboard and footboard are most sensitive. The greatest stresses occur when getting up and turning around, which is why these areas are usually the main culprits. Interestingly, many people quickly attribute the squeaking to the wooden surfaces themselves, but often it is the metal connectors or nails causing the noise.

I also think it depends on how often a person gets up or moves during the night – very active individuals will generate a lot more noise.
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Dopoki
2 Jan 2023 11:42
As an additional note:

- Check the support points of the slatted bed base carefully. IKEA slatted bases often have plastic clips or hooks that can wear out over time, causing looseness.
- Clean these areas from dust if needed, and apply a small amount of silicone spray or wax – this reduces friction.
- The MDF panels themselves are relatively stable, but temperature fluctuations can cause room humidity to slightly expand or contract the material – this can increase squeaking.

It is also important to place the bed on a level floor, as even slight unevenness increases stress on individual joints and leads to noise.
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Luciandi
2 Jan 2023 13:18
I completely understand how annoying that can be. I once had a Malm bed myself that was disturbed by exactly that kind of squeaking – I would wake up at night wondering if the bed was playing tricks on me 🙂

What I found out: in my case, it was actually because the slatted frame wasn’t perfectly aligned on one side. Adding a small piece of felt underneath immediately helped calm it down.

Sometimes it’s simply a combination of several small causes that might not be bothersome individually but add up overall. It’s worth taking the time to patiently check all connections and contact points.
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Senai41
3 Jan 2023 07:33
TEOZAR schrieb:
Sometimes simply oiling the screws with a bit of wax or silicone spray is enough to reduce squeaking noises.

Thanks for the tip, that sounds very practical.
Dopoki schrieb:
If necessary, clean those areas from dust and apply a little silicone spray or wax

Is silicone spray better than wax, or are they equally effective? I have no experience with these lubricants.
Luciandi schrieb:
Placing a small piece of felt underneath immediately had a calming effect.

I will try that first. I’ll report back once I’ve done it – hopefully it will be quieter then. Thanks to everyone so far for the helpful and well-informed contributions!