ᐅ Why does the Malm bed occasionally squeak?

Hello everyone,

I have noticed that my IKEA Malm bed occasionally squeaks, which is quite annoying, especially at night. My question is: Why does the Malm bed sometimes squeak?

I have the impression that the noise occurs both when turning over and when getting up. It doesn’t seem constant but happens sporadically. The bed is made from a combination of engineered wood and has metal reinforcements.

I have checked it several times; all screws are tight, and the bed is stable—yet it still squeaks occasionally.

Does anyone know the most common causes of squeaking for this type of bed or have tips on how to stop it permanently? Maybe there are mechanical or structural factors to consider?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Hello Doonli,

regarding your issue with occasional squeaking in the Malm bed, I would like to systematically go through the following points:

1. Screws and connections: Even if they are tight, they can allow slight movement due to use. Check if all screws are fully tightened, preferably with the correct hex key.

2. Wood-on-wood friction: Squeaking often isn’t caused by loose screws but by friction at the joints. Wood can shift slightly under pressure and movement, creating noise.

3. Metal fittings: Metal against wood or metal against metal can also squeak when moisture or slight movement is present.

How to fix it?
- Try tightening all screws.
- Lightly lubricate the joints with a thin lubricant, such as wax or silicone spray, if possible.
- A thin piece of felt or fabric at the contact points can help reduce friction.

In short: The squeaking is usually caused by small movements between wood and metal or between wooden parts. Proper care and maintenance can significantly reduce it.

Hope this helps you!

klo40 schrieb:
Squeaking is usually caused by small movements between wood and metal or between wooden parts.

I find that plausible, but in my experience, the root of the problem often runs deeper. The construction of the Malm bed is compact, but also cost-effective. It frequently uses particleboard and thin fasteners that can swell or change over time.

So my question is: how much do moisture or temperature changes influence the squeaking? It’s possible that the material undergoes slight dimensional changes due to environmental conditions, which then cause these noises.

Does anyone have specific observations or measurements related to this? Simply tightening screws or lubricating doesn’t always solve the problem.

Genevieve schrieb:
Just twisting the screws or lubricating doesn’t always fix the problem.

I agree. Quick fixes like lubricants often mask problems instead of resolving them sustainably.

To understand the cause properly, you need to identify the points of stress and shear forces.

For example: Squeaking often occurs at joints that don’t just move simply but shift or jam against each other within a tolerance during movement.

In the case of the Malm bed, this could mean that the anchor points are designed to deform or shift slightly under everyday load, which then causes friction noises.

My recommendation: Check if the bed is on an uneven floor or if the load is not distributed optimally, as this can affect the noise level.

Victor54 schrieb:
My recommendation: Check if the bed is on an uneven floor or if the load isn’t distributed evenly

Thanks for the tip. So far, I’ve only glanced at the floor and assumed it was stable. Tomorrow, I’ll use a spirit level to see if the bed is truly level.

If the bed tilts even slightly, that could definitely be a key factor causing the squeaking. That might also explain why it only happens occasionally—depending on how you move or how the pressure is distributed.

Additionally, I want to mention that I’m not using any mattress toppers or similar items that could provide extra cushioning. Maybe that’s an area to explore for noise reduction.

I’ll keep you updated!

Good morning,

I would like to add a brief guide for troubleshooting squeaking in beds:

1. Check fasteners: In addition to tightening screws, pay attention to the type of screws used. Sometimes, the original screws are not ideal or work themselves loose from the threads. Replacing them with more durable screws can help.

2. Material fatigue: Wood-based materials like particleboard tend to experience material fatigue under stress, causing adhesives to loosen and noises to develop. This is especially important for older furniture.

3. Assembly and installation: Beds are sometimes assembled incorrectly, not following the manufacturer’s instructions, for example missing spacers or improper setup of slatted frames, which can promote squeaking.

4. Sliding and shear points: A small piece of felt or foam rubber at the contact points between the slatted frame and the bed frame can help reduce noise.

5. Load distribution: Uneven weight distribution causes more movement and thus more friction.

Summary: Squeaking generally results from movement within fixed connections. This can be due to material, design, assembly, or load.

A systematic check improves the chances of identifying all causes.