ᐅ Why does the Malm bed creak in cold weather?

Hello everyone, I have a specific question about "Why does the Malm bed squeak in cold air?".

I noticed that my white Malm bed from Ikea especially starts to squeak when turning over or sitting up during the transitional seasons, when the outside air gets colder. I can hear it quite clearly, particularly at night or in the morning, when the room air is still quite cool and dry.

I suspect that the cold or the changed humidity might affect the materials or joints of the bed, but I’m not sure what exactly causes the noise. Is it the wooden joints, metal parts, or the contraction of the materials?

Maybe some of you have had similar experiences and can explain this behavior well or offer tips on how to best prevent or fix the squeaking. Thanks in advance!

cassius schrieb:
I suspect that the cold or changed humidity might affect the material or the joints of the bed

Your suspicion is quite accurate. The creaking in cold air mainly involves the interaction between wood and metal.

1. Wood reacts to changes in temperature and humidity by shrinking or expanding. In cold air, humidity is usually lower, causing the wood to dry out and become more brittle.
2. Screws and metal connectors generally remain unchanged in size, which creates tension at the joints.
3. This tension causes friction between the parts—especially when you move and put pressure on the bed.

Tip: You can often reduce creaking by tightening the screws again and lightly treating the contact surfaces with furniture wax or graphite powder. Please avoid using oil, as it attracts dust and can make the problem worse.

In summary: The noise is caused by material tensions due to temperature and humidity changes affecting the interaction between wood and metal parts.

Wood expands when heated and contracts when cold. This causes screws and joints to move slightly, which can lead to squeaking.

Slightly tightening the screws and applying a bit of graphite or furniture wax to the contact points usually helps.

The sensitivity of solid wood beds or those made with engineered wood to environmental influences is well documented. Wood is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs or releases moisture depending on the air humidity.

At cold outdoor temperatures, relative humidity often drops significantly, causing the wood to dry out. The wood contracts, creating stress particularly at joints or edges, which leads to the familiar creaking noises when the bed is moved.

Additionally, beds like the Ikea Malm often use metal fittings or screws that do not expand or contract to the same extent. The interaction of these different materials increases the noise.

A preventive measure is to monitor the humidity in the bedroom. Maintaining a slightly elevated indoor climate (around 40-60% relative humidity) helps prevent extreme fluctuations. The tightening torque of screws should be checked regularly to minimize movement under load.

Conclusion: The creaking is caused by physical effects and can be reduced by adjustments to the furniture and the room climate.

Samir schrieb:
The squeaking is caused by physical factors and can be reduced by adjustments to the furniture and indoor climate.

Exactly. Indoor climate is often underestimated. Much more important than any expensive products is maintaining an even humidity level.