Nothing is more frustrating than sleeping badly because the bed creaks. Thankfully, you don't have to spend a lot of money to buy a new one and fix the problem; by identifying the source of the noise, tightening and lubricating the joints that hold the structure together, you can stop this annoying problem and go back to sleep in peace.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Finding the Cause
Step 1. Remove the mattress and slatted base from the frame
The network is the base (often made of wood) on which the mattress rests; put both on the floor.
Step 2. Check if the source of the noise is the mattress
You must rule out that it is the source of the problem before starting to work on the structure. Get on the mattress and move around a bit; if it squeaks, you've found the person responsible.
Step 3. Inspect the network
Apply pressure to the surface and move along it; if you hear a noise, the problem could be the network and not the structure.
Step 4. Shake the bed support poles and pay attention
The squeaks are generated at the points of contact between the legs and the rest of the structure, you must therefore move them all; try to pinpoint the exact source of the disturbance.
Step 5. Shake the slats at the bottom of the bed
They are wooden or metal slats that join one side of the structure to the other, supporting the mattress and the base; apply pressure on each to find the one that squeaks.
Friction between two wooden surfaces often causes this noise
Part 2 of 3: Stop the Squeak
Step 1. Get the right tools based on the part of the bed you need to repair
Observe how the various parts of the structure are fixed together where the noise is coming from. If there is a screw, get a screwdriver of the proper size; if it is a bolt, you need a wrench.
Step 2. Tighten the joint that is creaking
Sometimes the problem is simply due to a loose joint; before thinking about taking the bed apart, try tightening all the small parts from which the creaking seems to come. You can be sure that it is tight when you can no longer turn it.
Step 3. Use a washer if you have difficulty tightening a bolt
If you can't fully tighten it to the surface of the frame, you can place a washer between the wood and the bolt head to fill in the extra space.
Step 4. Disassemble the joint in question if you don't get results
Use the tools to loosen and remove the small parts that hold the joint together, placing the bolts or screws in plastic bags so as not to lose them; then separate the two pieces of the bed.
Step 5. Lubricate each component of the joint
Apply a product to every element that comes into contact, including hooks, small parts and flat surfaces. Here are some tips for lubricants:
- Paraffin: is a waxy substance sold in the form of a bar that rubs easily on the various components.
- WD-40: is a spray product that acts very well on metal structures; however, it dries out over time.
- Candle wax: If you don't have a commercial lubricant on hand, you can use a candle; scrub it like you would any other waxy lubricant.
- White lithium grease or silicone lubricant: You can buy both at hardware stores and apply them on the joint to make the squeak disappear.
Step 6. Assemble the frame
Re-insert the screws and bolts you removed earlier and tighten them with tools; make sure they are all tight so they don't cause any more squeaks.
Step 7. Listen to see if the problem is resolved
Shake the bed for persistent noises. If you haven't done well, try to locate the source of the screeching; if it comes from a different joint than the one you repaired, repeat the same procedure on this one as well. If, on the other hand, the joint itself remains responsible, try to tighten the small parts that hold it in place.
Part 3 of 3: Quick Solutions
Step 1. Wrap the planks with old cloths
Use socks or shirts that you no longer use. The fabric prevents the bed base or mattress from coming into direct contact with the structure and generating noise.
Step 2. Use cork to fill the cracks in a wooden structure
Inspect the bed for spaces that allow the mattress or slatted base to move and rub on other surfaces; glue pieces of cork in all the crevices, so that each element remains stationary.
Step 3. Slip a towel under the uneven legs of the bed
An uneven leg does not touch the floor; putting thick fabric underneath it prevents the bed from wobbling and making noise.
Step 4. Insert a book under the mattress near the source of the squeak
If this comes from one of the slats, lift the mattress and the slatted base, place a book on the bar in question and then return the bed to its original state.
