Counting sheep won’t help you get a good night’s sleep if you’re tossing and turning on a creaky bed frame. Knowing how to fix a squeaky bed yourself can remedy the situation without you needing to dump your expensive frame or call in reinforcements from a Taskrabbit.
Before you head out to the hardware store, the first thing you should do is try and diagnose the cause of the noise. “If your bed is squeaking, the first thing to check is the frame,” says Aldo Ceja, home expert at Thumbtack, a home services booking app. “Loose joints are a common cause, especially where the bed rails connect to the headboard or footboard.”
This step might require lifting the mattress and examining different parts of the bed. You’ll want to know if the squeaking sounds are coming from the box spring, a rickety metal bed frame, or loose pieces of wood or slats on a platform bed. To investigate further, we spoke to home improvement experts who offer DIY solutions on how to fix a squeaky bed so you can finally resume undisturbed slumber.
What causes a squeaky bed?
A bed is more likely to squeak if it’s used more aggressively, so to speak. The exacerbated wear-and-tear is usually spurred by vigorous nocturnal activities or if someone jumps on the bed. Simply put: Bouncing affects the bed frame, box spring, and innerspring mattress.
“A squeaky bed is usually caused by loose or worn-out joints in the frame, friction between materials, or even the mattress rubbing against the bed frame,” says Ceja. “Over time, screws and bolts can loosen, wood can dry out and shift, and metal parts can wear down.”
You’re also not crazy if you only hear the squeaking noise on occasion. Sporadic sounds can be a result of the weather. “Temperature and humidity can also play a factor here, causing the material to expand and contract and lead to a squeaky bed,” Ceja explains.
All of this noise is most likely the result of the boards on your wooden frame rubbing together and causing chemical adhesives (such as glues) to break down and create more friction than usual, says Skyler Dalley, PhD, mechanical engineer at Equilateral Product Innovations.
Even if you have a memory foam mattress, if it sits atop a box spring with worn-out wood or squeaky coils inside, a silent night is probably not in your future. Another trouble spot is the center support—wooden slats or metal beams can move under the weight of whoever is sleeping on it, causing the wood to rub against the frame.
Alternatively, the squeaking noise may not be coming from the bed frame at all. Your floor may be the culprit. “Movement can make the noise worse as loose floorboards shift under pressure,” Ceja says. Don’t worry, we have tips for that below too.
How do you quiet a squeaky mattress?
Time to pull out your tools or stop by the hardware store. Loose bolts and screws can cause the bed frame to shift, which results in a high-pitched sound. “Poor quality and age may require the addition of bracing, mechanical fasteners, and glue,” notes Tom Richards, owner of Artisan Spaces. He recommends that wooden bed frames get some cleanup with light sanding. Just be careful not to damage the finish. Once you secure the joints, use a rubber mallet to tap them back together.
