Without a doubt, the unwanted noise of a squeaky bed is a significant hindrance to gaining restful sleep. Ignoring the issue and resigning yourself to sleepless nights is a terrible idea since quality rest allows you to reap great health rewards.
If you are one of those people who need peace and quiet to fall asleep, a squeaky bed is a worst-case scenario! Due to the discomfort, you’ll keep tossing and turning, hoping to get rid of the problem only to aggravate the issue further.
In this post, we’ll explain what causes a squeaky bed and walk you through various tips proven effective. Without further delay, let’s dive in.
Table of Contents
What Causes Your Bed To Squeak?
To effectively get rid of the problem, first, you need to know where the annoying sounds are coming from.
Potentially, the squeaky noise could be coming from the mattress, frame, or box spring.
1. Mattress or Foundation
Experts claim that it’s rare for a high-quality mattress to squeak, especially all-foam mattresses. However, when it comes to hybrid and innerspring mattresses, they can squeak since they have metal springs.
To find out whether your mattress is causing the squeaking sounds, place it on a clean floor, and start testing it for sounds by laying on it.
If the noise is coming from the springs in the mattress, the problem is fixable. However, if the mattress is making noise, it’s best to purchase a new one.
2. Box Spring
Box springs consist of springs that are prone to squeaking since the coils clink together over time, causing noise and discomfort.
Most box springs don’t have actual springs these days.
If that’s the case for you, then your box spring is not the cause for concern.
On the other hand, if your box spring has metal springs, it could be what’s causing the squeaking sounds.
3. A Bed Frame
One of the most common causes of a squeaky bed is a frame since it includes multiple parts attached by joints and bolts.
Noise from the bed frame results from a faulty assembly or different pieces of the frame rubbing together. To assess whether your bed frame is causing the issue, remove the mattress and place it on a clean floor.
Start shaking the bed frame and check for any squeaky sounds. If you can hear unwanted noises, your bed frame is causing the problem. If not, it’s probably your mattress or box spring.
How To Fix A Squeaky Bed
Since we have covered the key areas that cause squeaking, we can now explain how to fix a squeaky bed. Rest assured, these tips will end your sleepless nights.
a). Bed Frame and Box Spring
Below are ways to fix squeaky sounds coming from a bed frame or a box spring:
1. Joint Problem
The parts of a frame are attached using joints and bolts. Loose joints could be the source of the problem.
Begin by inspecting the bolts and joints. If some of them are loose, use a wrench to tighten them to reduce the noise significantly.
If you can’t tighten the bolts, you can add a washer between the bolts and frame to guarantee a snug fit. After fixing the joint problem, test it again by shaking the frame to ensure the issue is eliminated.
2. Oil Up
Before choosing to use this tip, first, make sure the frame of your bed is metal.
After locating the area causing the problem, you can use WD-40 to lubricate the bolts and joints that are making noise. A coat effectively eliminates the noise, but you’ll have to re-apply the lubricant after a few months.
You can also use vegetable oil if you can’t find a can of WD-40 in your garage.
3. Waxing
Once you know where the squeaks are coming from, you can add wax on the exact spot. To find the exact spot, you can test the bed frame by shaking it and keenly concentrating on where the noise originates from. After that, apply the wax to the contact points.
For this method to be completely effective, you have to re-apply more coats to eliminate unwanted sounds.
4. Cushion the surfaces prone to friction
Potentially, the squeaky sounds could be caused by the friction between the bed frame and another surface such as the slats, floor, or mattress. To get rid of this problem, you need to cushion the surfaces prone to friction. To solve this problem, you can use your mismatched socks, old t-shirts, kitchen towels, etc.
If there’s friction between your box spring and frame, lift the mattress and place the pieces of fabric in each slat. On the other hand, if there’s friction between the mattress and the frame, you can use the fabrics as a buffer between the two to get rid of the noise caused by friction when the two parts rub against each other.
5. Use a Cork
If you have already waxed or lubricated the areas attached by joints and bolts on your bed frame, but you can still hear unwanted sounds, you can use a cork to eliminate the problem. This solution is recommended on wooden bed frames.
Begin by identifying the areas where the squeaky sound is coming from. After that, proceed to wedge bits of cork between the areas where the squeaky sounds are prominent. This reduces the unwanted noises significantly by cushioning the two areas that are loosely attached.
6. Focus on the Floor
If the casters under the floor are causing the squeaky sounds, you can simply visit the hardware store near your area of residence to purchase caster cups that average at $2 per cup. It’s an easy way to eliminate the noise. Another solution is greasing the wheels with WD-40 to minimize the squeak.
Also, did you know that an uneven floor can cause squeaking sounds? Well, check your floors to see if that’s the cause for concern. If so, you need to eradicate the imbalance by adding a floor pad; you can do this by using old t-shirts, towels, and so on.
Lift the leg on the uneven side of the floor and place the fabrics under the leg to reduce the imbalance.
7. Books
You need to test a couple of spots until you find where the problem lies. Once you know the exact spot of the bed frame where the squeaky noise is coming from, you can add a book under the mattress on the same spot. This low-effort trick allows you to sleep peacefully without being interrupted by annoying squeaky sounds throughout the night.
8. Invest in a new bed frame or box spring
Once you have tried all the tips we have offered, but you haven’t found a solution that has worked for you, it’s best to look into new bed frames.
Before purchasing a new bed frame, it’s best to conduct thorough research to find a frame that suits you and meets your needs.
Also, choose a diverse frame that will work well for your setup to avoid unwanted noises in the future.
On the other hand, if your box spring is where the problem lies, you can choose to invest in a new one to eradicate the problem permanently.
b). Mattress
If your mattress is causing your bed to squeak, here are a few remedies you can use to minimize the noises.
9. Rotate the Mattress
Even though a squeaky mattress could be an indicator to invest in a new one that will meet your needs, you can choose to flip your mattress to reduce unwanted noises.
What’s more? It’s essential to rotate or flip your mattress once every three months. Rotating your mattress from time to time will minimize the squeak.
10. Use Plywood as a Cushion
You can place a thin piece of plywood under your mattress to manage the squeak. This trick is helpful since it makes the base of the box spring firmer, reducing the squeaky sounds.
11. Purchase a new Mattress
If these solutions fail, perhaps it’s time to opt for a new mattress that will serve you well by allowing you to sleep comfortably throughout the night.
If you have decided to purchase a new mattress, experts recommend all-foam mattresses since they don’t produce squeaky sounds, unlike the other models.
Also, choose a mattress that will suit your setup to avoid more disappointments. It’s best to conduct thorough research before choosing a particular brand to end up with the best mattress that offers a good warranty in case of anything.
Final Words
A comfortable bed is critical in ensuring you sleep well throughout the night. On the other hand, a squeaky bed is a frustrating experience that is non-negotiable and should not be ignored.
Once your bed starts to squeak, it’s best to identify the leading cause of the problem to find a helpful solution. Your mind and body will thank you for it!
Lastly, if you can’t find a solution that works for you, perhaps it’s time to replace your bed. We hope our tips will be helpful as you try to fix your squeaky bed.
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