How To Stop Metal Bed Frames From Squeaking

You’ve just come home after a long day, and all you want to do is crawl into bed. But as soon as you get in, your bed frame starts making an annoyingly loud squeaking noise.

What will you do to stop it? Are you wondering how to stop metal bed frames from squeaking?

You can stop a metal bed frame from squeaking by applying a lubricant, tightening the joints, waxing them, or eventually having to replace the frame.

Well, you might be looking for a more detailed explanation of fixing the issue without replacing the entire frame.

Keep reading for tips on how to stop metal bed frames from squeaking!

How To Stop Metal Bed Frame From Squeaking

how to stop metal bed from making noise

You can stop a bed frame from squeaking by tightening the frame and the bolts together and adding some lubricant to the frame joints.

Also, you can stop it by adding padding between the frame and the mattress. 

Let’s discuss each of these methods in detail.

Tighten Joints

One of the significant causes of squeaking on beds is loose joints; therefore, you need to tighten them. But how do you know whether the bed is squeaking because of loose joints?

Well, the looseness may not be visible. 

To check whether the joints are loose, remove the mattress and check all the bed bolts. Additionally, you can try moving the bed a little to check whether you will notice some noise. 

To properly tighten the bolts, you will need a spanner and pliers. The spanner helps drive in one end of the bolts while the pliers will hold the nut.

You should drive the spanner until the pliers can’t hold on. If, however, the squeaking continues, check other options below.

Using Lubricants

Sometimes, the squeaking results from the friction of two metallic bed frames or bolts. Therefore, check for some evidence of rust, mainly on joints.

If there are signs of aging, apply a lubricant to remove the rotting. 

What if you can’t see any signs of rust?

Try moving the bed a little to notice where the squeaking noise is coming. Check all the frame joints and apply lubricant to all of them if you don’t find the source of the squeaky noise. 

Some of the best joint lubricants you can use on your bed include:

However, if the noises continue after some time, you might consider replacing it, especially if it’s old.

Use Padding Material

Sometimes, the squeaking has nothing to do with the bed; it’s just the mattress. For example, if you’re using a hard mattress, it is more likely to have noise compared to a softer one. 

Hard mattresses are not flexible, resulting in friction between them and the bed. On the other hand, softer mattresses are comfy with your movements.

So how do you tell the problem is with the mattress, not the bed? One quick way to find out is to separate them and check if you can hear the noise anymore.

Well, if you can hear any squeaking and your mattress is hard, that could be the problem.

Consider replacing the mattress with a softer one. However, if you love hard mattresses, add padding materials like socks or clothes between the bed and the bed frames.

But if you have the budget, you can purchase a foam bed padding.

Wax The Frames

You can wax the bed If the source of the squeaking noise is friction between the different joints or the mattress.

Waxing is a budget-friendly option if you can’t afford a lubricant. 

Even though it’s a cheaper option, that doesn’t mean it’s ineffective. On the contrary, it’s more effective than WD-40 lubricant in some instances. 

However, one downside of applying wax is that it’s not a long-term solution. Therefore, you will have to use the wax often or buy a more effective lubricant.

Replace Metal Washers

Sometimes even the least of the components in a bed could be the source of squeaking. One such component is the washer.

A washer is a component whose function is to fasten the bolt. Without it, your bed joint will likely move or loosen.

Therefore, check all the joints to ensure that each has a washer, a bolt, and a nut tightened together. But what if the bed continues to wobble even with all the washers?

Well, the problem could be the current washers. Therefore, if the bed continues to swing, remove and replace them with new ones.

Also, the friction between the washer and the bolt smoothens their surfaces, making them not hold.

Replace Bed Frames and Springs

fix squeaky metal bed frame

Some issues, especially with the bed frame and springs, may be beyond fixing. Therefore, the only remaining option is to replace them.

However, when replacing such components of your bed, be conscious of the aspects that could cause some squeaking noise in the future.

One of the primary considerations when replacing your frames include the mattress type and room size.

Purchase a bed that fits your space and springs that match the size of your mattress.

FAQs

Why Does My Bed Creak When I Move?

Your bed creaks when you move because the joints are loose, and they rub against each other when you move. The friction causes the creaking sound.

Why Do Bed Frames Wobble?

Bed frames wobble because the screws and bolts have become loose over time.

The wobble gets worse as the bolts loosen. However, fixing them should be simple—you can use a pair of pliers and a spanner.

Why Is My Metal Bed Squeaky?

Your metal bed is squeaky because the bolts are loose or the joints are separating.

You can fix that by tightening them. Otherwise, the joints misconfigure and eventually collapse the bed.

Final Thoughts

If your metal bed frame is squeaking, don’t worry. There are several ways to stop it.

Although it may seem daunting, fixing a metal bed frame that creaks is a relatively simple process.

With a few household items and a little grease, you can have your bed frame sounding new; well, not sounding at all! 

So follow the above six tips to help keep your metal bed frame quiet and smooth–sailing for years to come.