There's nothing more irritating than a hard night's sleep because the bed makes a creaking sound every time you move. Luckily, you can solve this problem without spending a lot of money on a new bed. Find the cause of the creaking sound and tighten or lubricate the hinges that hold the bed frame to stop the creaking so you can sleep soundly again.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Finding Cause
Step 1. Remove the mattress and box springs from the bed frame first
The box spring is a wooden base under the mattress. Place the mattress and box springs on the floor.
Step 2. Check if the creaking sound is coming from the mattress
You should make sure the mattress is not the cause of the creaking sound before starting to inspect the bed frame. Lie down on the bed and move around a bit. If you hear a creaking sound, you've found the culprit.
Step 3. Check if the box spring makes a creaking sound
Press the top of the box spring in various places. If you hear a creaking sound, the box spring is probably the source of the annoying noise, not the bed frame.
Step 4. Shake the bedposts and pop the ears wide
A creaking sound can come from where the post connects to the bed frame. So, try to shake each pole. Try to find an accurate location from where the creaking sound is heard.
Step 5. Shake the support rods at the bottom of the bed frame
Support bars are iron bars or pieces of wooden planks that run from one side of the frame to the other. This rod serves to hold the mattress and box spring. Try pressing this support rod to check if it makes a creaking sound.
Wood rubbing against wood often causes a creaking sound
Part 2 of 3: Stop the Squeaks
Step 1. Use the right tools to work with each different part of the bed
Examine the location of the creaking sound and see what was used to hold the bed frame together. If it's a screw, use a screwdriver of the appropriate size. If it's a bolt, you'll need a wrench.
Step 2. Tighten the hinges that make a creaking sound
Sometimes, the cause of the creaking sound is a loose hinge. Before you disassemble the entire bed frame, try tightening all the screws and bolts where the creaking sound is coming from. If you can't turn it anymore, it means the screw or bolt is tight enough.
Step 3. Use a washer if you have trouble tightening the bolts
If the bolts cannot be tightened to the maximum, place a washer between the frame and the bolts to fill in the gaps between them.
Step 4. Remove all hinges if the creaking sound doesn't go away
Remove the tool that will be used to loosen and remove the screws and bolts that secure the hinges. Put all the screws and bolts that have been removed in a plastic bag so they don't fall apart. Separate the two parts of the frame that are joined together.
Step 5. Lubricate all hinge components
Apply lubricant to surfaces that are in contact with each other and held together by hinges, including fasteners, hooks, or flat surfaces. Some of the lubricating products that you can use include:
- Paraffin. Paraffin is a type of wax that is sold in stick form, making it easier for you to rub it on the surface.
- WD-40. WD-40 is a lubricant that is used by spraying. This lubricant is suitable for metal bed frames, but will dry out over time.
- Candle. Try using wax if you don't have a commercial lubricant at home. That's right, ordinary candles. Rub the wax the way you would any other wax lubricant.
- White lubricant or lubricant with silicone. You can buy white grease or silicone grease at a hardware store and apply it to the hinge components to prevent squeaking.
Step 6. Replace the bed frame components
Install all the screws and bolts you removed earlier and tighten them with the proper tools. Make sure all components are securely fastened so as not to cause an inadvertent creaking sound to occur.
Step 7. Listen to see if the creaking sound is gone
Shake the bed and see if the creaking sound is still audible. If so, try to find out where the sound is coming from. If the sound is coming from another hinge, follow the same steps as you did with the previous hinge. If the creaking sound is coming from the same hinge, try tightening the bolts or screws holding the hinge even more firmly.
Part 3 of 3: Trying Quick Repair Techniques
Step 1. Pile up the support rods with old clothes
Use old socks or shirts that are no longer used. The fabric will prevent the box springs or mattress from rubbing against the bed frame, which can make a creaking sound.
Step 2. Use cork to fill in the gaps if the bed frame is made of wood
Check the bed frame for gaps that allow the mattress or box springs to move and rub against the frame. Insert the cork into the gap so that each component of the bed snaps into place.
Step 3. Pile up the uneven legs of the bed with a towel
The foot of the bed is considered uneven if it is not flat on the floor. Use a towel to fill the gap between the foot of the bed and the floor so the frame doesn't wobble and make noise.
Step 4. Tuck the book under the area of the mattress close to the source of the creaking sound
If a creaking sound is coming from one of the support bars, lift the mattress and box spring and place a book on top of the creaking support bar. Return the mattress and box springs to their original places.
