5 Steps to Fix a Squeaky Bed

Seth Carter 18/07/2024

Far too many Americans suffer from a squeaky bed. The creaks and squeaks can keep you up and cause you to require far too much caffeine in the morning. If you are here, then you are likely a victim of a squeaky bed frame, and you seek a solution.

You came to the right place. DutchCrafters is the world’s largest collection of Amish furniture online. We know a thing or two about quality bed frames and what causes some beds to start squeaking.

Below we have a 5-step guide to fixing your squeaky bed. Before we get to that, let’s dive into a couple of FAQs about noisy bed frames and what causes them.

What Causes My Bed to Squeak?

Over time, beds can wear down. It’s easy to overlook the wear and tear on a bed. We spend about 1/3 of our day sleeping in bed, so beds get far more usage than basic things that require maintenance around the house.

As you will see in the steps below, all sorts of parts on your bed frame, box springs, and even your mattress can wear down and begin to squeak. You may also have a cheap or poorly made bed frame that needs replacing.

Also Read: How Cheap Furniture is Flooding the Landfills!

5 Steps to Fixing a Squeaky Bed Frame

1. Locate the Source of the Squeak in Your Bed Frame

Just because your bed frame makes noise doesn’t mean it’s time for a new bed! The good news is that there are several easy fixes to a squeaky bed frame. The first step in fixing the problem is identifying it.

More parts on a bed frame can squeak than many people think. You might have something as simple as a loose screw, a bad box spring, or deteriorated joints in the frame.

2. Check the Mattress and Box Spring

Many mattresses have an innerspring design. This means there are springs inside of the mattress that can potentially cause a squeak. The best way to determine this is to remove the mattress from your bed frame and move around on it. If the mattress is lying directly on the floor and away from your bed frame, and you still hear a squeak, there are now two options.

The mattress is the source of the squeak.
OR
You just killed a mouse.

Box springs also have coils in them that will wear down over time. Try the same thing with your box spring to see if it is the culprit.

If the noise is coming from your mattress, try rotating your mattress. Technically, you should be doing this every few months to help distribute the load. Rotating it might be a short-term fix if your springs are creaking.

Shop Amish-Made Mattresses

It might be time to get a new mattress or box spring! If that’s the case, make sure you check out our selection of Amish mattresses!

3. Check for Loose Screws

You might get tired of feeling like you are constantly tightening screws around the house. Loose screws in the door handles, the cabinet hinges, etc.

One place that tends to get overlooked for routine screw tightening is the bed frame. Out of sight, out of mind, they say. Check every screw on your bed frame to see if any of them need a couple of good turns to the right.

You know what else they say?

“Righty-tighty, sleep-well-at-nighty!”

That’s not true. “They” don’t say that. I made that up.

Perhaps now “they” will say it.

4. Lubricate Loose Joints

Metal Bed Frames with Loose Joints

If you have a metal bed and tightening the screws does not do the trick, you may need to lubricate your joints. Simply applying some WD-40 to the metal frame can silence the squeak.

You can also try putting a piece of leather between the metal parts that are rubbing together to cause the squeak.

Wooden Bed Frames with Loose Joints

If you have a wooden bed frame, try using some wood-friendly wax or oil.

You can also try using felt pads in between the noise-making joints of wood. A little padding can go a long way.

Remember, when the frame is causing the noise, it’s usually due to loose parts rubbing together. If tightening things up does not solve the problem, you’ll need to disrupt the rubbing.

5. Upgrade to a Solid-Wood Bed Frame

Many cheap bed frames will break down rather quickly. My favorite method of solving a squeaky bed problem is buying a solid-wood, Amish-made bed frame. If you are buying a new bed, be sure to check out DutchCrafters’ massive collection of solid wood bed frames!

Cheap furniture is not designed to last very long. That means it won’t take a whole lot of usage (compared to a solid-wood Amish bed) for the frame to start wearing down. If your bed frame falls into the “Fast Furniture” classification, keep in mind that the “wood” versions of fast furniture aren’t even suitable to survive a move.

A durable, Amish-made, premium bed frame is designed to last for generations. Solid wood bed frames (and I mean real solid wood) are exponentially more durable than the cheaply made bed frames you will find at the stores mentioned in the video below.

How Sturdy are Amish-Made Solid Wood Beds Frames?

These are just reviews on one particular bed frame from DutchCrafters.

“Well made, sturdy, and beautiful! Highly recommend DutchCrafters. Excellent quality.”
–Katherine H. from FL on 4/17/2024

“Very satisfied. Beautiful and well-made!”
–Katherine H. from FL on 1/18/2024

“This was my second purchase, and I will definitely come back. Quality is unsurpassed.”
–Steven P. from NY on 3/14/2023

Shop Amish Bed Frames

If you are happy with your bed or replacing it is not in the budget, I hope this guide helped you identify and fix your squeaking problem. You know where to find us if and when you are ready to upgrade to a solid-wood handcrafted bed frame.

by Seth Carter (9 Posts)

Seth Carter has been with DutchCrafters since 2020. Seth has won multiple awards for his work in Amish furniture while with DutchCrafters. He has advised and partnered with more than 150 Amish wood shops on furniture presentation, features, industry trends, product options, and development of exclusive products. He contributes to the Timber to Table Blog and has written content throughout the DutchCrafters website. Seth has a B.S. in Business Administration from IU-East and has owned Carter Family Insurance, LLC. since 2014.