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If you find yourself losing sleep because of a squeaky bed, it’s imperative to address it right off the bat and find the cause of the squeaking. From replacing a bed frame to tightening a squeaky spring to deciding when to finally call it quits with your old mattress and spring for a new one, we’ve got it all covered. You’ll never have to sleep on a noisy, squeaky bed ever again.
Why Does My Mattress Squeak?
There could be multiple reasons why your mattress is squeaking. From faulty springs to uneven bed frames, to loose screws and mattresses that have gone past their prime, the unwanted noises from a squeaky bed can lead to sleepless nights which, in turn, can lead to a whole host of health issues. And nobody wants or needs that.
The following is a list of possible reasons why you’ve got a noisy mattress.
Problem with the mattress itself
Although rare, even if you’ve got a premium quality mattress like the Nolah Evolution – which, even if it’s old, should NOT make any kind of noise – sometimes, the problem could come from within the mattress itself. It’s also possible that the mattress could make a popping noise under some circumstances.
This usually happens when (and I’m sorry if this will offend you) you haven’t been taking good care of your mattress. And taking good care of your mattress means regular cleaning, rotating, no eating, drinking and jumping in bed, definitely no non-bedroom related activities to be conducted in bed and of course, using the right frame or foundation for your mattress.
If you do begin to hear a squeaking noise coming from the mattress itself, it could be one of the following:
- The springs inside your mattress have begun to break down from either normal wear and tear or because it is a mattress of poor quality. Bear in mind, this only applies to mattresses that contain springs such as an innerspring mattress or a hybrid bed and not all-foam mattresses.
- For mattresses that are constructed without springs and entirely from foam like memory foam, the culprit could be trapped moisture. Moisture causes the foam within the mattress to deteriorate faster than you can say, “Honey, the bed is squeaking.”
- The mattress you have was poorly and badly made. There are some things in life that are non-negotiable and one of that is you should treat your mattress as an investment. Buying a poor quality mattress means you shall also be getting poor quality sleep. This is not to say that good mattresses should cost you an arm and a leg – there are excellent cheap mattresses to be had that should suit your budget.
Squeaky bed frame
Most of the time though, when you hear your bed squeaking, it’s usually because of your bed frame. Metal bed frames are noisier than a wooden bed frame. But wooden bed frames can still be making noise. A loose bolt or loose joints can be the culprit. Wooden slats can also contribute to a noisy bed frame. Preventive maintenance – such as tightening any loose bolts and replacing faulty wood slats – is key when it comes to ensuring a non-squeaky bed frame as well as you and your sleeping partner’s sanity.
A squeaky metal bed frame can also be caused by your bed frame’s legs as it makes constant contact on your bare floor. Barring the (most probably very expensive) decision to cover your bedroom floor in wall to wall carpeting, you can add floor padding or even furniture pads to each of your bed frame’s legs.
Noisy box spring or foundation
This is a double whammy in itself. A squeaky box spring topped with squeaky innerspring mattresses is a nightmare made in squeaky mattress hell. Box springs contain steel coils as their primary source of support and once these start breaking down there’s no escaping the dreaded squeak each and every time you move around in bed. Coupled with the worn-down bed springs of your innerspring mattress (which is the only type of mattress that can be used with a box spring), then you know it’s high time to get a whole new bed.
How to fix your squeaky mattress
The following tips to fix a squeaky bed should only be done after you’ve established that it’s not the mattress itself that is creating all that noise because if that’s the case, then there’s nothing you can do but whip out your credit card.
Rotate
Sleep experts recommend that mattresses should be rotated every 6 months for optimum usage. The reasoning behind rotating your mattress periodically is simple: sleeping in the same spot on your bed creates a dip on your mattress surface due to body weight. This is normal. Rotating your mattress helps extend the lifespan of your mattress while giving you a new spot to sleep on to sort of level things out. The addition of a mattress topper can also help.
Place plywood underneath
This is important especially if you’ve got wide empty spaces between your bed frame’s wood slats. Adding a layer of plywood underneath your mattress provides extra support to your bed frame. This not only works for a wooden bed frame but a metal frame as well.
Center the mattress on the frame
If your bed frame or bed foundation is slightly wider or larger than your mattress, make sure to center your mattress on it. This helps distribute weight evenly throughout the bed and helps prevent bed squeak.
Grease your bed frame
For the quickest fix ever (and while you wait for your overnight shipping of WD-40), two very common household items can be used to reduce noice on your bed frame’s bolts and joints: vegetable oil and candle wax.
For oiling: brush the tiniest amount of oil on all the bolts and joints that creak. As for candle wax: dab the sides of an (unlit, of course) candle over the bolts and joints of your bed frame. A little elbow grease and a little wax is all you need to call it a night.
For unwanted floor friction (and while you wait for your delivery of furniture pads or carpet installation), grab an old t-shirt, a folded sheet or even some kitchen towels and place them underneath your bed frame’s legs. Squeaky spots be gone!
Buy a new one
As previously mentioned, if the unwanted noise comes from within the mattress itself, run don’t walk to the (online) mattress store. Mattress reviews such as the ones found on our site can help you decide which one is the right mattress for you.
If you’ve tried all the tips and exhausted all possibilities of trying to fix a squeaky bed, then it’s also time to buy a new mattress, as well as a new bed frame or box spring. See our list of the best mattresses to find out which one is right for you.
Conclusion
Squeaky mattresses prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep which in turn can cause a lot of sleep and health issues down the line.
As annoying as they can be, quick fixes can be made to well, fix a squeaky bed but if you’ve tried every tip and trick in the book, then it’s time to cut your losses and regain them by getting proper, good quality bed.
Next step: If you want to avoid buying a mattress that squeaks, read our list of the most durable mattresses. We tested out all of the top brands and narrowed them down to the top 5. Each mattress on that list is going to stay in great condition over the long haul.
Michelline loves nothing more than a cozy bed, with a stack of books at her side. She loves getting lost when she travels, can bake an entire British afternoon tea from scratch, is obsessed with all things analogue and does calligraphy on the side. She currently suffers from mild insomnia and is more than happy to be your guinea pig, so you won’t have to go through all the trouble of finding out what works best for you.
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