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Whether it’s making a popping, clicking, or squeaking sound, we know how annoying it is to sleep on a noisy mattress. But did you know that your mattress is not the only thing that could be making these noises? In this article, you’ll learn how to determine the cause of the noise and how to fix it. Make sure to read the full article so you won’t miss our step-by-step guide.
Why your mattress makes a popping noise
The most common reasons why a mattress makes a popping noise are:
- Broken or defective coils
- Old mattress
- Creaking slats
- Worn-out box springs
Before you can attempt to fix your squeaky bed, you should find out what exactly is causing the weird noises. There are many possible causes of a squeaky mattress but the ones I listed above are the usual culprits. For more information, you can also check out our “why do mattresses squeak” article.
Let’s go into detail on each potential cause below.
Broken or defective coils
Did you recently buy a new innerspring or hybrid mattress that started squeaking after a few days? All innerspring mattresses contain supportive coils that are designed to give you a bouncy and responsive feel. If these coils are making strange noises from the get-go, it means that you received a mattress that has defective coils.
To check for this, remove your innerspring mattress from the bed frame and place it on the floor. Try lying on the mattress and also pressing your hand downwards in different spots. If you hear a popping or squeaky sound, your mattress has either broken or defective coils.
In this case, we recommend that you contact the mattress brand and ask for a replacement. Most online mattress companies offer sleep trials and warranties that cover structural defects. Since it’s a new mattress, you should be able to return it easily and without much hassle.
Old mattress
If you have an innerspring mattress that you’ve been using for years, there’s a chance that its coils have started deteriorating over time. It might not be as supportive and durable as it was when you first got it. Sagging coils can make the surface of your mattress uneven and the lack of bounce can cause popping or squeaking noises.
Again, there’s nothing much you can do at this point other than replacing your old sagging mattress with a new comfy and supportive model. If you don’t want to worry about a noisy mattress ever again, you can opt for a memory foam or latex mattress that has no springs. An example of a springless mattress is the Nolah Original 10.
Creaking slats
Do you have a slatted bed frame? Well, this could also be what’s causing weird noises. Both wooden and metal bed frames tend to squeak as their bolts or clamps gradually loosen over time. Not only is this extremely annoying to hear, it’s also less stable and supportive.
Find out if you have a squeaky bed frame by checking its corners and shaking its sides. If it makes a noise, you should tighten any loose bolts in a metal bed frame and replace the support slats or bunkie boards in a wooden bed frame.
Worn-out box springs
If you have a box spring that’s seen too many winters, the springs inside it might have become squeaky. Moreover, the wooden frame of your box spring might also be scraping against the bed frame and causing noise.
To check if it’s really your box spring making noise, remove your mattress from it and press into it. If it’s making noise, go ahead and refer to this article – how to fix a squeaky box spring. We have a detailed guide for you there.
How to fix a popping sound in a mattress
If the continuous popping sounds aren’t caused by defective or worn-out coils, you won’t have to replace your mattress. Oftentimes, the problem lies within the box spring or bed frame. Follow the steps below to fix a squeaky bed and get quiet and peaceful sleep.
Step 1: Identify the cause
Refer to the previous section of the article and determine which of those reasons are causing your bed to squeak. It could be broken or defective coils, an old worn-out mattress, creaking wooden slats, or a shabby box spring.
It’s imperative to know what’s making your bed squeak so you can take the right steps in fixing it.
Step 2: Pad the affected area
Get any unused shirts and pairs of socks and pad the affected areas to reduce friction between the mattress and the bed frame and get rid of any bed squeaking. Usually, metal bed frames squeak louder than wooden bed frames so padding them with used clothes is quite effective.
Step 3: Secure the nuts and bolts on your frame
Tighten the nuts and bolts on your bed frame using a screwdriver or an Allen wrench. Additionally, you can further secure your bed frame’s joints by adding washers under the nuts and bolts.
Step 4: Lubricate the coils
If your mattress is making noises but it’s not too loud, you might just need to lubricate its coils. You can use WD-40 or other silicon-based lubricants. Apply some to any noisy areas and it should lessen or stop the squeaky sounds altogether.
Aside from lubricating the coils of your mattress or box spring, you can also try lubricating your bed frame. WD-40 can be used for metal bed frames, but we wouldn’t recommend it for wooden frames. Use a milder lubricant such as candle wax or beeswax if you have a wooden bed frame.
FAQs
It’s quite normal for springs to start making noise after using a mattress for a few years. However, new innerspring or hybrid mattresses shouldn’t be making any noise since the latest models are made with pocketed coils that produce zero sound.
Your bed might be creaking because of loose joints or bolts. Tighten these nuts and bolts with a screwdriver or Allen wrench and it should fix the problem.
Worn-out innerspring mattresses usually make clicking sounds because of sagging and deteriorated coils. If you just got a spring mattress and it’s making weird sounds, you should have it replaced as soon as possible.
Conclusion
Many people have experienced popping or squeaky noises when sleeping on innerspring mattresses. More often than not, this is caused by sagging coils that have deteriorated over time. But, a squeaky bed might also be caused by broken or defective coils in a new mattress.
To fix a squeaky bed, you’re going to need a few items that can be found in your house. Just follow our 4-step guide and get noise-free sleep in the same night.
Next step: If you can’t fix your mattress, it may be time for a new one. Read our guide to buy now, pay later mattresses to find a brand that you can buy with a low up front commitment.
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