A creaking bed ruins a night's sleep, and you wake up already tired. The usual culprits are slats rubbing in their rubber holders, loose frame bolts and the joints between the legs and the frame. A squeak can also be an early warning of a structural problem, so it is worth dealing with.
The good news is that most cases take about an hour with ordinary tools. Work in order: clean first, then tighten, then lubricate.
What you will need
- WD-40 Smart Straw with its precision straw
- screwdrivers and spanners or hex keys
- vacuum cleaner with a crevice tool
- soft cloths, one slightly damp
Important: Keep lubricant off the mattress, bedding and upholstery. Apply it only to metal parts and rubber holders and wipe away any excess straight away.
Step 1
Clean the rubber slat holders
Take off the mattress. Dust, fluff and small debris collect between the slats and their rubber or plastic holders, and that is often what creaks. Go over each holder with the crevice tool, then wipe them with a slightly damp soft cloth.
To stop the rubber hardening and cracking, apply a little WD-40 Smart Straw to the holders with the straw raised, and wipe off the excess at once.
Step 2
Find the creak and lubricate the mechanical joints
Press down on the slats and frame in different places and listen for the noise. If a metal joint or a lift mechanism hinge is squeaking, it needs cleaning and lubricating.
One product does both: WD-40 Smart Straw loosens dirt, displaces moisture and lubricates the rubbing surfaces. Apply short bursts into the gap, work the part a few times and wipe off the dirty runs.
Step 3
Tighten the bolts and screws
Check every bolt and screw in the frame, especially those holding the slat base and side rails. Timber shrinks over time, and dry air from central heating in winter speeds this up, so fixings work loose. Tighten them with the right screwdriver or spanner, without excessive force, so you do not strip the thread in wood or chipboard.
Step 4
Lubricate the leg and frame joints
If the creak is near a leg, take that joint apart. When several legs are involved, lay the bed on its side and work through them one at a time. Undo the fixings and separate the bolts, hooks and flat surfaces that rub together.
Apply WD-40 Multi-Use to the metal bolts, hooks and fittings, leave it for a few minutes, wipe off the excess and reassemble the joint, tightening the fixings firmly.
Step 5
Reassemble and test
Stand the bed back on its legs, put the mattress on and sit, lie and move around in different spots. If the creak remains, press on the slats again without the mattress to find the point you missed.
Tip: If a slat is cracked or badly bowed, lubrication will not help: replace it. Where two wooden parts rub against each other, a thin felt pad between them works well.
What next
Check the bed fixings every six months, especially at the start and end of the heating season. The same WD-40 Multi-Use also quietens squeaky doors, wardrobes and drawers in the bedroom.
These uses come from the experience of WD-40 users in many countries. Always follow the instructions and warnings on the product label.
More guides in «How to use».