Getting a good night’s rest shouldn’t be difficult because of a noisy box spring. If a squeaky box spring makes it nearly impossible to get comfortable on your bed, it’s time to make a move. We researched methods to fix your bed and signs it’s high time for a replacement. Read on to tackle this slightly embarrassing but common phenomenon in bedrooms with confidence.
Box spring keeping you up any time you shift about the bed to get comfortable? Try our actionable tips to silence the noise and get back to counting zzz’s:
- Inspect your bed and box spring to look for signs of wear-and-tear.
- Tighten up loose spots on your bed frame and close gaps between the box spring and frame.
- Add some padding where it is needed for cushioning and sound absorption.
- Replace your mattress or box spring.
You might not have to toss out a box spring that is terribly noisy immediately. Instead, learn here how to put a stop to that squeaky spring.
Solutions For Squeaky Box Springs
There are more than a few reasons why a box spring starts squeaking beyond wear-and-tear. It can be difficult when any subtle movement on the bed elicits a squeak or groan. Look for the following problems that can be easily resolved:
- The coils have deteriorated to the point where the box spring needs to be replaced.
- The mattress is under too much pressure, sagging and creating noise when rubbing against the box spring.
- The box spring is on the floor and is being affected by temperature fluctuation.
- There is no padding between the box spring and the slats or bed frame, and motion creates noise.
- Gaps exist between the bed frame and the box spring, so it squeaks when the frame or bed moves.
- Loose bolts or joints in the bed frame are contributing to the noise, not the box spring.
After a careful inspection and the power of deduction, you can figure out how to put a stop to a squeaky bed. Luckily, sometimes it’s not even the box spring that is the issue. Problems with the bed frame, loose parts, or temperature changes also trigger weird sounds. Not to worry, let’s take a look at some helpful solutions.
Old Coils Gone Bad
Once a box spring is closer to the end of its shelf life, coils are likely to be overused, out of shape, and unable to support a sleeper effectively. When your bed has you up all hours of the night, struggling to get comfortable because it keeps groaning, squeaking, and making eerie noises, it’s time to call it quits. Replace the box spring and consider upgrading to a higher-quality brand.
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Mattress Under Pressure
Eventually, even the best quality mattresses will succumb to old age, daily usage, and bearing the weight of sleepers. Sometimes a box spring or mattress can no longer provide the support it once did. Once springs reach the ten-year mark, they have passed their prime. Looser and out-of-shape springs can lead to squeaks and an uncomfortable night’s sleep filled with tossing and turning. Look over a mattress or box spring and look for significant dips, sagging, and signs. It is time for a replacement.
Temperature
Try to keep a bedroom at a comfortable temperature to reduce a noisy box spring. Especially if a box spring is placed directly on the floor, extreme cold, heat, and humidity can cause the floor to contract, impacting the bed. As a box spring is shifted around, and temperature affects the springs, cardboard, and wood inside, noises may spring up at inopportune times.
Looking For Friction
There are two reasons why a box spring is making noise because of friction. The first reason is that it lacks substantial padding between the box spring and the floor, the bed frame, or the mattress. Whenever you move on the bed or the bed shifts, the lack of cushion for the box spring causes squeaks. If this is the problem, sandwich a thin layer of plywood between the bed frame slats and the mattress and box spring to reduce creaking, sliding around, and noise.
A second reason is the box spring has a gap between the wooden slats and the cardboard inside. Some box springs have the cardboard glued to the wooden slats, but lower quality box springs may not. Loose parts inside a box spring will show themselves by making uncomfortable noises whenever you sit, lay, or move on the bed. Thankfully, you can fix up a box spring by replacing the cardboard inside, adding wood glue, and attaching the wood slats inside to the board.
Mind The Gap
Sometimes there is too much space between the bed and the frame, allowing a box spring and mattress to shift about easily. Place a layer of plywood between the bed frame and the box spring to reduce slipping about and provide some friction. Additionally, ensure that your mattress and box spring are the best size and fit for a bed frame so that it won’t make so much noise.
Tightening It Up
A little TLC for a bed frame can go a long way. A metal frame or wood frame with loose metal bolts, screws, and nuts may be the culprit creating noise, not the box spring. When you flip your mattress and check your bedspring, tighten up and lubricate metal parts. When a bed has loose hardware, it can’t properly support the box spring and mattress and may make a fuss every time you sit, sleep, or move on your bed. Plus, ensuring your frame is in working order is a matter of safety, too.
Check out this can of lubricant on Amazon.
Can I Remove The Cardboard From A Box Spring?
There are two schools of thought when it comes to removing the cardboard from a box spring. Some people are for it, and others are staunchly against the decision. The cardboard inside a box spring is what helps support and distribute weight. However, when the board inside a box spring is loose, not glued to the wooden slats, or deterioration sets in, it makes noise. You can take matters into your own hands and remove the cardboard from a box spring, but know that this will significantly reduce its longevity.
How Long Does A Box Spring Last?
The average box spring has a shelf life as long as the average mattress, eight to ten years. After a decade, it’s better to replace an old box spring rather than try to push it past its supportiveness. Lower-quality box springs may only last a few years, and some high-quality box springs last 20 years. Check for deep sagging along the box spring, and bending, bowing, or loud creaking when sitting on the bed as signs it’s time to replace the box spring.
Check out this luxurious box spring on Amazon.
What Is An Alternative To A Box Spring?
Box springs are not the only suitable form of support for a mattress. You can also use wooden slats, built-in slats on a metal frame, or place your mattress directly on the floor. Other alternatives include using warehouse pallets, a platform bed base, and milk crates or cinder blocks with a plywood top. You can do away with a box spring if you opt for an innerspring mattress or an adjustable bed.
Check out this set of supportive wooden slats on Amazon.
Can I Use Plywood Instead Of A Box Spring?
Plywood is an excellent and inexpensive material to create a bed base in place of a box spring. Test your DIY prowess or call a handyman for assistance and design a custom-sized platform bed base using pieces of plywood. Make sure to use plywood at least 3/4 of an inch thick to support your mattress and weight. Have fun getting creative with designs, add cubbies and drawers for bed linens, and be proud of your handiwork.
Conclusion
We hoped you learned to tackle a fussy box spring that creaks and squeaks anytime you are on your bed. No need to throw out your box spring if you can use one of our handy solutions. Whenever possible, opt for a higher quality box spring or forego one altogether to support your mattress.