A high-quality mattress can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, so people often put their old ones into long-term storage when buying a new mattress, moving house, or rearranging their furniture. If you don’t know how to store a mattress, you can actually ruin it, so it’s best to do it properly. Thankfully, storing a mattress is easy. Here’s how to do it:
1. Clean the Mattress and Air It Out
The first step to moving and storing a mattress is preparing it. Mattresses spend most of their lives covered by sheets and other blankets, so they don’t get much air circulation. Dust, moisture, and more collect over time. (You can avoid some of this by using a mattress encasement, by the way.) Luckily, it’s easy to clean a mattress. You can use a spot stain remover if it has any unsightly stains, and it’s never a bad idea to vacuum the surface of the mattress. But the two main ingredients that do the actual heavy lifting are baking soda and fresh air.
Simply sprinkle baking soda all over the surface of the mattress, and let it air out for several hours. If you can do this outside in the sunshine, that’s even better—the sun’s UV rays can kill bacteria, mold, etc. Make sure to flip the mattress after several hours and repeat the process for the other side.
Thoroughly vacuum the mattress to remove all the baking soda once this step is finished.
2. Wrap the Mattress
The second step for storing a mattress is to wrap it in thin plastic wrap or a mattress bag. You can often buy plastic mattress protectors for storage at hardware stores or online for around $10-$50, depending on how heavy-duty and reusable you want your mattress bag to be.
Wrapping your mattress will keep its internal fibers from collecting dust over time and grosser things, like bed bugs. It also helps protect the mattress while moving it, whether you’re moving it to a self-storage unit, a new home, or just up to your own attic. Mattresses are unwieldy and heavy, and without a bit of protection, it’s easy to tear or scuff them in the moving process. When considering how to store a mattress safely, you mustn’t skip this step.
3. How to Move a Mattress
If possible, use a moving truck to move your mattress. People often strap a mattress to the top of their car into a truck bed, and both cases can become dangerous if the mattress doesn’t stay secure. Moving a mattress this way can also damage it.
4. Choose the Right Location to Store Your Mattress
If you can, it’s always best to store your mattress in a climate-controlled self-storage unit. A storage unit will protect the mattress from the elements, including shifts in humidity and extreme temperature changes—the sorts of things that may cause a mattress to degrade or grow mold. Attics, basements, and garages are harsh environments! If you’re thinking about storing a mattress in a garage, for example, the simple answer is that you probably shouldn’t. But if you must, don’t store it on its side; keep it safely wrapped up, and keep your garage climate-controlled as best you can.
When placing the mattress, don’t store it on its side. We know, it’s tempting! It’s a convenient way to save some space. But mattresses aren’t designed to support their own weight when stored vertically, and over time your mattress is likely to become permanently warped.
5. Special Considerations for Storing a Mattress Based on Mattress Type
When thinking about how to store a mattress, there are a few special things to consider based on what type of mattress you’re keeping. All of the above guidelines apply to all mattress types, but some are especially important depending on your mattress type.
How to Store a Memory Foam Mattress
For a memory foam mattress, it’s imperative that it not be stored on its side, as this can permanently deform the mattress. It should also not be folded. When in storage, avoid putting things on top of the mattress. Over time, the memory foam will change its shape, and you may be left with a permanent imprint. Avoid liquid cleaners on a memory foam mattress since they retain moisture.
How to Store a Spring Mattress
Spring mattresses hold their shape better than many other mattress types, but the nature of their construction also means that when they break, it’s extra annoying. Broken springs can cause the mattress to sag or create uncomfortable lumps. They can even poke you! Same rules apply in terms of vertical storage (a big no-no) and placing items on top of it.
How to Store a Hybrid Mattress
For a hybrid mattress, follow all of the steps above. It’s extra important not to store a hybrid mattress on its side. Some hybrid mattresses are designed so that their inner coils can shift when the mattress is on its side.
How to Store a Foam Mattress Topper
Do not fold a foam mattress topper. It can become permanently deformed if it’s stored in a folded manner. It’s usually alright to roll it up, though! Otherwise, the same considerations apply as for storing a foam mattress:
- Keep it wrapped up
- Don’t use liquid cleaning products on it
- Don’t store other items on top of it
Store your mattress right, and it’ll keep you comfortable for years!
Mattresses aren’t cheap, but a good mattress means good sleep, and good sleep is essential for your overall well-being. Millions of Americans are chronically sleep-deprived, which takes a severe toll on physical and mental health.
Now that you’ve learned how to store a mattress safely and effectively, you can protect that valuable investment for years to come. Unless the mattress is old, it’s always better to keep a mattress than to get rid of it—you never know when you might need another one.
Visit us at your local BuxBear Storage location to secure a climate-controlled storage unit for all your storage needs! And give us a call with any storage-related questions. We’re happy to help!