How to Store a Mattress (The Right Way)
Everyone has a mattress, making it one of the most common items stored in a storage unit. Whether you’re moving from one house to the next or you’re looking for a place to store an extra mattress that you have, this is one of those items that you definitely want to make sure you’re storing properly.
To take some of the guesswork out of storing your mattress, the team at EZ Storage® made this post to go over a few of the different things that you’ll need to do when storing a mattress, from finding the right size storage unit to safely covering your mattress while in storage.
Prepare Your Mattress for Self-Storage
If you’re planning to put your mattress in storage, you’ll want to make sure you’re doing it the right way. Here are a few things you’ll want to do to prepare your mattress for self-storage.
Measure Mattress
Measuring your mattress will be important later when choosing a storage unit. After all, you don’t want to rent a storage unit that won’t fit your mattress! Make sure you know your mattress’s general size as well — that is, if it’s a twin, full, queen, king, and so on.
Clean Mattress
Cleaning your mattress is the next thing that you’re going to want to do before storing it in a personal self-storage unit or business storage unit. This helps to ensure your mattress is clean going in, but also that it’s not left sitting in the gunk that it collects over time. Vacuuming your mattress regularly can help remove a significant amount of dead skin cells, hair, and the like.
After you’ve vacuumed your mattress, use a mattress cleaner on the exterior, and let it dry. Doing this routinely preserves the condition of your mattress and extends its lifetime. Once your mattress is cleaned, you’re ready to move on to the next step.
Cover the Mattress
Now that your mattress is clean, it’s time to cover it up so that it’s safe during the transfer to the storage unit. There are various ways that you can do this. One of the most common methods that we suggest for covering a mattress is an actual mattress cover that fully covers and zips around the mattress to protect it from the elements. These can be purchased at just about any home goods store for a variety of mattress sizes. These are great for leaving on when they’re back in the house and protecting your mattress from spills, dust mites and more. So, whether you’re investing in the mattress cover simply for the move, you can guarantee you’ll be able to make the most of this cover long after the move is done.
Put in a Mattress Bag
Okay, it may seem excessive, but you’re going to want to cover the mattress another time, this time in a plastic wrap or bag. There are large bags that are used for transporting mattresses to distribution centers and that come with a mattress when they’re purchased. These bags provide additional protection from moisture and dirt. At times, mattress stores will give these bags away to individuals who come in and ask, but others will charge a small fee for these bags. You can also find these bags online and have them shipped directly to your home.
How to Store a Mattress in a Storage Unit
Now that your mattress is ready to be transferred to your storage unit, it’s time to talk a little bit more about how you’re going to store the mattress. Follow the tips below to make sure you’re storing your mattress the right way.
Selecting a Unit Size and Type
At EZ Storage® the wide range of storage units that we offer makes it easy to accommodate the mattresses that you’re storing as well as any other belongings that you need to get out of the house. Decide whether you want to use a regular personal self-storage unit or a climate-controlled unit. From there, you’re ready to pick a size. A 5×5 storage unit will usually fit a twin or full mattress set. For larger bed sizes, including queen and king sets, you’ll usually need to upgrade to a 5×10 storage unit.
Keep Your Mattress Flat
Most people will place a mattress up on its side so that it takes up less room, but this is actually the last thing that you want to do when storing your mattress. By having it sit this way, your mattress springs don’t have the support that they need and may sag. For that reason, we recommend laying your mattress down flat so that the mattress has the support that it needs.
Don’t Put Things on Top of the Mattress
With that being said, you don’t want to place anything on top of the mattress either because it will also affect the shape of the mattress. Whether it’s furniture, appliances, boxes, or other objects, placing them on top of your mattress can permanently alter your mattress’s shape, creating lumps and bumps that make it difficult to sleep.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’ve still got questions, we’ve brought together answers to some frequently asked questions about how to store a mattress below.
Can You Store a Mattress on its Side?
No. Storing a mattress on its side, especially over a long period, can permanently alter the shape of your mattress and damage its insides. Mattresses should be stored flat and on an even surface.
How Do You Store a Memory Foam Mattress?
The same way you’d store a regular mattress. Clean the mattress, cover it, and make sure to store it flat on an even surface. You can also roll your memory foam mattress up before storage, which is something you can’t do with ordinary mattresses. Follow your manufacturer’s instructions if you plan on doing this.
How Can I Protect My Mattress?
To protect your mattress while in use, make sure to cover it with a mattress protector, which will keep your mattress clean from dirt, dust, sweat, and more. To protect a mattress in storage, wrap the mattress in breathable plastic and create a good seal using tape. If you’re concerned about moisture, place your mattress in a climate-controlled storage unit.
