Mattress storage is a common experience for many of us. Whether you’re in the process of moving, or you’re saving an old mattress for when your kids move out, you’ll need a good place to store your mattress.
Whatever the reason may be, this guide will walk you through the steps to properly store your mattress and protect it from potential damage until you’re ready to use it again.
Don’t just move your mattress into storage without following these steps to ensure it keeps its shape and keeps out mold and pests.
How to Store a Mattress in 5 Easy Steps
Don’t just move your mattress into storage without following these steps to ensure it keeps its shape and keeps out mold and pests.
Step 1: Clean the Mattress
Before moving your mattress, the first thing you should do is give it a thorough cleaning.
Depending on the condition it’s in, a quick vacuum using the upholstery attachment to suck up any debris might do the trick.
If you have stains on the mattress, this is a good opportunity to give it a deep cleaning. Not all stains or mattresses should be treated the same, though, so be sure to follow these steps on how to clean a mattress before putting it in storage or bundling it up when moving.
Step 2: Use a Cover
Providing adequate covering for your mattress is essential to protecting it. Even if all you can do is wrap your mattress in a tarp, some protection is better than none. Don’t leave your pillowy-soft mattress at the mercy of dirt and bugs.
There are a variety of mattress covers to choose from including mattress storage bags, plastic mattress covers, or vinyl mattress covers. If you’re going to store your mattress for long periods, we’d suggest investing in a heavy-duty cover or a vacuum-sealed storage bag. These are much better at keeping out bugs and dust and can help extend the life of your mattress.
Step 3: Lay It Flat When Storing
You may have heard that standing a mattress on its side is the best way to store a mattress in terms of saving space. That statement holds true, but it’s only appropriate if you’re hauling your mattress away for a short ride in the moving truck – standing a mattress upright on its side is not ideal for storage.
A mattress’s primary function is to lay flat, so try to keep it flat when you store it. Storing your mattress in a flat position will keep the padding in place and prevent any drooping over time.
Step 4: Don’t Stack Items on Top of Your Mattress
Avoid stacking items on your mattress at all costs. Doing so will leave permanent impressions on your mattress, negatively impacting your sleep experience.
We understand. Smaller storage units, like a 5’x10′ or 10’x10′ unit, come with their fair share of challenges, especially when you’re storing large furniture, appliances, and, you guessed it, mattresses.
Mattresses take up a lot of space, and stacking is the best way to maximize that space. In fact, depending on your bed’s size, your mattress could take up a good third of your 10×10 storage space, so you’ll want to be sure that your mattress can fit comfortably in the space (without stacking items on top).
If you’re tight on space or unsure, remember you can stack your mattress on top of level stacks, boxes, or other furnishings you have in the same storage space, but don’t put anything on the mattress itself.
Step 5: Choose a Climatized Location to Protect Your Mattress
As you’re looking for a place to store your mattress, you should opt for an indoor storage space with some degree of climate control. Garages and basements are common storage areas for mattresses, but unless they are temperature and humidity-regulated, they’re not ideal for long-term storage.
Here are some factors to consider when choosing a location:
- Humidity: Humidity and moisture can cause your mattress to accumulate mold or mildew, making it unusable. Even if you store your mattress in a climate-controlled environment, humidity could still sneak up on you. Store your mattress elsewhere if humidity levels are too high. Humidity levels of 50% or less are ideal for storage. If you live in a naturally humid place and your entire home is constantly full of wet air, try using a dehumidifier to lower the humidity.
- Temperature: The other factor you need to consider is temperature. Extreme temperatures can be detrimental to furniture, so the storage shed might not be your best bet. High temperatures can cause wear or elasticity of the material, depending on the type of mattress you have. Meanwhile, freezing temperatures can risk accumulating freeze damage or mildew in your mattress.
- Sunlight: Many cleaning professionals agree that airing out your mattress in the sunlight can kill dust mites and other microorganisms that have taken up residence in the material. However, It’s not a good idea to store your furniture or mattress in direct sunlight. Long-term exposure to UV rays can damage the materials and cause fading.
Taking Your Mattress Out of Storage
When you’re ready to take your mattress out of storage, here are some steps to take to prep it for use again.
Step #1: Air it out
Your mattress has been in storage for months, suffocating under those layers of plastic; it needs a breather. Take the cover off your mattress and let it air out for a while before putting sheets on it. This will get rid of any musty smells and prevent mildew growth.
Step #2: Clean it thoroughly before use
Once your mattress has been aired out, give it another thorough clean before sleeping on it. No matter how careful you are, your mattress will be exposed to odors, dust, and debris in a standard storage facility.
Even if you can’t see or smell any abnormalities right off the bat, it’s best to pull out your vacuum and the upholstery cleaner and give that thing a good scrub.
Where to Store a Mattress
Mattresses need very specific conditions to maximize their lifespan and durability. Because these conditions are so specific, and even more so depending on the type of mattress you own, you won’t be able to store a mattress just anywhere.
Here are some things you should look for when determining the perfect place to store your mattress:
- Access to AC/heater
- Low humidity
- Plenty of room
- Free from dirt and bugs
- Away from direct sunlight
Safe Mattress Storage with Neighbor
If you’re downsizing or just saving that mattress for when your kids move into their own place, you’re going to need a safe place to store it. But your garage is already a bit cramped, and your basement isn’t right for storing a mattress. So, what do you do?
Well, you can rent a traditional storage unit, but those services are a bit expensive.
Thankfully, Neighbor has your back. Neighbor is a peer-to-peer storage platform that helps you find cheaper, closer, and safer storage options in your neighborhood. People who rent with Neighbor save up to 50% on the price of storage, and the service is available in all 50 states! Take a look today to find the best self-storage options available for you.
