Written by Katie Harris, Content Writer
Have you ever had a beloved mattress? When you find the perfect mattress, you want it to last a long time—through moves, remodels, and all of life’s major transitions.
Whether you’re moving to a new place or turning a bedroom into a craft room, you want to make sure that the investment you made in your favorite mattress doesn’t go to waste.
With these tips below, we discuss how to store your mattress and box springs properly so you will get the most out of your bed for years to come.
How to Store a Mattress
- Clean: Before storing your mattress, make sure it goes in as clean as possible. Strip away all of your sheets and vacuum both sides of the mattress. To ensure that your mattress doesn’t carry any strange odors with it into storage, you should also sprinkle baking soda over the surface. Give it at least an hour to absorb the smells, then vacuum off the excess baking soda. You might also spray the mattress with a deodorizer or fabric spray, but make sure that the bed is dry and aired out before you put it away.
Learn More: How to Properly Clean Your Mattress
- Protect: Once your mattress is thoroughly cleaned and well-dried, place it in a storage bag or wrap it in plastic. A waterproof storage bag provides a literal barrier against any elements that could damage it. If you cannot guarantee that your mattress is completely dried out before placing it in the storage bag, you may want to opt for a lighter, breathable covering. Using a protective and breathable wrap will prevent your mattress from growing mold or bacteria while also ensuring it doesn’t gather dust or dirt while in storage.
- Transport: If you choose to store your mattress somewhere other than your home, you’ll need to know how to transport your mattress. You may be considering driving your mattress to the storage unit on your own, either by strapping it to the top of your vehicle or maneuvering it into the open bed of a pickup truck. We don’t recommend either since it might damage the mattress. Rather, the best mode of transportation is a covered moving truck, which has the space to hold your mattress without warping its interior and will protect it from weather damage.
- Store: Usually, it’s easiest to maneuver a mattress by turning it on its side. However, if you leave your mattress on its side long-term, the weight of the internal materials of the bed could begin to break down, and the uneven weight distribution may cause lumpiness. Instead, store it on a flat surface and avoid stacking any storage boxes or other personal items on top of it since this could cause sagging. Bottom line, if you want your mattress to come out of storage lump-free, lay it flat and don’t stack anything on top of it.
Mattress Storage by Mattress Type
Memory foam mattress – Because memory foam is more pliable than other mattress types, DO ensure that your memory foam mattress is on a flat surface and nothing is on top of it. DON’T use any spray cleaners or deodorizers when cleaning a memory foam mattress, as it is more likely to retain moisture than other mattresses.
Latex mattress – The materials in a latex mattress are heavier, so storing it in the wrong position could hasten sagging or deformation. DO store your bed on a flat, supportive foundation, and DON’T keep your mattress on its side.
Innerspring mattress – DO keep your innerspring mattress free of clutter and check on it often, taking time to rotate it and alternate the pressure. DON’T bend or warp the bed during transportation. Because of their internal structure, innerspring mattresses are not as workable as other types and require extra care when you maneuver them.
Hybrid mattress – A hybrid mattress is prone to all of the issues of all-foam and innerspring mattresses. DO rotate and flip your hybrid mattress every three months to avoid pressure points from the internal coils. DON’T store anything on top of your hybrid or use liquid cleaners on the memory foam material.
Best Place to Store a Mattress
Basement: Basements generally have higher humidity than the rest of your home, and with high moisture comes the opportunity for mold and mildew to take up residence on and in your bed. If you decide to keep it in the basement, use a dehumidifier and ventilate the room well.
Garage: A garage can be a convenient place to store a mattress. However, this may leave it more vulnerable to stray bugs and animals making themselves at home on your bed. Also, depending on its size, your stored mattress may take up a lot of room in your garage, which could make it difficult to get your car in there.
Storage Unit: Placing your mattress in a storage unit can free up space at your house and keep out critters that can sneak into high-traffic garages. If you have a climate-controlled unit, you won’t have to worry about weather-related issues or humidity. However, storage units come at a cost, and your mattress won’t be as conveniently accessed as it would be in your basement or garage.
Why Climate Control Matters When Storing Your Mattress
The best choice is to keep your mattress in a climate-controlled unit, which will protect it from temperature fluctuations and humidity issues. Climate control units will also keep it safe from flooding, which could happen with basements and garages. When your mattress is kept safe from humidity and water, mold will be less likely to grow. Mold can cause health problems such as allergic reactions and asthma attacks.1
Maintaining a dry, consistent temperature for your mattress will increase its longevity and ensure that it comes out of storage in the same condition as it went in.
Mattress Storage FAQs
Is it okay to store a mattress on its side?
If room allows, it is best to store your mattress flat. Storing it on its side can cause the mattress’s contents and materials to shift, possibly leading to sagging and other structural issues. If you must store your mattress on its side, rotate it every couple of months to help keep it intact and its construction uncompromised.
Is it okay to cover a mattress with plastic?
Definitely! Specially designed “mattress bags” are an excellent way to keep your mattress protected from bugs, animals, dust, and mildew. Unlike plastic sheets or tarps, these thin plastic bags are breathable, preventing moisture from getting trapped and causing mildew. If you don’t have a mattress bag, you can wrap your bed in plastic and seal it tightly with strong tape.
You can find affordable mattress bags at home improvement stores such as Lowe’s and retail stores like Target. You can also have them delivered to your door via Amazon.
Final Word of Advice
Proper mattress transportation and storage can extend the life of your favorite mattress for many years. If you take the time and care to prepare your mattress for storage, store it in the best position and conditions, and then rotate it regularly while in storage, you will be able to protect your investment.
Following these simple steps should help maintain your mattress longer and keep it feeling and smelling fresh. Then, when you bring your bed out of storage, you should be able to continue using it for years to come.
Looking for a new bed? Explore our tested picks for the best mattresses of 2024.
The Advisor Says
Although it is best to lay your mattress flat when you store it, we understand that space may be an issue. If you must store it on its side, rotate your mattress every few months to keep it structurally sound.
Katie Harris
Content Writer
About Author
Katie writes content at Sleep Advisor, where she has finally found people who appreciate her true passion for sleep. Based in Austin, Texas, she graduated with a degree in Communications and enjoys combining creativity with research to improve the world’s sleep, starting with her sleepwalking husband.
References:
- “Can mold cause health problems?”. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Last modified October 19, 2023.