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If you need to properly store your mattress, first think about the perfect place for it. A small humid basement would be one of the worst options, while an AC storage unit is the best choice. Once you choose the place, you need to prepare your mattress for storing and put it in the proper position, on a flat surface. If storing for a long time, it’s best to let the mattress air out once in several months to prolong its life.
Plan out how to store your mattress carefully. When you opt for the proper care and maintenance you can get a mattress that lasts more than a decade. Proper mattress storage is especially important if you have an expensive, quality mattress. It would be silly to waste thousands of dollars out of sheer carelessness, wouldn’t it? Be mindful of your old mattress because you never know when you’ll need it.
Here’s how to store a mattress in a few points:
- clean both sides of the mattress
- make sure it’s completely dry and clean
- put it in a mattress storage bag
- move it in a covered truck (ideally, lay the mattress in a flat)
- store your mattress in a storage unit (flat position, don’t stack things on top of it to avoid permanent damage)
If you have a box spring, you should clean it as well and put it in a bag. Don’t leave it upright. It would be ideal to store the mattress on a box spring.
Prepping for Mattress Storage
The first step is to remove bedding from the mattress. Inspect the mattress – are there any stains? If so, you’ll have to give them more attention when cleaning. Storing a mattress that’s dirty or smelly isn’t a good idea if your goal is to have a usable mattress once you retrieve it from the storage.
Clean the mattress
It’s important to clean and vacuum both sides of your mattress. Depending on your preferences, you may opt for an upholstery cleaner or a chemical-free option with baking soda.
Upholstery cleaner
Apply the upholstery cleaner to the mattress following the instructions and then let air dry. Alternatively, you can use dish soap foam to clean the surface and then let it dry. Vacuum the mattress after cleaning.
Chemical-free
Spot-clean the mattress fabric with a water and vinegar solution. Let it dry and then sprinkle baking soda all over the mattress to absorb odors. Let sit and after a few hours, vacuum the mattress.
Repeat the process on both sides. It’s best to let the mattress dry outside, and it’s even better if you leave it in the sun. This will kill any remaining dust mites.
If you have difficult-to-remove stains, you need to learn more about cleaning your mattress or simply let professionals do it for you.
Wrap it up
After you’re 100% sure the mattress inside (and outside) is completely dry and you’re ready for storing your mattress, wrap it in a special mattress storage bag. If you wrap and store a mattress that’s not completely dry, the trapped moisture will cause it to smell bad or even develop mold. So, to prevent mold or any other moisture-related problems, only store a mattress that’s clean, dry, and well-wrapped.
Avoid using thick plastic wrap. You need a material that protects the mattress and lets it breathe. This quality allows any moisture to leave so your mattress may still be smelling fresh after you unpack it. You can use packing tape to seal the wrap.
How to Store a Mattress Long-Term
Even if you packed the mattress properly, after an extended period odors or moisture may still get inside the bag. If there’s poor climate control, for example, you live in a humid place with big temperature fluctuations and snowy/rainy periods of time, this is likely to be your problem. Mattress storage bags are great but rarely any material can prevent the “old smell” if stored for years in such conditions.
If you’re planning to store the mattress for over a year, it’s a good idea to open it up and air out once every several months (frequency depends on where you’re storing it because a storage unit with humidity/climate control is definitely not going to be a problem, whereas a damp garage with doors that don’t close properly will require more mattress airing).
Moving Your Mattress
If your storage space is away from where you live, you need to transport the mattress.
Choose the right vehicle
The best option is to use a covered moving truck. A covered vehicle keeps your mattress protected from the elements, and you can use it to move a lot of other household items as well.
The second-best option is using a pick-up truck. You still have to wrap and secure the mattress. If you don’t have any wrapping, you can use old blankets and sheets. For extra protection, you can use both – a wrap/bag, and blankets.
Don’t tie the mattress to the roof of your car
You can tie the mattress to the roof of your car with bungee cords and simply drive off wherever you want. However, don’t expect to find the mattress in perfect condition. This is because you have to fasten it super tight in order to reduce the risk on the road. It also means that your mattress is likely to get bent beyond repair. If you like sleeping on an uneven or damaged mattress, go for it. If not, reconsider a covered moving truck.
Position the mattress correctly in the truck
Ideally, the mattress should be laid flat. But if you really need to save space you can put the mattress on its side. It’s not a problem to keep it on the side for a short period of time. The problem is when you store a mattress upright.
Another thing to have in mind is – you can put the mattress on top of boxes or other objects, as long as it’s flat. You shouldn’t, however, put heavy things on the mattress. Paintings, for example, are flat and their weight is evenly distributed, so they should be fine on your mattress during the moving process. Chairs or boxes with books are definitely a bad idea as heavy and sharp objects can damage the structural integrity of the mattress.
Choose the Right Place to Store Your Mattress
The place you’re storing a mattress should be a dry, spacious, (and ideally) climate-controlled environment. For most people, this environment is their garage or storage unit.
Mattress storage space should be large enough so that you can lay your mattress flat. Leaving it upright will let the gravity do its job and ruin your mattress’s ability to support you. The inner workings will get out of their position and may cause you painful nights after you start using it again. Whether you have coils inside, or a memory foam/latex/hybrid mattress, don’t put the mattress on its side – lay it in its natural positioning.
Put the mattress on wooden pallets or other flat objects to alleviate it from the floor. This also gives the mattress good protection from floods or leaks.
Why basements are a bad idea
You probably shouldn’t store a mattress in a basement because of the fact that they are below the surface of the ground. Moreover, the air circulation and humidity control may not be the best. Basements are typically the place where items start smelling musty.
Also, the storage area may be way too small for the mattress to lay flat and you might be tempted to put heavy items on top of it and damage the mattress.
If you have a modern basement with temperature control and your home isn’t in danger of getting flooded, you can disregard these warnings.
Garage may be OK
The garage can a good solution for storing a mattress if you live in a place with low temperature changes. It’s easy to get the mattress in and out, and it’s not a big deal to air it outside. As long as your garage has a good door that protects well from rain and moisture, and especially if you have temperature/humidity control in it, you’re fine.
If the place where you live has rainy and/or snowy seasons, avoid the garage.
Make sure you’re leaving the mattress flat and away from any moisture. Also think about the problems you may encounter because you’re probably using the same storage space for your car, sporting equipment, other furniture, and the like. Don’t forget to not put any heavy objects on the mattress as they can disfigure it.
A storage unit is the best option
A storage facility is by far the best option for mattress storage.
Some storage units have no temperature regulation, so your mattress (along with other belongings) will be exposed to extreme temperatures. If possible avoid those because your mattress can deteriorate, whether it’s just a 3-month or long-term storage.
A climate-controlled storage unit keeps mattresses and box springs in the best condition. First, it protects them from high heat, floods, humidity, and moisture. Second, the items you’re storing are where you left them, and you don’t have to worry about someone else (or yourself) damaging them when you’re doing something around the house or in a garage.
When You Get the Mattress Out of Storage
If you notice mold or mildew growth in one spot when you open the mattress, inspect the whole mattress carefully. You may be able to buy a special cleaner and fix the situation if the problem is really small, but it’s generally dangerous to be around toxic fumes coming from mold. So if there’s mold over a big part of the mattress, chucking it is the only option.
Removing odor
If there’s no mold, just some mild odor, you can remove it the same way you did before storing it. Sprinkle baking soda on both sides of your mattress and wait for it to soak up the odor. Depending on its intensity, you may have to wait up to a full day before vacuuming it. If possible, let it air outside.
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He's been involved in the mattress industry for almost a decade and is dedicated to using his expertise to help you choose the right mattress.
Robert's main goal is to give you straightforward info on what works - and what doesn't - so you can spend less time stressing about sleep and more time living your life (that's what we're all here for, right?).
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