How to Store a Mattress With Best Care: Storing a Mattress Correctly
It is important to know how to store a mattress with best care when packing it away for a while for future use. Storing a mattress correctly requires knowledge of the mattress type and of the storage conditions. First, however, why should you want to, or have a need to, store a mattress for any length of time?
The answer to that question is simple: mattress storage is a skill!
Here are some factors you must consider before making your mattress storage arrangements;
- a) You may be redecorating your bedroom, in which case you might want to store your mattress until that work is finished. Sure, you could use it on another bed in another room, but most people would just sleep on a mattress already in use in the spare bedroom.
- b) You may be moving house and have a need to store your mattresses until the move is complete. Some people sell their old home before they have decided on a new one – or before they are able to move into their new home. They may have sold their property, but the seller that has accepted their bid may be in a chain and cannot move out for a few weeks.
People in this position, where they have to wait a while until their new house is vacant, often stay with relatives, good friends or even in a hotel or motel. Their mattresses have to be stored properly if they are to remain in good condition. It doesn’t take much for a mattress to deteriorate in damp climate conditions, or even to become contaminated with bugs or molds when not used and open to the air.
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How to Store a Mattress – Keep it Clean
Before putting any mattress into the store, it is important to give it a good clean. A mattress that has seen continual use is likely to contain bacteria and even a few mold spores. In some cases, it might even be infected by bugs or their eggs. It is very important to remove all such contaminants from your mattress prior to storing it. Storing a mattress correctly involves first removing all such contamination.
If you know how to store a mattress with the best care you may consider professional cleaning before putting your mattress into storage. Alternatively, clean it yourself:
- Give both sides the mattress a good clean with a vacuum cleaner to remove any loose debris.
- You can then give it a good clean over using an upholstery fabric cleaner, or a good scrub with a soap or detergent solution.
- Alternatively, if you have a steam cleaner, then that will not only clean the mattress but will also kill off most living organisms such as mites, bugs and fungi while also making it look almost like new.
Cleanliness is very important when storing a mattress – particularly if it is to be stored for a few weeks. A good clean prevents insect and fungal/mold contamination from proliferating during the time it is in storage. So – having cleaned it, how do you store a mattress to keep it at its best?
Transporting a Mattress
If you are storing a mattress in a remote location, meaning a location that is not in your existing home, you will have to transport it. How do you do that with such an awkward item to handle and transport? Never try to tie it to the roof of your car, even if you have a roof rack. You can damage your mattress doing this, and if the wind catches it you can easily lose control of your vehicle. Use a van or pick-up to move your mattress – even if you have to borrow or hire one.
Try to keep the mattress lying flat when transporting it. Standing a mattress on its side can deform any foam layers, and depress springs into an unnatural shape, permanently damaging them. If it must be carried on its side then make sure it is properly supported and tied to the side of the vehicle so it cannot bend over sideways. It’s OK to manually carry a mattress sideways because it will be in that position for only a short period of time.
Mattress Storage Tips
1. Avoid Dampness
It is important that your mattress is stored in such a way that it is not subject to dampness or excessive heat. It is not always possible, or even economical, to use a climate controlled storage facility. It is possible, however, to reduce the humidity in the storage location. An inexpensive dehumidifier will reduce the moisture content in the air and prevent dampness getting into the mattress.
You can take additional simple steps to keep moisture and dust away from it. Wrap the mattress in old sheets or blankets – these will act as a dust proof moisture barrier. Do not use thick plastic covers that can trap any moisture still present in your mattress, and create the perfect breeding ground for bugs and mold.
Covers should be light and porous, and allow the mattress to breathe. Light plastic covers are available for mattress protection, and you can also use stretch wrap or cling film. When wrapping the mattress, try to eliminate any pockets of air. Some stores sell mattress covers – basically large breathable plastic bags. These are ideal and your mattress should be protected in this way during transportation to the ultimate storage location.
2. Store Flat
Once you have transported the mattress to where it is to be stored, you must keep it flat for the reasons explained above. Never store a mattress end up or on its side. By laying it flat, your mattress will be stored in its natural position, so you will not be compromising its internal structure or natural shape.
You can lay your mattress flat out on any surface with a flat top that has no protrusions or sharp edges to damage it. A flat floor, two or three pallets together or any other flat surface will be good. Never store any other goods on top of your mattress. It is not a convenient soft resting place for breakables, and should be left free to allow a good circulation of air over and around it.
3. In Conclusion …
- Never store your mattress in a damp or humid location. Dampness always seems to find a way to get into any wrapping or cover, so remove the possibility by storing it in a climate-controlled storage area or in a cool dry place.
- Do not store a mattress in a garage, your attic or roof space, or in a basement. These are places where dampness tends to be found and where air movement tends to be at its lowest.
- Never lay your mattress down on any protrusions or sharp objects, and never lay anything else on top of your mattress.
- Mattress storage is important. Your mattress is a relatively expensive item, so give it the care it deserves. Don’t think that, because it holds your body weight comfortably, you can use it as a convenient surface for storing other items such as storage boxes. You can’t! You are more likely to damage the mattress than the items you place on it, but which is the more costly to replace?
How to Store a Mattress With Best Care – Summary
By following these tips on how to store a mattress with the best care, you should find that your mattress is in the same condition when you next use it as it was when you originally took it off your bed. All you need do is to make sure that moisture can’t get to it and that it is stored in such a way as to preserve its support and comfort.
It is very easy to store a mattress in such a way that it gets damaged or even made unusable. Follow our tips and you can avoid the cost that often comes with badly stored mattresses. A bit of care when storing a mattress can save more than a bit of money.
It’s like anything else you do in life – do it properly, get it right when it has to be and you can avoid many issues that you will face if you don’t!Using the correct mattress storage method can save you money – and a lot of bother. Knowing how to store a mattress with best care can save you all of this!
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