Understanding the rules of mattress storage is essential to ensure your mattress leads a long and fulfilled life. Finding the perfect cushiony foundation to sleep on can be challenging and costly, but once you’ve landed the perfect mattress, it will last for many years with the correct care. This means that you’ll want to do everything you can to protect your investment, even if you need to store it for a little while.
You could be upgrading your bed frame, moving house or simply clearing out a little space. Whatever the circumstance, we've got some advice on how to store a mattress safely so it's good as new when you do decide to dig it out again.
But the question is, how to store a mattress?
Follow our below advice on how to store a mattress or memory foam mattress.
Steps to Take when Storing a Mattress
Clean the Mattress Thoroughly
An upholstery cleaner and a rigorous vacuum will give your mattress a thorough pre-storage clean.
Disassemble the Bed Frame
Take the bed frame and bed apart before moving or placing it in storage. A covered moving truck is essential during transit to ensure your bed frame and headboard are protected from dust and the elements.
Top tip: keep all screws/nuts/bolts in a plastic bag taped to the frame or headboard for safekeeping.
Use a Mattress Cover
Protect your mattress with a good-quality cover. There are a variety of protectors available including vinyl covers, mattress storage bags, or wrapping your mattress in plastic. Carefully transport your mattress and check for holes in the mattress bag once it has arrived at its storage destination.
Top tip: a breathable plastic cover is the best choice to ensure your mattress remains fresh and aerated and safe from any excess moisture or dampness.
Lay it Flat
Avoid any advice which tells you to store a mattress on its side; keep your mattress flat at all times - whether sleeping or storing.
Mattresses need to be stored flat because eventually the coils and inner-workings of a side-stored mattress will settle out of their proper position, destroying the cushion. A flat mattress will keep the padding in place, retain its shape and prevent any drooping; this is particularly important for our memory foam mattresses.
Top tip: mattresses need to lay flat in storage, when storing for more than 12 hours.
Avoid Stacking Items on Top
Mattresses are bulky and space-consuming, but even if you’re tight on space, you should refrain from stacking items on top of your mattress no matter what the circumstance. You wouldn’t want your mattress to sag and become misshapen during its time in storage.
Climate-Controlled Storage
Extreme temperatures can be detrimental to furniture so it’s essential to choose a low-humidity and temperature-controlled area indoors. This will ensure your mattress doesn’t become subject to damp conditions and the development of mould (which will cause serious damage to your mattress!)
Air it Out & Freshen it Up
Once your mattress has been in a storage facility or area for a long period of time, it will need aerating. Remove the cover of your mattress and let the air get to it for a couple of days before putting bed sheets on. This will remove any musty smells and prevent mildew growth.
Top tip: sprinkle baking soda on both sides allowing the salt to absorb any odours and then remove with a vacuum cleaner.
Where to Store a Mattress
Now you understand how to safely store a mattress, the next decision - where to keep your stored mattress?
As mentioned above, mattresses need very specific set of conditions to thrive when they are stored for any length of time: thoroughly cleaned, wrapped securely and laying flat in a climate-controlled space. The ideal area should keep a perfect level of humidity and temperature. This combination will ensure that all exterior components such as vermin, mould and dust will be unable to to develop or build up, keeping your mattress dry and clean.
But the question is, how do you find a temperature-regulated space in your home to store a mattress?
We’ve covered the criteria for an ideal environment to store a mattress:
- Inside (not in a basement, garage or loft as these tend to be the dampest areas)
- A large area with plenty of room for ventilation
- Low-humidity area
- Free from dirt and vermin
- Away from direct sunlight
Ensure your mattress is of the highest-quality pre and post-storage; explore our complete range of memory foam mattresses and memory foam mattress toppers.