How to Properly Store a Mattress

You might not think about it often, but your mattress is one of your most prized possessions. After all, it provides you with a warm, comfy place where you can cozy up while reading a good book, watching your favorite movie, taking a nap, or even recovering from a bug. It leaves you feeling well-rested after delivering a good night’s sleep. Because of this, it’s only fair to treat your mattress properly while placing it in storage. 

But how exactly do you store your mattress? Well, it’s actually easier than you might think, but there are some simple steps you will want to know. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the best ways to store your mattress in a storage unit. Whether you’re storing your mattress before a big move across town or during your fancy home renovation, follow these easy tips on how to store a mattress to keep yours in prime condition. 

Clean Your Mattress Well

When it comes to storing a mattress, you won’t want to put it away without cleaning it first. Your mattress might not look dirty, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s clean. Even if you regularly wash your sheets, dust and sweat can get trapped in the mattress—and a stained or soiled mattress is a recipe for growing mildew and mold when it’s in storage.

To clean your mattress, sprinkle some baking soda on both sides of it and let it sit for a bit. This will help absorb any odors and remove stains. Next, run a handheld vacuum over the mattress, removing the baking soda, along with any dust, pet hair, and other debris. Leave your mattress to air out before moving on to the next step. 

Use a Plastic Mattress Cover

Now that you have a clean mattress, the next step is to get a mattress cover for storage. If you don’t have a mattress cover on hand, you can just as easily wrap it in some light plastic using tape. However, you’ll want to avoid thick plastic, as it can actually trap water droplets and potentially ruin your mattress.

Storing your mattress in plastic will help it from collecting any dirt and dust particles that would otherwise settle into your mattress. This plastic layer also doubles as weatherproofing if you’re moving during a rainy or snowy day. 

Ask for a Helping Hand

We know you’re strong, but mattresses can be heavy and unwieldy, especially if you’re transporting them down a flight of stairs. Two sets of hands are better than one when it comes to moving and storing your mattress, so enlist a friend or family member to help. 

Clear the pathway of any items or obstacles, and then have your partner take one end of the mattress while you take the other. Be sure to lift with your legs and communicate with one another to prevent injuring yourself along the way. 

If you don’t have anyone to help, look into hiring professional movers, particularly if you’re looking to transport other heavy items, too. 

Move Your Mattress in a Covered Vehicle

You might be tempted to simply strap your mattress on the roof of your vehicle and get rolling to your storage unit, but not so fast. Transporting a mattress on the roof of your car can lead to a cracked windshield, among other problems—so consider hiring a moving truck. 

Placing your mattress in the back of a moving truck is by far the best way to transport it to your storage unit for a number of reasons. For one, you won’t put your car at risk or create an unsafe driving environment in the process. Also, if Mother Nature decides to throw an unexpected rain, hail, or snowstorm your way, your mattress will be nice and dry in a covered moving truck. 

Research and Contact Your Storage Facility in Advance

The last thing you’ll want to do is spend all that time packing and preparing your mattress only to arrive at a storage facility to find out they don’t have the storage unit of your choice available. Do your research head of time to ensure you’re renting from a reputable facility like Stor-It. Doing so will also allow you to see what units are available, which amenities the units offer, and whether the location is a good fit for you and your needs.

With that said, if you rent from a Stor-It location, it’s always possible to rent day-of as long as your desired unit is available at that time. Our storage managers are always happy to answer your questions and help you find the ideal storage solution. 

Store Your Mattress In a Climate-Controlled Unit

The best way to store your mattress is to go with a climate-controlled unit. These storage units maintain a specific temperature range, ensuring that it does not get too hot or too cold in your unit. Without climate control, your unit may be subject to extreme temperatures and weather conditions that could potentially affect your mattress and any other items in your unit. 

Keep Your Mattress Flat

So, you’ve rented your climate-controlled unit. Now what? Once you arrive at your storage unit, you’ll want to make enough room so that you can store your mattress flat on the ground. Don’t lay it on its side or upright, as this can ruin the cushions and material inside and destroy the shape of your mattress. 

Before storing your mattress on the floor of your unit, clear a space for it and cover that area with a tarp or sheet.

Don’t Stack Anything on Your Mattress

The next tip in our guide on how to store a mattress in a storage unit is to avoid placing anything on top of your mattress. Yes, it’s tempting to take advantage of all that vacant space, but doing so could negatively affect your mattress. 

Placing items on your mattress for extended periods of time—especially if they’re heavy—could put a strain on certain areas, causing your mattress to sink or cave in. If you want to maintain the integrity and condition of your mattress, don’t put anything on top of it. 

Follow the Same Steps for Your Box Spring 

If you’re storing your box spring along with your mattress, you can follow the same tips above. You’ll want to clean it and wrap it in plastic to keep out any dust and grime. Transport it in the same way and make room for it on the floor of your unit as well. Doing so will keep your box spring in tip-top shape, so it’s good as new when you go to use it again. 

Store Your Mattress with Stor-It

If you’re looking for mattress storage in Idaho, Stor-It is your go-to self-storage provider. We offer more than 15 facilities across the state in locations like Boise, McCall, Nampa, and beyond. We provide storage units both big and small to accommodate all your storage needs. Not sure what size storage unit to rent? Check out our handy unit sizing guide to find out more. Contact us today!