Photo by Filmreal Studio on Unsplash
Before moving and storing your mattress, give it a good clean. Start by vacuuming it — the top, bottom, sides and seams. Then, spot clean it if you have any lingering stains. Most mattresses are not meant to get wet, so if you need to do this, spray the stain remover on a white cloth and blot the stain, then blot with another cloth dampened with plain cold water.
Next, sprinkle baking soda over your entire mattress and let it sit for a few hours. Or better yet, let it sit overnight if possible. This baking soda will absorb any lingering moisture or odors. When you’re ready, vacuum up all of the powder.
Then, flip your mattress and repeat all of these steps to ensure it’s clean. One major note, however, is that your mattress should be 100 percent dry before storing it. Of course, you’ll want to clean it again after you’re done storing it if it’s been a while too.
DO Put Your Mattress in a Mattress Bag (or Two)
Mattress bags can prevent rips or tears while moving. But also, two words: Bed bugs. You can pick up the pests when you move, so keep your mattress protected by putting it in a mattress bag. If you’re moving into an apartment or condo, the landlord may require it even.
You can purchase a specific bed bug-protective mattress bag, but you should also cover it in plastic to prevent any moisture from getting to your bed.
Mattress bags usually cost $6–$10 and you can find them at most hardware stores, home stores or Amazon. They come in various sizes, but you’ll specifically want to make sure you measure the depth of your mattress so it fits in the bag. When in doubt, go with the bigger sized bag.
A good rule of thumb is to cover your mattress with two bags instead of one, just to be safe. And, don’t forget to cover your box spring if you have one.
You’ll also need some good packing tape to seal the mattress bags.
DO Pack Your Mattress Last
Photo by Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels
There are a few perks to packing your mattress last. One, you’ll have a place to sleep before you go (after you clean it and cover it with a mattress bag anyways). And two, you’ll have less things to maneuver it around in your home (aka less things to hit on the way out). Plus, when you pack your mattress in a truck or portable storage container, you don’t want to store anything on top of it.
If you can move your mattress laying flat on top of all of your things, that’s ideal. If not, you can flip the mattress vertically and secure it with straps to the side of the unit. (The Box Portable Storage containers come with attached straps for securing your mattress and other items.)
DO Store Your Mattress Flat
This is very important! If you moved your mattress horizontally, it will probably be fine. But if you’re going to store it for a period of time, make sure to store it flat. Otherwise, you could ruin the integrity of the mattress and its lifespan, and storing it won’t be worth it at all.
If you have a traditional spring mattress, you may be able to get away with storing it on its side, but you’ll need to flip it every 30 days or so. If you have a memory foam mattress, you have to store it flat on a flat surface.
However, box springs can be stored flat or flipped on the side.
DO Get a Portable Dehumidifier For Long-Term Storage
The death of all mattresses is moisture. Moisture can cause mildew or even mold to form. While your mattress should be safe in a Box Portable Storage Unit, especially if you’ve cleaned it and put it in a mattress bag, the units are not temperature controlled. Play it safe and get yourself a portable dehumidifier for about $10 and change it out every two months.
DON’T Store Anything on Top of the Mattress
Do you sit on the same part of your couch most days? If you do, you may notice that your body leaves a little indent in the cushions and needs a good fluffing from time to time. The same thing happens if you store something on top of your mattress.
To keep your mattress in tip-top shape, it’s imperative that you don’t store anything on top of it. Keep it free of boxes big and small.
DO Request a Free Quote From The Box Portable Storage
Do you have a mattress that needs moving or storing? You can request a free quote online or call (970) 800-3807 to reach The Box Portable Storage. One of our local team members will respond within 24 hours and will work to provide you with the best storage option for you.
We look forward to helping you with any and all of your portable storage needs.
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