How to Store a Mattress: A Step-by-Step Guide

Storing a mattress might seem straightforward, but if you don’t do it the right way, you could end up with a damaged, uncomfortable mattress when you’re ready to use it again. Whether you’re moving, remodeling, or just need to keep your mattress safe for a while, follow these tips to store it correctly and keep it in good shape.

Clean Your Mattress Before Storing It

First things first: clean your mattress. Dust, debris, and even small particles can build up over time. These might not seem like a big deal now, but they could cause issues later.

• Vacuum both sides of the mattress, paying extra attention to the seams and edges. Dust can get trapped there and may cause long-term damage.
• Spot treat stains with a gentle cleaner. Use a mild solution to treat any visible stains, and make sure to let it dry completely.

Pro Tip: Consider using a mattress protector once your mattress is clean. It adds an extra layer of defense against dirt, spills, and allergens.

Choose the Right Storage Location

Where you store your mattress matters. Ideally, your mattress should be kept in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area.

• Avoid damp areas like basements, garages, or any places that are prone to moisture. These environments could lead to mold or mildew growth, which would ruin your mattress.
• Temperature control is key. A climate-controlled room, like a bedroom or closet, is your best bet. This keeps your mattress safe from extreme heat or cold, which can damage its materials.

The Mattress Storage Position: Flat vs. Upright

How you store your mattress is just as important as where you store it.

Flat Storage

If you have the space, keep your mattress flat. This is the best position for preventing the springs or foam from becoming misaligned. Storing it flat will maintain the mattress’s structure and shape.

Upright Storage

If space is tight, you can store the mattress upright. However, this only works if the mattress is secure and won’t lean or fall over. You don’t want it to slump, as this can cause it to lose its form.

Avoid storing the mattress on its side. This position can damage the mattress over time, especially if it’s left for a long period.

Protect Your Mattress with a Mattress Bag

You wouldn’t leave your favorite clothes out in the rain, right? Similarly, your mattress needs protection from dust, dirt, and moisture.

Get a mattress bag:

• Make sure the bag is sealed tightly to prevent dust and moisture from sneaking in.
• Choose a bag that allows for ventilation to keep air circulating. This is especially important if the mattress will be stored for a long period.
• A good mattress bag can also protect your mattress from pests, such as insects or rodents.

Elevate Your Mattress Off the Ground

When storing your mattress, make sure it doesn’t sit directly on the floor. Placing it on the floor can expose it to moisture, dust, and pests.

Elevate it with pallets or a platform:

• This will allow airflow beneath the mattress, keeping it dry and helping to avoid mold or mildew growth.
• A pallet, wooden slats, or any flat surface can work as a base, ensuring your mattress stays clean and safe.

Don’t Overload Your Mattress with Heavy Objects

While it might be tempting to stack heavy boxes or furniture on top of your mattress for the sake of saving space, resist the urge.

Placing heavy objects on top can cause permanent indentations or damage the structure of your mattress. Your mattress needs to breathe, and heavy weight can lead to unnecessary wear and tear.

Check on It Periodically

If you plan to store your mattress for months or longer, it’s a good idea to check on it every few months.

• Air it out: Let it breathe for a few hours if it’s been sealed in a bag.
• Inspect for signs of mold or pests: If you spot any, act fast to prevent further damage.

Mattress Expert Shares Best Way To Store A Mattress

Following these simple tips will keep your mattress fresh, comfortable, and ready to use when you need it again. Safe storage = sweet dreams!

Doug– First of all, thank you for sitting down with us to answer a few questions that we commonly get from our customers. As you know sometimes people have to place their beds into storage and they are always concerned about the potential damage that could possibly happen if not stored properly, after all a mattress is a big investment. So Greg does it cause damage to the mattress if it sits in storage and is not used? Do you find problems with the material falling apart or anything like that?

Greg- Yes there can be storage issues. I think in the long term you’ll have to think about humidity.  For safekeeping, you will want to store it in a heavy-duty plastic bag with micro holes so that the mattress can breathe. I think a major concern is the temperature and humidity of the environment it is being stored, but for your question see to it that it lies flat for longer periods of time while in storage. Laying it on it’s side short term won’t do any damage but for the long term there is real potential for issues.

Doug- You mentioned heat, do you find that the foam and upholstery are vulnerable to harsh weather conditions like cold or heat?

Greg- If you’re going to take it from a cold environment to a warmer one let it have time to heat up and acclimate to room temperature.  The foam reacts to your body heat and it’s going to feel like a brick till it gets to room temperature especially in the case of memory foam products. The storage of it not so much.

Doug- You mentioned humidity; are there any problems with storing a mattress in cardboard?

Greg- Cardboard can offer great protection to a mattress while in storage. Many of the mattress we ship for you and our other customers are well protected in heavy-duty plastic bags and then boxed keeping them protected during transport by shipping companies all over the country. My concern with cardboard is only in damp environments. As I said we ship many of our mattresses in boxes, but cardboard is a material that can and does absorb water so dry storage is crucial.

Doug- Greg where do you think is the ideal place is to store a mattress? People seem to keep them in all kinds of different places storage units, garages, climate control storage units, warehouses, attics, and the list goes on. Personally we like the idea of climate-controlled environments how about you?

Greg- Yeah I think you’re right on with that. Dark and damp is a recipe for a mushroom farm (laughing) if you know what I mean? You’re going to have issues with mold and mildew that could ruin your mattress set.

Doug- Greg so here it is the most asked question we get asked.

What is the “best position” to put the mattress in when storing it?

People are very concerned that one storage position favors another. Some people think laying it flat is better, others say on their side, and some say you can place them standing on end. What are your thoughts?

Greg- I’d rather see the mattress lay flat. I mean that’s the way the mattress is built and that’s the way they are meant to be slept on.  Short term you can lay it on its side and this is for the consumer, not the warehouse.  Ideally, I guess if you’re going to have it vertical, you can compress the two together and have something that holds them together like a sandwich. The reason is gravity can cause shifting of the raw materials. (padding) The biggest problem you got in today’s world is the migration factors from heavy Visco foams gel foams or even latex.  They lay atop some of the other foam products and the effects of gravity weight them down causing them to shift out of position.

Doug- Are those layers that you speak of usually quilted up in the surface Greg?

Greg- No a lot of time we are talking about two inches of memory or two inches of gel even two inches of latex and they are just heavier materials than the quilted layering that is on top of it.

Doug- So they can’t shift out of position and buckle just like an old baffled waterbed mattress?

Greg- Yes gravity is going to drag it down. They’re heavier so at some point you’re going to get this pinching spot and that is why laying a mattress down flat is better. You don’t want gravity working against it, that is why I suggested earlier if you must stand the mattress on its end or side you pancake or sandwich the mattress and box spring together tight so the layering is supported. Think of it like bookends for a mattress.  You are fighting migration on the materials from gravity. And another thing pocketed coils are especially vulnerable due to their extreme weight. Pocket coils, in particular, are going to have more of that bowing effect than a standard open-end coil system that uses helical wires that connects and holds them stable. At Campbell, we go out of our way when it comes to pocket coils to glue almost every layer which most people have given up on because the cost prohibits it.  This is the primary reason why we do a lot of the gluing of the layers, coils, and we glue inside the tub.  Pocket coils due to their design become more floppy even making a mattress hard to carry.

One more thing I would like to mention to people that are thinking about storing mattresses. When moving them please be careful. Mattresses can be quite heavy and you can hurt yourself if you do not know how to lift properly or damage the mattress. I suggest hiring a professional mover. They can take care of the proper packaging for preparation of storage and should know how to handle the mattress warding off potential damage. They should be able to place your mattress in proper climate-controlled storage until you are ready to put it back into daily use.

In Conclusion

Proper mattress storage isn’t complicated, but it’s essential for keeping your mattress in top shape. The key steps are:

• Clean it before storing.
• Choose a dry, temperature-controlled storage space.
• Keep it flat or upright (but never on its side).
• Use a protective mattress bag.
• Elevate it off the ground.
• Avoid placing heavy objects on top.
• Check on it every few months to ensure it’s in good condition.

Following these simple tips will keep your mattress fresh, comfortable, and ready to use when you need it again. Safe storage = sweet dreams!