How Do You Store a Mattress? Step-by-Step Storage Guide

Be it stress due to the upcoming relocation, renovation of the bedroom, or keeping a bed just in case you decide to invite some guests one day, trying to figure out what to do with the bulky piece of furniture becomes a struggle. Bed is not the easiest thing to handle, and the mattress can hardly be called lightweight or durable.

If you store your bed irresponsibly somewhere in the dusty garage or upright in the humid storage, most likely, it will turn into a sagging, moldy lump after several months. So, knowing how to store a mattress correctly is important to avoid damaging both your bed and financial investment and guarantee your comfort when you start using it again.

What should you do with the mattress so that neither its internal springs nor foams get damaged?

In this complete WowBeds guide, we'll tell you everything about preparation, transportation, and proper storage of the mattress to help you take care of it right.

TL;DR Summary: The Quick Storage Guide

If you are in a rush and need to know the basics of how do you store a mattress, strictly follow these golden rules:

• Clean and Dry: Vacuum the bed and guarantee it is 100% dry before covering to prevent toxic mold growth.
• Wrap It Up: Always seal the mattress in a heavy-duty, breathable polyethylene plastic mattress bag and tape the seams shut.
• Store It Flat: Never store a mattress standing upright for long periods. Store it completely flat to prevent the internal coils and foam from sagging.
• Keep It Clear: Never stack heavy boxes or furniture on top of a stored mattress.
• Climate Control: Always use a climate-controlled storage unit to protect against extreme humidity and temperature fluctuations.

1. Why Proper Mattress Storage is Highly Important

An expensive mattress can easily cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. However, within this soft material lies an elaborate combination of memory foams, pocket springs, and cool-gel technologies.

When one thinks about the question of how do you store a mattress, it can be surprising how delicate these interior materials can be. Not proper storage results in three devastating consequences:

• Mold and Mildew: When the mattress is enclosed while still wet, or kept in wet conditions, mold starts eating away at the foams inside the mattress. There is no reversing mattress mold damage once this happens – the item becomes too damaged.
• Damage to Structure: Laying the mattress vertically exposes it to the force of gravity pulling down on the heavy foams and loops inside. This creates permanent indentations, making the mattress structurally unstable.
• Pest Infestation: Bed bugs, dust mites, and other harm like living inside mattresses. It is critical for protecting against these threats that your mattress is correctly wrapped.

2. Step 1: Clean and Deodorize Your Mattress Thoroughly

Never put a filthy and sweaty mattress into storage. It would start giving off a unpleasant smell or growing fungi because of the dead skin cells, bodily oils, and moisture retained inside it.

The following tips will ensure that your bed will be perfectly ready for storing:

• Take Off All Coverings: Strip the mattress from all covers, including sheets, blankets, mattress covers, and similar bedding accessories. Then wash all of these items separately.
• Use a Vacuum Cleaner: With the help of the upholstery cleaning attachment attached to your vacuum cleaner, thoroughly vacuum the top, underside, and all four sides of the mattress. Don't forget to give extra attention to areas like the seams and corners.
• Clean Spots on the Mattress: If you see yellowish sweat spots or other kinds of spills, apply a light upholstery cleaner or create a solution by mixing dish soap with cold water and gently rubbing the spots with this solution.
• Sprinkle Baking Soda: Put a thick and even layer of baking soda on the mattress and leave it like this for at least an hour. This way, all deep smells and moisture will be absorbed, and then vacuumed up.
• Air It Out: This is the most important thing. Leave the mattress out in a well-ventilated place with air blowing across it for some time. You have to make sure that it is 100% dry before you cover it.

3. Step 2: Wrap and Seal the Mattress Correctly

After cleaning your mattress and drying it thoroughly, it is now time to make sure that it is enclosed in a protective shield.

What will you need?
You must avoid using any ordinary garbage bag or even old bed sheets. For a mattress, you will require a special polyethylene mattress protection bag. This bag is made of strong plastic that can protect your mattress from water, dirt, and pests but can still allow some air flow.

Steps to Seal the Mattress:

• Put the mattress inside the bag. It is recommended to have two people helping out during this stage to guarantee that you don't end up tearing the plastic.
• Fold the excess plastic on the open side.
• Seal the open side with quality packaging tape (duct tape).
• Make sure that there are no rips or holes in the bag and tape them to be sure that your mattress is completely sealed.

4. Step 3: Transporting Your Mattress Safely

It is during this move that you will make the mistake of harming your bed.

• Do not tie it on the roof: It is extremely risky to place the mattress on the roof of your car. The wind pressure will bend your mattress permanently, while rains will soak it through.
• Transport it in a covered truck: Your mattress should always be transported in a covered truck or a van.
• Upright, but not for storage: When transporting the mattress through narrow spaces or when putting it in the vehicle, you are welcome to carry the mattress horizontally. However, once you reach your destination, the mattress should be placed flat.

5. Step 4: The Flat vs. Upright Storage Debate

The number one question that always comes up when people talk about storing your mattress revolves around its positioning. Should a mattress be stored flat or upright?

The clear answer is: Your mattress should definitely be stored flat.

Now, let me tell you precisely why positioning is so important.

Tips for storing a flat mattress:
The mattress should never be laid directly on the floor because concrete floors tend to get moisture in them. This moisture can then be transferred to the plastic bag that holds the mattress. You should, therefore, put a thick cover sheet under the mattress before storing it, or use wooden pallets to ensure good ventilation under the mattress.

Don't stack anything on it: There is nothing wrong with using the flat mattress as a table for the numerous boxes you need to move during packing. Avoid layering things on top of it.

6. Step 5: Choose the Right Storage Environment

Where you put the mattress to store is equally as crucial as wrapping it properly.

A humid basement, a dusty outdoor shed, or an un-insulated garage are the worst possible environments to store your bed. Due to fluctuations in temperature, the air in the mattress plastic bag will get saturated with moisture. As soon as moisture enter the mattress bag, toxic mold will easily ruin your mattress.

It is important that you pick a climate-controlled storage facility. Such facilities maintain both consistent temperature and humidity levels all year round. Although renting a climate-controlled facility is a little bit expensive, it is important to guarantee that your mattress does not rot away.

7. Step 6: How to Unpack and Revive Your Mattress

After you finally take your mattress out of storage, it requires some attention before it is ready for use.

• Examine the Bag: Look at the exterior surface of the plastic bag and check if there are any moisture or insect damages or any kind of mold.
• Unpack and Let It Breathe: Remove the mattress from the bag in a room that has proper ventilation. The mattress might have a stuffy smell because of its long stay in a plastic bag. Open all the windows and let it breathe for about 24 hours.
• Do a Final Vacuum: Once you have removed the mattress from the bag, give it one last vacuum cleaning.
• Check for Sagging: Sit or lie down on the mattress. Check if the mattress feels firm and even.

8. Knowing When to Store vs. When to Replace

However, before you commit to such a tedious task as cleaning, moving and paying for monthly storage expenses, you have to ask yourself a question – is there anything really valuable about your old bed?

If your mattress is older than seven years, shows significant sagging or makes you suffer from lower back pain, spending money on its storage would be nothing but pure waste of cash. It would be better to get clear of a dead mattress and buy an entirely new one whenever you are ready to do so.

In case you want a mattress which is incredibly versatile and can fit any room of a new house or even your guest bedroom, consider buying a Wowbeds Duo Mattress. This model includes a wonderful feature called flipping. It gives you the option of having a medium-firm or medium-plush side depending on your preferences. This mattress takes away the whole stress associated with making the right choice regarding mattress firmness.

Do you want to know how to choose a bed properly? Check our deep analysis – A Complete Guide to Buying the Perfect Mattress.

9. Storing vs. Upgrading Your Mattress with Wowbeds

How to store a mattress can be done without too much difficulty, as long as you prepare yourself with the appropriate packaging materials and some empty space to lie it down flat.

It may turn out that your present bed is great and is ready to be stored until a future visit from guests, but on the other hand, your old bed may just be in bad condition, making you have back pains, and it is not even worthy the effort of moving and storing it for a fee every month.

However, if you decide to move forward into your future home and not bring with you all the old furniture, you should consider the Wowbeds Duo Mattress, which comes with the option of having both a softer and harder side depending on your needs, and therefore changing what you like without the need of a trip to the furniture shop. How about living a life without tiredness when waking up from bed? Check out the highest quality sleeping solutions at Wowbeds and make sure you choose the most convenient!

10. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How do you store a mattress in storage?
   Clean the mattress, remove moisture with baking soda, seal it in a thick plastic bag, and store it flat in a dry, controlled environment.

2. Is it better to store a mattress flat or on its side?
   It is best to store a mattress flat because if it is kept standing for a long time, gravity can damage its shape and make it unusable.

3. What should I wrap a mattress in for storage?
   You should cover a mattress with a strong, breathable plastic storage bag to protect it from dirt, pests, and moisture. Weak materials like garbage bags or sheets are not good enough.

4. Is a mattress better stored upright or under the bed?
   It's better to store a mattress flat under a bed than upright, because it keeps its shape and protects the inside. Make sure the floor is clean, dry, and safe before placing it.