If your favorite soft down pillow is what wishes you sweet dreams before you doze off into Dreamland, it’s your loyal mattress that will make sure you have a good night’s rest, wake up refreshed in the morning, and ready to take an entire herd of bulls by the horns.
And indeed, it’s the mattress alone that can either make or break a bed. Remember that whenever a person says that their bed is as comfortable as it can be, they don’t actually mean the headboard or the bed frame, do they? They must be talking about their mattress.
When you’re getting ready to move to a new home, you wouldn’t want to leave behind your high-quality mattress, would you? Mattresses are expensive so if yours is in great/good condition, then you should be using it for years to come so there’s absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t take it with you to the new place.
Keep in mind that the key to making sure your mattress survives the house move perfectly intact is to know how to protect it in the best possible way.
Read on to learn the best way to pack a mattress for moving.
What to do with your mattress when moving
High-quality mattresses are not only valuable but they are also very expensive. And this is exactly why you want to make sure your pricey investment is utterly protected when it’s time to move house once more.
The very first task ahead of you is to decide the fate of your favorite mattress. Basically, you have up to 5 options to choose from:
- Option 1. Move your mattress to your new home. If the mattress is brand new, relatively new, or if it’s in very good condition, then there’s absolutely no reason why you should part with it when moving to your new residence.
- Option 2. Place your mattress in storage. There are a number of reasons why you may decide to place your mattress in a storage unit for a specific period of time. Read below to learn the best way to pack your mattress for storage.
- Option 3. Sell your mattress. Mattresses are special pieces of furniture and usually have a much higher sentimental value than, say, a chest of drawers. It would be an unusual decision if you chose to sell it, but if you must do it, then you must do it.
- Option 4. Give your mattress away. A close friend or a family member may be in dire need of a mattress in good condition, and besides, you will save money from its transportation.
- Option 5. Throw away your mattress. If your favorite mattress has served you well for many years but is now in a really bad state, then the logical option is to just dispose of it properly and buy a new one when you reach your destination.
See also: Is it worth moving a mattress to another home?
What you should know before packing and moving your mattress
There are a few things you need to know before you begin to pack up your bed mattress for moving:
- Don’t part with your mattress easily. You just have to pack up and take your mattress with you… unless you have a very good reason not to do it. A good bed mattress is an investment in your comfort and well-being, so you should never part with that particular bed accessory too easily. As a rule of thumb, mattresses should be inspected for any signs of damage every 6 years, so if yours is less than 6 years old and you don’t have any problems with it (not worn-out, torn, or caved-in areas), then you should just move it with you.
- You will need a mattress cover. One thing is clear – you’re going to need a specialized mattress cover to provide the best possible protection for your mattress. Purchase a mattress storage bag from a local moving company, a home improvement store, or a furniture store. Such storage bags come in different types and sizes, so be sure to select one made of thick polyethylene that will fit your mattress perfectly. Once inside such a durable plastic protector, your mattress will be well protected against dirt, dust, moisture, and pests.
- Professional movers will do it best. Are you packing up your things by yourself because you’re moving on a budget? That’s fine. Nevertheless, it’s important to keep in mind that professional packers and movers have the necessary experience and know-how that will let them protect your mattress perfectly and move the bed to the new address, if necessary. After all, moving big and heavy furniture pieces from one home to another is a job that’s best handled by the pros.
How to pack a mattress for moving
The best way to protect a mattress when moving is to make sure it is packed really well for safe transportation. Follow the steps below to pack your mattress for a move:
- Step 1. Remove the bedding from your mattress – any sheets, blankets, pillows, comforters, etc. Pack those bedding items separately.
- Step 2. Take out the mattress – make sure you do it with a helper because most mattresses are too bulky to be handled safely by one person. Queen-size mattresses and king-size mattresses will be too heavy so you don’t want to take any unnecessary risks. If your mattress has handles, then use them to remove it from the bed frame.
- Step 3. Inspect your mattress carefully one more time. Be especially vigilant for any signs of infestations. Then, make sure it is 100% dry. Just to be on the safe side, it’s a good idea to place the mattress in a spot with direct sunlight for a few hours.
- Step 4. Insert the mattress gently into the mattress bag. Then, tape the plastic protector’s ends shut with quality tape and make sure no parts of the mattress remain unprotected. If your mattress protector comes with a zip, use it to secure the large bed accessory inside.
- Step 5. Be careful when taking your mattress out of your home, especially while loading it into the moving truck. Mattresses are bulky and usually heavy, so you should take extra caution when navigating it through tight corridors, sharp corners, downstairs, or up the loading ramp of the truck.
- Step 6. Remember that your mattress should be one of the first things to be loaded into the moving truck. Regardless of how exactly you position it inside the storage space /upright, sideways, or flat/, make sure it is well secured against any movements during transit. Do not place any other items on top of it.
- Step 7. Keep in mind that packing up and moving a large and heavy mattress is not a task for one person. Ask your friends or neighbors if anyone is willing to give you a hand. In case you cannot find a reliable helper, do the sensible thing and hire professional movers to help you out.
How to store a mattress in a storage unit
Follow the mattress packing steps above /Steps 1 through 4/ to get your mattress ready to be placed in a storage unit.
- Step 5. Check in advance whether the self-storage unit you have rented is completely dry, has sufficient air circulation, and has zero signs of infestations of any kind. Your best bet is to opt for a climate-controlled storage unit to provide the best protection for your mattress and the rest of your prized possessions.
- Step 6. Remember that the way you position your mattress in the storage space is fundamental for its well-being. You should never place your already protected mattress on its ends or sides as they are not sturdy enough to withstand the considerable weight and structural damage would soon become visible. Instead, always store your mattress flat. It’s best not to other items on your valuable mattress, but if you absolutely must do it, be sure those items are relatively lightweight and distributed evenly.
- Step 7. Be mindful that no matter how well you have protected your mattress before placing it in storage and no matter how good the self-storage service is, mattresses are not meant to be kept in storage for years to come. Long-term storage tends to cause structural damage to the fabric and the stuffing of mattresses, so reassess your mattress storage situation on a regular basis and do your best to put your prized mattress to good use before it’s too late.
Read also: How to move a mattress by yourself
Assess your specific house-moving situation to determine whether moving large and heavy furniture pieces, such as your bed and mattress, is worth the trouble. When you’re moving out of state, it’s best to trust one of the best state-to-state movers near you. Interstate moving companies have the experience, the moving equipment, and the resources to transport safely your furniture items to the new home.
It’s good to know that mattresses should be stored flat and shouldn’t have other objects placed on top of them. My sister wants to find a self-storage unit so she can save some things for her son when he moves out, including a nice full-sized mattress. I’ll share these tips so she can take the proper steps to ensure the mattress will still be in good shape in a few years.
I think moving soft goods, towels, bedding, cushions, etc. might take less space if packing in big plastic bags. That way they can be stuffed into spaces on the moving truck.
What do you think? or is that not a good thing to do for some reason?