Find out how to store a mattress household item so that it stays in great condition.

Mattresses are not cheap items to buy even at the lowest of prices and realistically, most people can’t afford to be replacing them all the time. As with most items for the home, they have to be cared for properly otherwise they can deteriorate and become damaged, particularly when they are stored outside of the home. Incorrect storage can lead to the mattress becoming:

 

• Misshapen
• Vulnerable to pest damage
• Ripped or otherwise damaged
• Damp or mouldy
• Stained

 

To avoid the above issues, if you have chosen to store your mattress in budget self storage, it makes sense to take good care of it and put the effort into storing it well.

Luckily, there are some easy steps you can take to ensure your mattress is stored well, and so that it comes out of storage in excellent condition. Here’s how to store a mattress in 5 simple steps:

1.  Choose The Right Storage Environment

Before preparing your mattress for storage, it is important to arrange the right environment to store it in. Garages can be good for mattress storage to some degree, but can be prone to pest infestations. Mice just love a snuggly mattress to make a home in! Further issues with garages and sheds are: environmental damage like flooding, temperature extremes, odour transferring, damp and direct light. Even with lots of wrapping and protection a mattress is still very much open to the elements in a garage or similar storage room.

Instead of a garage or shed, the ideal location to store a mattress is an affordable self storage unit where there is protection from direct light, flooding, pests, temperature fluctuations and dampness. This may mean selecting an indoor facility only, as outdoor storage shipping containers could offer similar issues to those we mentioned above when talking about garages. Indoor facilities are dry and tend to have climate control and light control, as well as excellent security against pests. Even better, you can use that space for additional bulky and difficult to store items such as Christmas decorations, or camping gear.

2.  Clean Your Mattress

Now you have a good storage environment to place your mattress in, you can get it cleaned up and ready to store. The first step is giving it a good hoover to remove all the dust and debris from it. It is worth borrowing a friend’s vacuum if yours does not have very good suction, as you’ll want to get the dust and debris from deep inside the mattress if you can. As long as the bottom of the vacuum is clean you can use the base suction just like you’re vacuuming the floor – this will give you the best coverage and suction performance overall.

Once the vacuuming is done you can then clean the mattress as per the manufacturer’s instructions, taking special care with materials like wool or silk.

Once you have cleaned it, the most important thing is to ensure it is absolutely dry after cleaning. If it is not 100% dry you could find that it begins to stain and rot, as mould and mildew set in.

3.  Protect The Mattress

Now the mattress is completely dry you can add some protection to it so that it has the best chance of remaining in great condition both in transit, and inside your storage facility. A mattress storage bag is ideal for the job, but they can be expensive. They are better than plastic wrap because they are made for this use, and because plastic wrap keeps moisture in, which could then lead to mould and damp. If you are sure your mattress is bone dry, plastic wrapping could be a lower cost option for protecting it.

Alternatively, some people simply wrap the mattress in large clean blankets and sheets. If you do this it is so important to ensure those sheets and blankets are clean and dry, otherwise you could end up with the very material you’re using to protect the mattress causing it to be stained and to eventually rot.

4.  Transport The Mattress To Your Unit

Now that your mattress is clean and protected you can transport it to your affordable self storage unit. Do use a professional moving company to do this, or ensure you are lifting properly without hurting yourself in the process. You may want to add some extra protection to the mattress (in addition to the above) to protect it from getting dirty or wet on its journey (especially if it will be attached to the top of a vehicle). Ideally, the mattress will not be bent or rolled to be relocated, as this could damage it.

5.   Set The Mattress Up For Long Term Storage

Now the mattress is located for long-term storage it is important to position it properly so that it doesn’t become misshapen or otherwise damaged. You could place the mattress flat, but most people can’t afford to use the floor space to do this, especially as you can’t store anything on top of it as storing items on top of the mattress leads to cushion denting, crushing and spring damage, so it is never a good idea.

Instead, place it against the wall safely, ideally with some plastic or cardboard on the floor underneath. Placing it lengthways on its side is better than on its end, which can cause bending and slumping, which can lead to issues with misshaping over time. Once the mattress is in place it is important to avoid storing anything on top of it. You can, however, gently bolster it in with other furniture against the sides, as long as they are not moving it out of place, or squashing against it too much.

Now, Your Mattress Will Be In Great Shape When You Remove It From Self Storage

Now your mattress is prepared well for long-term storage. Just remember to occasionally air it out and check it is free from pest or mould damage every now and again so that any issues can be quickly dealt with and prevented from causing further damage.

With all of this effort, you’re sure to have a mattress in great condition when the time comes to take it home again.