Moving is rarely a straightforward or enjoyable experience for most people. If you choose to bring your mattress along, it’s likely because you value the quality sleep it provides or consider it a significant investment worth keeping.

You might find it surprising, but protecting your mattress during a move or throughout a lengthy storage period can mean more than just keeping it dry. Several things can go wrong when transporting or storing your mattress; let’s talk through the issues and the best ways to minimize damage.

During the Move

Whether you’re moving down the road, across the country, or to the other side of the world, relocating typically takes weeks of preparation. Once you’ve arrived at your new home, there’s no doubt that by the end of your first day of unpacking and reorganizing, you’ll be ready to crash into bed. Don’t let a newly damaged or misshapen mattress prevent you from getting a great night of sleep in your new home.

When moving your mattress, we always recommend storing it as flat as possible with little to nothing stacked on top. If you turn your mattress on its side, the structure can be greatly compromised. The materials inside, whether foam, springs, or both, can shift in position and may never return to the correct placement. This can lead to sagging or other unwanted complications.

While in Storage

We understand that moving is not always as simple as getting everything to the correct location. For many, moving may require packing all of your belongings into a storage unit or container for weeks – or even months. This is not a problem for most mattresses kept flat in a climate-controlled environment.

Storing your mattress in an uncontrolled climate can lead to mold developing on the cover or materials breaking down inside. Place your mattress within a dry unit at a moderate temperature; typically, we recommend somewhere within a range of 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit. You may wrap your mattress in plastic if you wish, but we don’t recommend airtight packaging or vacuum-sealing your mattress.

After You’re Settled

When the time arrives to remove your mattress from storage, it’s always best to give it a good cleaning. However, cleaning your mattress is different than cleaning the rest of your bedding. If your mattress has collected dust throughout its stay in storage, it can be lightly vacuumed. Most mattresses are not waterproof and risk damage when wet, so we never recommend using any liquids when cleaning.

If you’re trying to remove a musty storage smell, a fabric spray or disinfectant mist may be your first thought. You’ve worked hard to maintain the structure of your mattress while storing it, so we’d hate for you to ruin or stain it. To remove the musty smell, we recommend letting your mattress breathe. Try to leave the bed unmade for a day or two; the smell will dissipate.

Moving can be a stressful experience, no matter how efficiently you plan. But with the right preparation, you can turn your bed into a sanctuary where you can enjoy moments of peace amidst the chaos.