Keeping all your belongings and furniture safe when moving house is important. When it comes to your bed, not only do you need to think about how to move your bedframe, but also your mattress.
In this step-by-step guide, we will explain how to transport a mattress successfully and ways you can protect the mattress in storage, so it stays clean and hygienic.
To help reduce the stress you may encounter when moving house, have a look at our moving house storage plans. They can be tailored around your needs and keep your personal items safe while you are transitioning between homes.
1. Get someone to help you
Moving a mattress is not the sort of thing you should be doing on your own, because they’re often large and heavy. With another set of eyes, you are less likely to injure yourself or cause an accident to others.
2. Measure your mattress
Measuring your mattress lets you know the space you have available and whether you can fit it into your car, or if you will need a larger vehicle to transport it. Taking mattress measurements will also help you find out what size mattress protector you’ll need (more on that later).
3. Clear the space
When you are moving a mattress, your visibility will be heavily obstructed. To avoid any issues, clear away anything which may get in your way while transporting your mattress. Also, make a note of any curbs outside which could trip you up too.
Before starting, it is also advisable to prop open all the doors you will be going through; this way you will have a straight route ready when you move your mattress.
4. Prepare your vehicle for moving
As with the location you are moving the mattress from, make sure the vehicle you are using has all the doors open, the vehicle interior has no obstructions, and the seats are moved forwards for added space.
A moving vehicle doesn’t just need to be a car. While you can transport your mattress safely inside or on top of a car, vans can be a more suitable option because of their additional space.
5. Cover your mattress
The most important thing to remember when moving your mattress is you protect it correctly. Mattress bags are a solution for keeping your mattress safe while transporting it and protecting it in storage.
Like we mentioned earlier on, by measuring your mattress, you can work out which size mattress protector you need and having a second person to help you makes this job much easier.
You can either put the mattress onto its side against the wall and add your mattress cover or put the mattress on the floor then slide the cover over. After it is covered, make sure there are no holes or air left in the bag before you seal it up with tape.
Rather than buying a mattress bag, a handy tip is to keep the original wrap your mattress came in. You know this mattress wrap is the right size without needing to buy a new one; just make sure it is water-resistant for added protection.
6. Lift up and move the mattress
Now you are ready to lift and move it. Carrying a mattress needs to be done carefully to make sure you don’t cause yourself an injury:
- Squat down by bending your hips and knees
- Firmly grip the mattress from underneath at the corner
- Brace your abdomen and lift it up with your legs to avoid straining yourself
- Hold the mattress close to you but don’t lift it above your shoulders
Make sure you and your helper talk to each other frequently during this stage. This will alert you both to any potential hazards or issues whilst holding the mattress. Try not to bend or fold it as you move; if you do this, it will affect the springs and shape.
7. Load the mattress into or on top of your vehicle
After you have got your mattress outside, you can load it into or on top of your vehicle. If you are putting the mattress into your vehicle, ideally you want to lie it down flat, which will help to evenly distribute the weight and aid in seeing clearly out of the rear window.
If you are putting the mattress on top of your vehicle, you need to make sure you have a roof rack and ratchet straps to strongly tighten the mattress down, which are fastened through the car windows.
8. Transport the mattress
Once your mattress is secure and safe, you are ready to transport it. Remember to drive at a steady speed and take side roads where you can, which will help you avoid any moments on the journey where you must brake harshly.
If your mattress is on top of your vehicle, try to take a break so you can make sure everything is secure.
9. Unloading and storing your mattress
When you arrive at your storage unit, the first thing you need to do is check the mattress cover has not received damage during the journey. Any small tears or holes in the cover can cause dust or mildew to get into your mattress and make it unhygienic.
After you have checked there aren’t any rips, keep the protector on and lay the mattress down flat in the storage unit, helping the springs to stay aligned. If you need to put the mattress on its side to store it, make sure to rotate it onto a different side every month.
Lastly, do not put anything on top of the mattress in your storage unit, as this can damage the springs and its overall firmness.
Correctly preserving all your furniture in storage is vital between moves. Like your mattress, it will make all the difference when you’re ready to turn a new house into your dream home.