8 Steps How To Move A Mattress? Complete Guide Update 11 / 2024

Updated at: 02-06-2022 - By: Jane

You’ve fantasized about a new mattress for months. You’ll have to carry it down the stairs and out the door now that it’s moving day. You’re a little skeptical about the California King mattress upgrade, but deep down you know it was worth it.

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There are two extremes when it comes to moving a mattress: 15 minutes or an hour of agony. Make sure that this is the only time you have to go through this. Time to put on your work boots, call in some favors, and get some pizza for your buddies! We’ve compiled a list of eight actions that will make moving a breeze.

You are reading: How To Move A Mattress? Comprehensive Guide

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What to Know Before Moving a Mattress

When moving your mattress, always look for a friend to help you. From 45 pounds (twin) to 90 and 100 pounds (King size memory foam mattresses, California king mattresses, and some specialist mattresses), a mattress can vary in weight depending on the type.

Lifting and moving a mattress by yourself might result in physical damage, strained muscles, or even dangerous falls.

Decide on how you’ll transport the mattress as well. To tie a mattress to the top of a car may seem like a quick and easy hack, but this can damage the mattress because it exposes the mattress to pollution and other elements.

The best option is to transport the mattress in a moving truck or van. Full structural coverage is ensured, and the mattress can be secured for transit.

Equipment Needed for Moving a Mattress

Purchasing a few extra items can make your relocation go more smoothly and assure the safe delivery of your mattress. It’s possible to rent some of this equipment or purchase it from a moving company or online.

Mattress Bag – Until you can securely unload your mattresses in your new home, a mattress bag will protect them from damage, dust, filth, and potential pests. Mattress bags range in price from $10 to $25 and can be found at places like Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Uhaul, and even Amazon.

The use of a dolly or hand truck can make the procedure of carrying your mattress from your bedroom to the moving van and then into your new house much easier. Local hardware stores and moving truck rental firms carry a variety of dolly options for purchase or rental.

Using a ratchet strap, which is a two-piece tie-down strap, you may secure a mattress in a truck bed or moving van without worrying about it rolling around.

Alternatively, you can use nylon rope to secure your mattress. Hardware stores carry them.

If your mattress is on the squishy side, a large, flat piece of cardboard can make it easier to travel.

Make sure you seal your bag with a sturdy, long-lasting shipping or packing tape. Sealing the mattress bag with tape like shipping, masking, and duct tape is possible because of their strong adhesives that are normally waterproof, powerful enough to keep a mattress bag shut, and prevent moisture from entering the bag.

Having a retractable knife on hand is a need for every move. Do not cut into the mattress itself when cutting open your mattress bag with a dull or poorly maintained blade. Knives can be found at any neighborhood hardware shop. When using a knife, be careful to follow all safety recommendations!

Wrenches, screwdrivers, and Allen Wrenches can be used to disassemble and reassemble a bed frame if the mattress is on one.

Disassembling or transporting the bed will be much easier if all the components, crews, and nuts and bolts are stored in sandwich bags.

How to Move Your Mattress

It is possible to move a mattress with ease by following these guidelines.

Step 1: Put your mattress into the mattress bag.

To get a good night’s sleep, place the mattress on the ground or on a wall. You and your partner should lift one end of the mattress bag and slide it over the mattress.

Fold the flaps inward and use tape to secure the open ends of the bag once the air has been sucked out. Once sealed, look for small holes or rips in the bag and tape those as well.

Step 2: Clear a path.

Fold the flaps inward and use tape to secure the open ends of the bag once the air has been sucked out. Once sealed, look for small holes or rips in the bag and tape those as well.

Once you’ve pushed out all of the air, close the bag by folding the flaps inward and taping the unstitched seams. Once the bag is closed, check for any rips or tears and tape them up as well.

Step 3: Prepare your transporting vehicle.

Make sure that the vehicle doors are open and the interior is clear before you get in the car.. Before putting the mattress in the car, remove or lower any seats that may need to be removed or lowered.

Step 4: Lift the mattress.

Grip the mattress’s bottom corners and pull it together with one person on each long side. Do not use your back when lifting. Instead of relying on your arms to raise you, focus on your core and legs.

Step 5: Place the mattress on a hand truck or dolly.

A dolly is needed to lift the mattress onto the dolly. If your mattress is saggy, you may want to reinforce it on both sides using cardboard.

Before removing the mattress from the dolly and taking it down the stairs, be sure to come to a complete stop at their top. Using a dolly to move a mattress down a flight of stairs is not recommended.

Line the path to the vehicle with cardboard and slide the mattress across the ground if a dolly or hand truck is not available.

Step 6: Load the mattress into your vehicle.

If you’re using a moving van or pickup truck, simply lift the mattress off of the dolly and into the cargo hold of the vehicle.

Step 7: Secure the mattress.

Simply move the mattress off of the dolly and into the cargo area of your moving van or pickup truck if you have one.

If feasible, place the mattress flat in the cargo area of the moving truck or van. Mattresses should not be stacked on top of other items. The mattress should be leaned against the support wall if it is being used as a platform. Securing it to the rails with nylon rope or ratchet straps is the best option. Connect two ratchet straps to form a longer one if one is too short.
Pickup Truck: Lay the mattress level in the truck bed as much as possible. Wrap the nylon straps or ropes around the mattress and tie them off with a “trucker’s hitch” knot at the D-ring end. Repeat with the remaining straps or ropes. Leaving the tailgate open may be necessary if your mattress is too big for the truck bed. A strap or rope tied in a “X” at the mattress’ back end will keep it from slipping.
Check for rips or tears in the mattress bag in your car or SUV (if it has a luggage rack). To secure the mattress, secure the nylon rope or ratchet straps horizontally over the mattress’s front, middle, and back. Use a strong knot to secure the mattress to the rack, such as a “trucker’s hitch” or another common moving knot.
Lie the mattress flat on the roof of your car to check for rips or tears if you don’t have a baggage rack in your vehicle. Fasten the ratchet straps or nylon ropes around the mattress’s perimeter on all three sides (and corners if possible). Secure the mattress to the car by passing the ropes through the front passenger door jams, the back passenger windows, and the roof.

Step 8: Drive slowly and carefully.

It can be difficult to drive with a heavy weight in the back or on top of the car. Maintain a steady speed to prevent the mattress from shifting when you’re braking, turning, or accelerating.

It’s very important to check on your roof-tied mattress regularly, if at all possible. When feasible, use back routes and keep an eye out for signs of change.

Can Folding or Bending a Mattress Damage It?

Folding or bending a spring mattress in half damages the structure, which can result in less comfortable sleep or, in extreme cases, a ruined mattress. The memory foam in Casper’s mattress-in-a-box, on the other hand, is made of polyurethane and can bounce back to its original shape after being folded or rolled.

Will My Warranty Protect My Mattress?

Mattresses that are foldable may not be as comfortable to sleep on, or they may be destroyed. In contrast, polyurethane-based memory foam, such as the kind used in Casper’s mattress in the box, is pliable and resilient enough to re-shape itself even after being folded or rolled.

Physical damage to the mattress cover or structure, such as rips, tears, stains, or liquid damage, voids the warranty after purchase. Having a mattress bag and planning your route ahead of time can ensure that your mattress doesn’t get damaged during the move.

How to Store a Mattress After Moving It

A climate-controlled storage container is preferable if you plan on storing your mattress for an extended period of time. Changing temperatures and moisture can lead to the growth of mildew and germs. Keep a dehumidifier near to the mattress if you must store the mattress in an attic or basement.

Place the mattress in its bag so that it lays flat on the frame like it would on a bed. It’s best not to put anything on your mattress because it could cause harm to the fabric. The mattress can be placed on a platform, pallet, table or similar object to save on storage space. However, it is not recommended.

It’s difficult enough to move into a new house without having to deal with the additional burden of relocating a mattress. You probably spent a lot of money on your mattress, so throwing it away isn’t an option. While bedding can be easily replaced, your mattress can’t. Take time to protect your investment and make sure that it reaches its final destination in one piece.

Should You Move Your Mattress At All?

Moving into a new house is stressful enough without having to worry about transporting a mattress as well. Your mattress was most likely an expensive purchase, so throwing it in the dumpster isn’t an option. Mattresses, unlike bedding, cannot be simply replaced. Take the time to secure your investment and ensure that it arrives at its final destination in one piece.

What happens if you don’t want to bring your old mattress with you? Take a look at our mattress disposal guide, which includes options on how to donate your old mattress.

General Mattress Moving Tips

In order to transfer a mattress by yourself, we’ve put together a list of some of the most efficient methods.

Helpful Equipment To Move A Mattress

A mattress might be difficult to move, but there are a few things you can do to make the procedure a little easier. Equipment such as the following can be helpful:

rope or sashes
Tape
Scissors
Blow-up discs
a mattress cover or a sack for the mattress
Cart or dolly
Blankets to be relocated

1. Put a cover on it

Even if you’ve covered your mattress with sheets, you still want to keep it clean. It’s important to protect your mattress from damage during the relocation procedure.

In the course of a move, your mattress’ top and sides will almost certainly come into contact with the stairwells, floors, ground, or the interior of your moving truck or van. Before you begin, remove all of your bedding, including your sheets, pillows, and mattress topper, and place it in a plastic bag or a mattress cover. Using this method, you can transport your mattress without worrying about damage.

For those of you who have never wrapped a mattress before, here’s a basic rundown:

Remove all of your mattress’s covers, including the sheets, toppers, and padding.
Using a mattress bag, place your mattress against a wall, with the long side facing up, to save space. Slide the sack over the bed’s comforter (starting at the top). Tape the mattress’s opening shut after lowering it to the ground.
Position your mattress so that you can easily wrap it in plastic, bubble wrap, or moving blankets (standing straight up). Ensure that there is no space between the material and your mattress by wrapping it securely.
To prevent the bag or material from falling off, wrap the entire bundle with tape after you’re done.

2. Fold up your mattress

If you’re moving a large mattress like a queen, king, or California king, folding it up will make it easier to transport with only one person. When it comes to moving a king-size mattress, folding is one of the finest advice we can provide you. Folding it will make it less frail by reducing its height and width.

If you want to fold a mattress, you’ll need one that is 8-11 inches thick and made of all-foam. A heavier or coil-filled mattress should not be attempted to be folded. It’s possible to void the mattress’s guarantee if you do this.

Here’s how to do it, in case you’re wondering.

Bend it horizontally, not vertically.
So that it doesn’t get soiled, always sleep with the inside of the mattress facing the inside of the house.
Check to see if the mattress base’s upper and lower halves are in direct contact.
As soon as you fold it, secure it using ratchet tie-downs or straps to ensure it doesn’t come apart.

3. Reinforce floppy mattresses with cardboard

If you can’t fold your mattress, consider strengthening it with a cardboard slab. A ratchet tie-down or straps can help maintain the mattress in place as you move, preventing it from sagging.

4. Lift from the knees

Lifting anything heavy, including your mattress, should never be done on your back. This will help keep your back healthy and prevent injury. If you want to do something right, don’t raise by bending your knees. Instead, stoop down, take up the mattress with your hands as near to your body as possible, and then hoist it with your legs straightened. Avoid twisting or moving your body while carrying or holding a big object, and never lift anything heavier than your shoulders.

U.S. National Library of Medicine offers some brief instructions for lifting from the knees:

To ensure a solid foundation, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
Lifting an object requires you to get as near as possible to it.
Bend your knees, not your waist or back; do not hunch over or hunch backwards.
As you raise, contract your abdominal muscles or core.
Slowly lift the thing by contracting your hip and knee muscles.
As you raise the thing, avoid bending forward.
As you carry the thing, try to keep it as close to your body as you can.
Lift or carry the object without twisting your back.
As you place the thing on the ground, lower yourself into a squat while maintaining a straight back.

5. Take your mattress to your vehicle

Once your mattress is folded or strengthened and covered, you can transport it to your car. Having another individual assist you will make this process go more smoothly. A dolly may be your only option if you can’t find a willing accomplice. Dolly rentals are widely available from moving firms like UHaul and home goods stores. Make a route for your mattress and carefully move it to your car.

If you’re transporting a mattress, you’ll probably want to look into getting a bigger truck. Renting a large truck from a moving company or home improvement store is a common option.

FAQs

Is it legal to tie your mattress to the top of your car?

It is permissible in the United States to strap a mattress to the roof of your automobile if you do it securely. Your safety and the lives of others could be jeopardized if the mattress is not properly fastened to the vehicle. If you don’t securely secure your mattress to the roof of your car, the police may stop you, and if your mattress falls off, you could be fined.

How can we move box springs or foundations?

The best way to protect them is to cover them in plastic and then in bubble wrap. Then, just as you would with a mattress, place the box springs on a dolly and transport them to your car.

Can we move a queen size bed in a van?

However, if you can fold them, queen-sized beds might fit inside most vans. Always check with the mattress manufacturer to see if folding the mattress may be done safely. The warranty on your mattress may be void if you fold it.

Conclusion

It takes a lot of effort to move a mattress by oneself, but it is possible. You may be able to transfer your mattress on your own if you plan ahead and gather the necessary supplies.

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Source: https://bestpillowsleepers.com
Category: Sleep Advisors

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How To Move A Mattress? Comprehensive Guide