How to move a mattress

Transporting Your Mattress

It is in our nature to make our homes as comfortable as possible. This fact remains true even though we may move on to another place at some point. If you have invested money to add comfort to your sleeping quarters, you will definitely not want to leave it behind. Most people shift with their mattresses wherever they go.

Some people work with professional movers who expertly wrap and secure their mattresses so you can move them easily. However, if you are reading this article, it means you prefer to pack and shift the mattress yourself. As such, you need to develop a plan that can help you move the mattress safely.

You can make the shifting process more manageable by working with a friend or family member since mattresses can be heavy, bulky, and challenging to move alone. This article will help you transport your mattress without causing damage. Here is a detailed guide on moving a mattress safely.

Things To Know Before Moving A Mattress

Type of mattress

There are some circumstances that you need to be very careful about before moving a mattress. First of all, try not to do this all by yourself as it is better if you seek help from a friend. Moreover, there is a wide range of mattresses depending on size and type. They include memory foam mattresses, spring foam mattresses, king sized, twin, or double mattresses.

Different mattresses need different protocols and methods of transferring. If you try to move a memory foam mattress by yourself, there are high chances of getting a physical injury, a strained muscle, or a nasty fall. Having a partner will save you from distress.

Transfer method

The second thing is to decide the method of transfer. When it comes to transporting a mattress, people first think of tying the mattress on top of their car and driving off to their new location. It seems to be an easy and quick hack, but they are usually unaware of its cons. This method can damage the mattress as it exposes it to pollutants and various other elements. Also, continuous friction with the car's roof damages the mattress and its cover.

It would be best if you secure the mattress inside a truck or a moving van. This way, your mattress will get full structural coverage, ensuring it gets to its destination without damage.

Equipment Needed To Move A Mattress

You might think that if you have to invest money in buying equipment, moving your mattress might be expensive for you. However, it is good to invest a tiny amount in getting moving supplies as they will help you in the long run. The supplies will make delivery easy and safe as you do not need to buy all the equipment. The second option is to rent them from a moving rental company or online. Here is a list of these items.

Mattress bag

Using a mattress bag will keep it safe from pollutants. It will protect the mattress from dust, damage, grime, and any other harmful element. The bag will keep the mattress intact until you are ready to unpack. The price is dependent on the size and type of mattress.

Dolly or hand truck

A hand truck can ease the process of moving a mattress. It makes it easier to move a mattress from your bedroom to the transporting vehicle. You can also use it to maneuver the bed from the transporting car to the bedroom of your new house. You do not need to buy a new dolly or hand truck but simply rent it from any local hardware store or rental company.

Ratchet tie down strap

The ratchet strap is a simple two-piece tie down strap. It is ideal for locking a mattress to hold it in place while it is in a truck or a moving van.

Nylon rope

If you cannot find a ratchet tie strap, a nylon rope is a great alternative. You can use a sturdy nylon rope of a suitable length to tie the mattress. These ropes are readily available at local hardware stores.

Cardboard

You will need cardboard to give support to your mattresses while in transit. If you have an adjustable mattress, then you need to stabilise it before packing. A large piece of flat cardboard will be beneficial in this case.

Tape

When you seal your mattress bag, use durable and robust packing or shipping tape. Waterproof and rugged tapes are pretty helpful during packing. Shipping or masking duct tapes are the best to use for this purpose. They will keep your mattress sealed and protected against moisture or dust.

Retractable knife

Use a sharp, well-maintained blade when you have to cut open the mattress bag. While using the knife, you will need to be extra careful; otherwise, you might end up cutting the mattress itself. You can find blades at any local hardware shop.

Toolset

Assemble all the necessary tools when you use the mattress on a bed frame. Some wrenches, screwdrivers, and Allen wrenches are some of the tools you will require when shifting to a new home. With these tools, you can easily take the bed frame apart and reassemble it later.

Sandwich bags

A sandwich bag will help you keep all your items organised as you can keep all nuts, screws, small parts, and bolts together in one place. A sandwich bag ensures that you do not suffer the loss of any vital part from your bed during disassembly and transportation.

Preparing The Mattress For Moving

Before transporting the mattress from one location to another, the most crucial step is to cover it adequately in a plastic mattress cover. You should include the following steps in the proper covering of a mattress to protect it against potential damage.

Purchase a plastic mattress cover

Plastic mattress covers are readily available at local supplies stores. You can also find some good-quality plastic covers at local hardware stores nearby. They do not cost nearly as much so you can buy one easily.

When moving the mattress from one location to another, the sides and tops come into contact with all types of surfaces. This will damage the mattress, but you can prevent damage and staining by using plastic covers.

However, if you are moving the mattress from one room to another within the same house or apartment, you do not need to cover it with a plastic cover, and you can simply skip this step.

Take the mattress off the bed

Before you plan to move the mattress and even before you begin to pack it, lift it off the bed frame or the box spring you have been keeping it on. Make sure to remove all the blankets and quilts from the bed surface.

You can move the mattress along with fitted sheets and mattress pad still on. However, any other bed sheet, blanket, or quilt should not be present on the mattress.

Slip cover over the mattress

The next step is to slip the cover over your mattress. You should start by positioning the mattress on its side. Then, lower the end, which is farthest from the zipper to the base of the mattress.

Work on the cover up by taking the mattress from the top of the cover and then onto the bottom. Slide the cover up until the entire mattress is inside. If you have someone who is helping, ask them to hold the mattress a few inches up in the air.

Zip the bag shut and tape it

The prime purpose of covering a mattress with a plastic cover is to keep it protected against potential damage or dust. So, once you are sure that your mattress is entirely in the cover, adjust the corners as needed.

Make sure that no spot is left where the plastic is stretched thin around the mattress. It might tear from that point. Now, zip the bag shut. However, if you have got a bag that does not have an inbuilt zip, then you can use packaging tape so that your cover is completely sealed. You can fold over the top flap of the plastic cover and then tape it down. Takedown all the loose ends so that no dust can make its way into the mattress.

Clear the way to the transport vehicle

When you are moving the mattress from the house to the vehicle, make sure that you have a clear path. There should be no hurdle, piece of furniture, or any other obstacle in your way to avoid any injury.

Make sure that all the doors that come in your way are wide open, and you do not have to open them while holding the mattress. If there is more than one route towards the vehicle standing outside your house, figure out which course you should take before you begin to work. If someone is helping you in this process, communicate about the path with them as well.

Moving The Mattress With The Help Of A Friend

The following steps are to be followed while moving a mattress with a friend's help.

Start with you at one end and your friend at other

When two or more people are moving a mattress from one location to another, their combined effort will prevent straining of the back and legs. It will make the task much easier, and you will be able to move the mattress around corners and stairs easily. Before you start to walk, discuss with your partner to establish who will be moving backward and who will be stepping forward.

Grab the mattress under the bottom corners

Stand the mattress against the wall or any support. Bend your knees and reach the bottom of the mattress. Slide both your hands beneath the corners of the mattress. Ask your friend to do the same thing on the other end.

Lift the mattress with your legs

Once you have a firm hold of the mattress, you and your friend can stand up and lift the mattress off the floor. Communicate verbally with your friend so that both of you stand simultaneously. Otherwise, one of you might get injured or lift more weight than the other.

If you are quite satisfied that the mattress is elevated completely, you can now begin to move it. Make sure that you do not stand up with your back because it might strain your muscles and cause injury.

Walk the mattress out to the vehicle

Move your mattress slowly towards the vehicle. Hold the mattress low to avoid tiring your arms. If you will have to cover a long distance, hold it near your hip area, neither too high nor too low.

Keep the mattress on the long edge in a moving van

It will be easy for you to move your mattress if you keep it upright on its edges. Do not stack heavy mattresses on top of other objects in a moving van. Neither should you balance any kind of boxes on the top of your mattress.

Moving The Mattress By Yourself

If you fail to find any help from your friends and family and you have to move the mattress by yourself, be very careful and prepare to do some extra work. It will be a tiring task and very challenging. However, worry not; the information below will help you get the job done.

Simply follow the following steps listed below to get your mattress to the car by yourself.

• Fold the mattress in half
• Tie ratchet tie-downs around the mattress
• Place the mattress on a dolly
• Walk the mattress out to your vehicle or moving truck
• Strap the mattress on top of the vehicle

Helpful Tips For Safe Transportation Of The Mattress

Here are some helpful moving tips you should follow to move your mattress safely.

• Whenever you are moving a mattress, make sure that you wear a pair of sneakers or some other closed shoes. The reason is that you might end up hitting a piece of furniture while holding the mattress. Closed toe shoes will help protect your feet against harm.
• Make sure that you get help from one of your friends or at least two of them when moving a larger mattress. Larger mattresses are heavier and more challenging to move. Two people can quickly move a twin or a double mattress, but moving a king size mattress is a complicated and challenging task to complete.
• Before choosing a vehicle to transport your mattress, make sure that you check the path you will follow to your new location. There is no doubt that you can haul any mattress, even a king size mattress, on top of your vehicle. However, if you decide to take a king size mattress on a 161km journey up the hill on a small car, you might end up with a broken-down vehicle or a damaged mattress.
• If you are unable to find any kind of help from your friends or family in moving the mattresses and are not sure how to perform this task, hire professional movers.

Let Professionals Move Your Mattress

A mattress is an everyday comfort; we cannot do without it. However, when we shift houses, one of the challenges we encounter is moving the mattress. Due to the fact that it is a large household item, it requires special arrangements to have it relocated from one place to another.

However, it is not a problem we cannot solve; moving a mattress is challenging but not impossible. You can perform it yourself very easily. All you have to do is address the areas we have mentioned in this article.

You don't have to do it yourself. You can always have someone else do it for you. There are experts who specialise in this sort of thing. You simply have to find out, talk to them, and explain your needs. They are a call away and would be very happy to assist you with this task. It will save you the time and the hassle of organising how your mattress will reach its destination.

Plus, they come insured, which is crucial because you will be compensated if something happens to your item.