How To Store A Spare Mattress

When you purchase a new mattress, there is always the burdensome task of finding storage for your old one – an occasion which takes a great deal of time, energy and often stress. Fortunately, our mattress clearance experts have crafted a detailed guide on how and where to store a spare mattress.

Arguably the most important factor to consider when storing your mattress is whether you have enough space. Mattresses need to be stored in a particular way in order to keep their shape and purpose, which is why you need to have the ideal storage space for them. 

Since mattresses can vary in size and be very bulky and large, they naturally consume a lot of space. Therefore, if you live in a property where space is a premium, it may be a better idea to get rid of your spare mattress as opposed to storing it. 

Too often we hoard things due to fear of having wasted money, or the hope that one day we might use it again. However, the reality is that most of the time, we don’t. 

This is particularly true when it comes to mattresses since they are only supposed to last around seven years. This lifespan means that getting the most use possible out of them is not always the most hygienic or healthy option, and in many cases, it could be time to say goodbye to your old mattress to avoid aches and pains, better sleep, and improved general health.

Therefore, it is important to think critically about how old your mattress is, and whether it is worth finding storage space for at all. 

Find out whether your mattress needs replacing or not by taking The Sleep Council’s ‘Bed MOT’ quiz.

Storing an old mattress doesn’t only consume a lot of space, but it also consumes a lot of time, too. This is because there are a few, very important stages involved in storing a spare mattress, and these can consume a lot of time you may not have. These are detailed below.

Before storing your mattress, it will require a deep clean. Without cleaning your mattress, it could result in the growth of mould, fungus or dirt, which is bad for your health and would in turn render the mattress useless anyway. 

In particular, there are a few specific steps to cleaning your mattress, preparing it for use when taken back out of storage: 

• You need to vacuum the mattress thoroughly to remove any dirt or dust that has built up over time. 
• You need to use either a specialist upholstery cleaner or a solution of baking soda to deep clean the mattress and remove filth and grime. It will also get rid of nasty odours and kill any allergens that might be festering on the mattress. 
• You need to ensure the mattress has air to dry, without becoming damp. This should be done outdoors since it has the best ventilation and will dry the quickest as a result. It is crucial that the mattress is fully dry before the next stage since moisture might be trapped in the storage bag causing damp and mould.

Once you have cleaned and completely aired the mattress, you need to wrap it up tightly in either a specially designed mattress storage bag, or plastic. This will protect the mattress against dust, dirt and moisture, which is why it is crucial that the mattress is tightly packed. 

The plastic should be strong and flexible so that it wraps tightly to the shape of the mattress ready for storage.

Once wrapped, you should find the perfect space to store your mattress. Contrary to popular belief, you should store your mattress completely flat so that it maintains good shape, according to manufacturers. Whilst it may be tempting to store it differently to save space, you may find that the coils and springs shift if stored upright, resulting in a saggy mattress.

It is also vital that the mattress is stored out of the way of other objects since they can interfere with the shape of or damage the mattress too.

Just because your mattress is in storage, you should not just forget about it! Maintenance is key to keeping your mattress fresh and fit for use. If you are storing it for a long time, you should check on it regularly to ensure it is keeping its shape, not beginning to smell and is not suffering from damp or humid conditions.

Depending on the size of your home and the space within it, there are a few different places where mattresses can potentially be stored, including:

• The loft
• A spare room
• A shed
• A storage unit

However, not all storage spaces are fool-proof, and you should carefully consider where to best store your mattress to keep it fresh. 

For example, housing your mattress in an outhouse or shed runs the risk of it getting damp or smelly after being exposed to the outdoor elements and cold. Likewise, storing your mattress in a spare room could prevent that room from being used for something more efficient. Not to mention how challenging it is to store a mattress in a loft space, with the task of carrying and fitting it up there a tough job itself. 

There is of course the option to arrange for your mattress to be stored in a private storage unit, however, this proves costly over time, and it would probably be cheaper to get your mattress removed and recycled by a professional team.

Storing a mattress upright is a significant mistake and one to avoid. By storing a mattress upright, the components and materials that make up the mattress shift and move about, causing the mattress to lose its natural shape and become distorted. 

This means that not only will the mattress prove very uncomfortable when put back to use, but it will also be undesirable if you wish to sell or donate it in the future. 

Storing a mattress in a wet, cold, damp or humid environment will inevitably result in a build-up of mould, and cause the mattress to be riddled with damp. Once mattresses have built up mould, they can affect your breathing and trigger existing or new respiratory problems, making them a major health risk. Therefore, it is important to get rid of a mouldy mattress before it can make you or your family sick. 

In the event that your mattress has already become mouldy, our specialist team can help.

No matter how desperate you are to store your mattress, folding it is never the answer. When you fold a mattress and store it, it will be virtually impossible to restore it to its original shape, not to mention how the springs and inner components will be distorted and move around. 

Other ways to get rid of your mattress

The decision of whether to store a spare mattress or get rid of it depends entirely on the individual and their circumstances. In some events, it will be a good idea to store a mattress, such as if they can anticipate use for it in the near future, or if they are waiting to give it to someone who needs it. 

However, for many other homes, it simply isn’t feasible to store a mattress, particularly a large one and disposing of the mattress is a far wiser decision due to restrictions on space, time and potential use. If you have decided that your mattress could be better used by someone else, or are looking to have it disposed of quickly and ethically, we are on hand to help.

If you’re looking to get rid of your old mattress quickly and efficiently, we are on hand to help with same-day mattress removal in London. We happen to be experienced in all aspects of furniture disposal – one of the reasons we are widely regarded as the best rubbish removal company in London.