How to Move a Mattress By Yourself

• What Materials Do You Need to Move a Mattress By Yourself?
• How to Move a Mattress By Yourself in 4 Steps
• Other Ways to Move Your Mattress
• How to Unpack Your Mattress
• How to Store Your Mattress
• Wrapping Up: How to Move a Mattress By Yourself

What Materials Do You Need to Move a Mattress By Yourself?

Moving a mattress is not as simple as rolling up your sleeves and lifting; you’ll need a few materials and supplies to make the job easier. Here are the materials you need to move a mattress by yourself:

• Mattress bag: Whether you need to learn how to move a memory foam mattress by yourself or a spring mattress, you need a mattress bag. If you don’t have a mattress bag, you can find one at any mattress store. Mattress bags usually fit standard-sized mattresses, but if your mattress is thick, consider measuring it before you purchase a bag.
• Rope or straps: Using straps can help you easily carry your mattress out to a moving truck. Tie-down straps are typically the best type of strap to use since they come with buckles to secure the mattress while you carry it. However, you can also use ropes and tie them into knots.
• Moving truck or large vehicle: Unless you just purchased your mattress and it’s still in the box, you’ll need a large vehicle to move it. If you plan to move many things at once, consider renting a moving truck that can hold your mattress, sofa, and other large pieces of furniture. If your mattress is twin-size, you might be able to fit it into a van. Before you try to pack your mattress into any vehicle, make sure to measure it and the space within the vehicle to ensure a proper fit.
• Dolly or cart: If you don’t have straps, you can use a dolly to move your mattress. It’s recommended to strap your mattress to the dolly with ropes to keep it from falling off, especially if you’ll be trying to move it up and down stairs.
• Moving blankets: Moving blankets offer your mattress a layer of protection that can help keep your mattress clean when you’re putting it into a dusty truck or with your other belongings. If you drop your mattress while trying to move it outside, the blankets will protect it from water, dirt, and even snow.
• Packing tape: If you have a mattress bag, consider taping it up with packing tape before you try to move your mattress. If the bag isn’t sealed properly, your mattress can slide out of it and onto the dirty ground outside.
• Scissors: Scissors can come in handy at any point in the process of moving your mattress. They can be used to help you cut rope and or tape to seal the mattress bag.

Once you have your materials gathered, you’ll be able to move your mattress with ease. Take a look at the steps on how to move a mattress by yourself in the section below.

How to Move a Mattress By Yourself in 4 Steps

Mattresses are heavy and large, which means moving one by yourself requires proper planning. In some cases, you might choose not to move your mattress, while in others, it’s an absolute necessity. How you move your mattress depends on your preferences. Some people will feel comfortable dragging their mattress down a carpeted hallway, while others want to ensure that it never comes in contact with the ground. Here’s the easiest way to move a mattress by yourself:

1. Determine if the Mattress Is Worth Moving

No one can tell you whether or not your mattress is worth moving but yourself. For example, if you can’t afford to purchase a new mattress, then moving your current one might be your only option. However, if you can afford to buy a new mattress and your current mattress is over six years old, consider purchasing one online and having it delivered to your new home. Decided to buy a new bed? Learn how to choose a mattress that matches your sleeping preferences.

Here are questions to ask yourself to determine if you need a new mattress:

• Do I wake up in pain?
• Do I have trouble sleeping due to discomfort?
• Does my mattress have an odor or stains?

How long mattresses last depends on the type of mattress and how often you use them. Most mattresses only last for six to eight years, so if your mattress is any older than that, it may be time for a new one anyway. Of course, there is a mattress adjustment period, so buying a new mattress might not be right for you when moving to a new home.

2. Place Your Mattress in a Mattress Bag

Putting your mattress into a protective bag is the first step to helping you get it out the door and keeping it safe from stains, debris, and moisture. Follow these steps when placing your mattress in a mattress bag:

• Strip the bed of bedding: Taking off your sheets and pillows is an important first step to help you slide your mattress into the mattress bag. While you can move your mattress with the sheets still on, you’ll typically want to wash the sheets before you move.
• Clear a path from the mattress to your vehicle: Depending on where you live and how cluttered your home is with moving supplies and boxes, you might not have the easiest path to your vehicle. Before you lift your mattress and try to move it, clear yourself a path, so you don’t have to worry about tripping or bumping into things when trying to move the mattress.
• Cover your mattress with a mattress bag: Most people don’t own a mattress bag, but it can be an important tool for helping you move your mattress to prevent stains and damage. Ultimately, a mattress bag’s goal is to keep your mattress clean no matter what. A quality bag can protect your mattress from rain, snow, and even mud. If you have a spring or coil mattress, consider giving it a little reinforcement with cardboard in front of and behind the mattress to make carrying it more manageable.
• Place your mattress on a moving blanket or dolly: Once your mattress is secured in the mattress bag, place it on a dolly or a moving blanket to help you transport it easily.

3. Get the Right Vehicle

It’s almost impossible to fold or try to fold most quality mattresses, but it’s also something that should never be attempted. There’s no reason to cram or try to stuff your mattress into a vehicle because that could ruin its integrity, making it lumpy in some areas and saggy in others.

Your bed, whether it’s a memory foam mattress or hybrid mattress, should always be placed on its side or flat during transport, which is why it’s always a good idea to rent a moving truck.

4. Move Your Mattress By Yourself

Once your mattress is in a protective mattress bag and you’ve put it on the dolly, it’s time to get it to your vehicle. If you’re not using a dolly, you can drag your mattress on the floor until you reach the outdoors. If you plan on dragging your mattress, ensure that your mattress bag won’t rip. Once you get outside, have a dolly ready so you won’t have to worry about lifting the mattress yourself. Once on the dolly, you can roll it to your vehicle.

One of the most challenging parts of moving a mattress by yourself is getting it onto the vehicle. If possible, use a ramp so that you can easily roll the dolly with your mattress into the vehicle. If there is no ramp, ensure you lift with your knees and avoid straining. If possible, ask a neighbor to help you with this small task so you won’t risk hurting yourself.

Be careful when lifting the mattress into the vehicle. Even though it’s covered with a bag, you can still scratch it on the sharp edges of the truck, causing the bag to tear and possibly puncture your mattress.

Other Ways to Move Your Mattress

Depending on whether or not you choose to keep your mattress and move it, there are other ways you can make moving your mattress easy.

• Have a donation center pick up your mattress: Donating a mattress is one way to get rid of a mattress. Instead of dropping your bed off somewhere, you can schedule a pick-up with your local donation center. Typically, they’ll let you choose a day and time to come to your home to pick up a mattress. When scheduling a pick-up, let the donation center know that you’ll be donating a mattress so they know how many people to bring along. If you won’t be home at the time they’ll be picking up the mattress, you can move the mattress to your front porch with a note for them to ensure your mattress is taken care of without you.
• Research local mattress collection days: Many municipalities have rules and guidelines to follow when getting rid of mattresses. While in some places you can toss your old mattress out with the trash for trash day, many places require you to let the city know when they’ll need to dispose of large furniture like a mattress.
• Ask friends or family to help move your mattress: Moving a heavy mattress on your own is difficult and can be tiring. Instead of doing it all yourself, ask family and friends for help. While not many people enjoy helping someone else move, most people will be willing to help you with one small task.
• Hire movers to move your mattress: Hiring movers is the easiest way to move your mattress and other heavy furniture. If you don’t want to do any heavy lifting, a moving company can help you pack all of your furniture into a truck and unload it for you.

How to Unpack Your Mattress

Congratulations! You’ve moved your mattress to its new home. Now comes the fun part of moving—unpacking. Follow these steps to safely unpack your mattress and bring it into its final resting place.

• Gently drag or carry your mattress out of the truck: Your mattress has been in a bag this entire time, which means that it has been perfectly safe and clean. If you trust your mattress bag not to rip, you can push your mattress out of the truck and onto the ground or directly onto a dolly.
• Air the mattress out in the sun: Once your mattress is out of the truck, open the mattress bag to let your mattress air out in the sun. Airing your mattress out allows it to reshape if it got squished between other pieces of furniture in the moving truck. If you don’t want to leave your mattress outside, you can also bring your mattress inside and let it air out near an open window.
• Check for pests: If there weren’t any pests on your mattress before you put it into the bag, then there shouldn’t be any pests on it now. However, it’s better to be safe than sorry to check for any critters that might be napping on your bed.
• Clean your mattress: Cleaning your mattress can help you keep your new home clean by ensuring that you’re not bringing in any dirt or germs from the truck or your old home. Spray it with a disinfectant and wipe it down or let it air dry.
• Bring your mattress inside: Once your mattress has been cleaned, you can start bringing it inside. If you’re worried about it getting dirty, you can place it back in the mattress bag so you can push or pull the mattress into your new home. From there, you can put it on its bed base and put your sheets back on. Learn more about finding the right bed base for your mattress.

How to Store Your Mattress

If you moved your mattress but won’t be using it right away, you’ll need to store it. Here are some tips on how to properly store your mattress:

• Clean your mattress: If your mattress was cleaned prior to moving it, then you can skip this step. However, if the mattress wasn’t clean, sprinkle baking soda on it and let it sit overnight before vacuuming it up to remove odors. You can also steam your mattress to get rid of germs as long as you let it dry completely before storing it.
• Find a temperature-controlled storage unit: A temperature-controlled storage unit will prevent a damp environment that can cause mold to grow on your mattress.
• Cover your mattress in plastic or a mattress bag: Even though a temperature-controlled storage unit can help prevent moisture accumulation, it can’t prevent dust and dirt. Keep your mattress in plastic or a bag to keep it clean while in storage.
• Lay your mattress flat: Laying your mattress flat will prevent it from losing shape. For short-term storage, you can store it on its side.
• Ensure no items are on top of your mattress: Putting items on top of your mattress for an extended period of time can cause it to lose integrity.

Wrapping Up: How to Move a Mattress By Yourself

Moving a mattress by yourself requires more materials and planning than moving a mattress with help. Always use a mattress bag and a dolly to ensure you can easily move your mattress from one place to another safely. Once your mattress is moved, ensure that you take proper care of it, whether you’ll be using it immediately or storing it for later.