A new mattress can be a significant investment as it might take a lot of money and time to choose the right one. That’s why it is essential to take care of it and have a regular cleaning routine.
In fact, a well-maintained mattress can last from 10 to 15 years. During this time, perhaps you might move to a new house or have a renovation project and need to store your mattress.
In these cases, knowing the right technique can keep it remain comfortable and clean after a long period. To help you with that, here are 4 simple steps to learn how to store a mattress.
1. Clean the mattress with an upholstery cleaner and vacuum
If you want to store your mattress well in the long run, the first thing you need to do is to clean it thoroughly. By eliminating all dust, dirt, and moisture built up, you will prevent mould from growing and damaging your unit. As a result, it might extend the lifespan and reduce the risk of deterioration while storage.
It is quite simple to clean a mattress. Firstly, use a vacuum and its brushy nozzle to eliminate all dead skin, crumbs, and dust that has accumulated on the mattress. Next, obliterate odors and remove stains with an upholstery cleaner. Keep in mind to clean in a well-ventilated space and let the bedding air out before putting in storage.
If you want to have a natural feel, consider adding a few drops of essential oil to baking soda and spray it the mattress’s surface. Massage it gently, let it sit for one hour, and then vacuum off.
2. Wrap the mattress with a breathable and durable cover
If you have a tight budget, then it’s a good idea to use towels, blankets, or other fabrics to wrap the mattress. Alternatively, you can use a good quality waterproof mattress protector. This would provide some level of protection from dirt, dust, mould, mildew, and other pests.
However, most professionals recommend the use of a plastic cover because it offers much more coverage. Since this material can resist water and humidity, it will prevent mould from growing and affecting the mattress’s core.
No matter which cover fabric you use, it is essential to keep a good balance of breathability and protection. While it should cover the whole area to help protect against inadvertent damage or dust buildup, the surface should also provide enough air flow to avoid the accumulation of moisture.
The right technique of wrapping a mattress is quite simple. All you need to do is covering the whole unit, from bottom to top, and front to back. Make sure to remove any residual air pockets while minimizing pressure to your mattress.
3. Lay the mattress flat
The biggest mistake that many people often make when storing a mattress is to place in on the side. While this might save valuable space in your house or apartment, leaving your mattress in this position for a long period might damage the spring structure inside. Even when your mattress doesn’t use coils, a side position can distort its original shape due to uneven distribution of weight.
The optimal position to store a mattress in the long term is to lay it flat on the ground. Though it might take a lot of space in your house, this will ensure a natural position and keep your unit in the best condition.
4. Choose the right place to store the mattress
Never store your mattress in a humid and damp space. These are the ideal environment for mould to develop and damage your unit. That’s why keeping your mattress in the roof space, basement or garage can be a serious mistake simply because these are usually the dampest areas in your house. Also, you often store many tools and equipment, which are typically sharp, so it is likely to scratch or damage the surface of your mattress.
The best place to store your mattress is a climatized storage space. This means that the area should be able to keep a perfect level of humidity and temperature in the air. This combination will ensure that all exterior components such as vermin, mildew, mould, and dust can find a suitable environment to develop or build up.
