How do I Prepare my Mattress for Moving?
The way in which you decide to move a mattress will depend on the type of mattress you have. Each kind requires a specific treatment to ensure it makes it safely from your old home to your new home without any damage.
How to Move a King Size Mattress
A king-size mattress varies from around 90 to 100 pounds, meaning moving it is a difficult task. Moving a king-size mattress can be dangerous and cause physical harm due to the sheer weight of it. However, there are some steps you can take and some top tips you can follow to ensure the process is as smooth as possible.
First thing’s first, remove all the bedding and pillows from your mattress and pack them away. Pack your pillows and duvet into a box so that they can easily be transported. The most important thing to keep in mind when moving a mattress of this size and weight is to avoid doing it alone. Make sure you have someone on hand who can help you out.
Preparation is equally important in the moving process. Therefore, make sure you have your route from bedroom to vehicle completely mapped out. Once you have the route mapped out, make sure the route is completely clear.
The next step of preparation involves choosing the right vehicle to transport your mattress. Whether it be a car, truck or van, make sure the doors are fully open so that the mattress can slide straight in when you get there.
To move the mattress, make sure it is safely stored in a mattress bag so that it doesn’t get damaged in the process. Then, engage your core and lift the mattress onto a dolly. If you are using a pickup truck or moving truck, you can quickly and simply transfer the mattress into the holding area.
How to Move a Mattress without a Truck
If you are moving your mattress without the help of a moving or pickup truck, the initial steps of transporting your mattress are the same. However, there are some additional steps that must be followed in order to secure your mattress to the car.
If your car has a luggage rack on top, the first thing you will need to do is place the mattress flat on that luggage rack and ensure there are no rips in the mattress bag. Once the mattress is flat on the rack, you must then secure it with rope or ratchet straps across the front, back and center of the mattress. To fully secure the mattress to the top, tie the rope into a tight knot.
If your car does not have a luggage rack, you are going to have to lay your mattress flat directly on the roof of your car. Once it is sitting flat on the top of the car, use rope or ratchet straps to secure it. Wrap the rope or straps across the front, back and center of the mattress and then feed them through the front passenger door jams, through the open windows of the back passenger seats and through the boot of the car. To ensure full security, tie tight knots between the ropes.
How to Move a Memory Foam Mattress
Although you can move your memory foam mattress in the same way that you would move a normal mattress, there are some tricks and tips that can make moving a memory foam mattress easier than your regular mattress.
Memory foam mattresses have the ability to morph and compact themselves more so than a normal mattress, which you should definitely take advantage of to make your transportation and storage journey easier.
You will need to invest in a vacuum bag for this, but they are relatively inexpensive. But first, wrap your mattress up in a mattress bag. Once in the bag, ensure it is sealed and use the vacuum hose to compress it down to a fraction of its original size.
Now that the mattress has been shrunk, it should be easy to roll it up. Lay it on the floor and simply roll it up, securing it with ropes, ratchet straps or even duct tape. You can then slide it into your car or truck with ease.
Equipment Needed To Move a Mattress
Moving is all about preparation. One of the best ways to be prepared is to make sure you already have all the equipment you could possibly need on moving day.
Here is a list of all the equipment you will need to move your mattress from bed to vehicle and from vehicle back to bed in your new home.
Mattress Bag
A mattress bag is arguably one of the most important pieces of equipment needed when transporting your mattress. These are inexpensive bags tailored to the size of your mattress and will ensure your mattress is not damaged during transportation.
Bubble Wrap
Bubble wrap is a staple when moving house. It can be utilized for a plethora of different things, so always make sure you have some on hand. Wrapping up your mattress in bubble wrap will afford you an extra layer of protection for your mattress.
Rope or Ratchet Straps
Rope or ratchet straps will come in handy to secure your mattress to your car or truck. If you are confident in your knot tying abilities, rope will be more than sufficient, but if you want more peace of mind, investing in ratchet straps is a good idea.
Dolly
Buying or renting a dolly is an extremely smart decision when moving a mattress. It will save you from having to move it from your bed frame to your vehicle completely by hand.
What is the Best Way to Move a Mattress?
Although you can always move a mattress completely by yourself, there are also alternative options which do not require the same level of effort.
Here are some of the best ways to move a mattress:
Move it by Yourself without a Dolly
The first option for moving your mattress is the one that we would least recommend as it is the most dangerous, the most stressful and overall just the hardest option.
If you are going to move the mattress completely on your own, as previously mentioned, preparation is of the utmost importance. Make sure the mattress is appropriately prepared and wrapped up in a mattress bag and that you definitely have a clear path.
You should then ensure your core is fully engaged and lift the mattress, putting the weight in your knees, not your back. Also, make sure you are doing this with another person, it is unreasonable to believe you can transport a mattress entirely on your own.
Once lifted, tilt the mattress on its side so it’s easier to get through doors and down stairs. Then secure it to the top of your car or in the back of your truck as he’s been previously explained.
Move it by Yourself with a Dolly
Moving it by yourself but with the help of a dolly is significantly easier than carrying it through your house on your own without any equipment to help you. The process is largely the same as above, but you simply lift the mattress onto a dolly that can then be pushed through the house and to your car or truck for it to then be secured.
If you do not want to buy a dolly, you do not have to. You will likely only need it for a day or two so renting it could be a great option for you. If you rent a dolly, you can keep the cost down.
If you prefer to transport your mattress on your own and not seek professional help to move it, it is recommended that you use a dolly to make the whole experience a lot easier for you.
Hire a Professional Moving Company
The easiest and most stress free option is to hire a professional moving company. There are many companies available who can help you coordinate all of your moving needs.
Hiring professional movers is the ultimate option as not only will they help you move your mattress, but will also help you to move anything else in your house. You can even pay them a little extra to pack everything up for you so that you know everything will be transported as safely as possible.
Moreover, professional movers will provide you with a moving truck so you won’t have to worry about getting one yourself or go through the stress of attaching the mattress to the roof of your car.
At the end of the day, the entire moving process is stressful enough without you having to worry about how you are going to lift your mattress off your bed let alone move it to another house. Therefore, you should definitely consider hiring professional movers to make the whole experience far easier and less stressful.
To look at the professional movers in your area as well as browse other great moving services and top tips, check out our moving tips and tricks.
FAQ – The Most Frequently Asked Questions About moving a mattress
How do I prepare a mattress for moving?
Make sure you wrap it in a mattress bag, clear the pathway, have a dolly to transport it with and secure it to your vehicle using ropes or ratchet straps.
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The cost to maintain a pool depends on the sanitizing agent being used, type of interior, water heater equipment, water filters, and size of your pool—the amount averages at around $300 to $500 per summer.
What equipment do you need to move a mattress?
To move a mattress, you need a mattress bag, bubble wrap, rope or ratchet straps as well as a dolly.
What is the best way to move a mattress?
The best and easiest way to move a mattress is with a professional moving company. They will make sure your mattress is safe and you won’t have to worry about hurting yourself.
