In order to prevent damage to your mattress during the moving and storage processes, consider the following suggestions.

I'll never forget the day I mastered the art of moving a mattress. For the start of my second year of college, my mom bought me the bed of my dreams. The gift, which she insisted on giving, was an "investment," as she put it. My first reaction was that it was a completely absurd concept. But the joke's on me, because even after all this time apart, I still frequently find myself daydreaming about that bed. Actually, I've had friends over specifically so they could nap on this mattress. )

The mattress quickly became an item I never left behind during a relocation, whether it was across town or across the country. To think that relocating a mattress would be a high priority is, well, absurd. Whoever has ever slept well and appreciated it, who has ever thought a good mattress was worth the money, or who doesn't have the money to buy a brand new bed, is the target audience.  

While it probably isn't worth your time to move each and every mattress you own, we've compiled some of our best advice for doing so if you ever find yourself with a bed you really love.

How to Move a Mattress: Step-by-Step Instructions

To relocate a mattress in a timely, efficient, and risk-free manner, consider the following eight guidelines.  

One, take mattress dimensions.  

Get out the measuring tape. It is important to know not only the standard size (twin, double, full, queen, king) of a mattress, but also its exact dimensions when moving it. Everything from the size of the mattress bag to the most efficient route, mode of transport, and storage solution depends on this.  

Second, amass your materials.

A mattress dolly, mattress bags, moving tape, scissors, straps, or ropes are all necessary to safely transport the mattress. (Here is a complete list of what you'll need to get started. )

Third, make sure there's enough room to get things done.  

Allow yourself plenty of time to get your mattress ready for transport. To save space in the room and to ensure you have a place to sleep up until the night before you move, it is recommended that you pack your mattress last.  

Take Four: Recruit an Assisting Hand (or Two)  

Mattresses are cumbersome, ungainly, and have a penchant for flopping. Don't try to figure out how to relocate your bed on your own. When moving a mattress, even the pros will need help from another set of hands. Instead, see if you can get the help of someone you know, like a pal or a relative. If you need specialists to handle more heavy lifting, you can hire assistance through a freelance labor service like TaskRabbit or Handy, or you can get hourly professional moving help.

Fifthly, put your mattress inside a sturdy mattress bag.  

When you move or store your mattress with this, it will be protected from dirt, dust, and other debris. Mattress bags for moving are available in standard mattress sizes, but the depth of your mattress is important to consider. You can use one on your box springs and one on your mattress because they typically come in pairs.

Clear a space to move the mattress, step 6.  

When moving a mattress, be sure to take down any lamps, pictures, or other movable objects that could fall and hurt someone.  

Step 7: Turn the bed on its side to make it more manageable.  

That usually entails turning the mattress on its side, making it longer than it is tall. Moving a mattress in its flat position is extremely difficult, especially because you will almost certainly have to squeeze it through doorways.  

Eighth, put the mattress in place and make sure it's stable.  

Positioning can vary depending on the type of mattress, so it's best to double-check with the manufacturer ahead of time. General guidelines for moving positions are provided below, organized by category:

• The standard method of caring for a mattress with an innerspring or encased coil system is to lay it on its side or flat (in the same orientation as when you sleep) on top of a flat surface, with nothing on top.  
• It's best to lay a memory foam or hybrid mattress flat, on a flat surface, with nothing on top.
• A box spring can be placed flat or on its side, and nothing should be placed on top of it (other than the mattress).

Remember that any mattress you're storing needs to be flat in order to be stored effectively. (Follow the link for storage advice.)    

(Instagram user @dangertommy gets the credit for this)

Some advice on how to best load and secure a mattress in various scenarios follows.

• Load the mattress on its side along the length of the moving truck, portable container, or cargo van, leaning against the wall of the vehicle for support. You can tie the mattress down with rope or ratchet straps. Built-in tie-down handles are standard equipment on PODS containers, moving trucks, and cargo vans, making this a breeze. You can use the open side to pack in heavy items like furniture or boxes. Do not place anything on top of the mattress.

• Mattresses of certain sizes can be transported in the cargo area of a minivan or large SUV by removing the rear seats. If you want to know if your mattress will fit, you'll need to take out the seats and measure the available cargo space against the dimensions of your bed. Most mattresses can be transported by securing them to the top of a car, but this is the most dangerous option and I do not advise it. You risk damaging the mattress or your car, or even getting into an accident, if you try to transport a bed in this manner.  

  Roof rack-equipped cars and SUVs are the best bet if this is your only choice. The mattress should be placed on the roof and tied down to the roof racks. Make sure to do this as many times as necessary to secure the mattress to the roof of the vehicle.  

• When storing the mattress in a storage unit or container, lay it flat and don't stack any other items on top of it. Storing a mattress on its side for an extended period of time can compromise its structural integrity and reduce its useful lifespan.  

Equipment required for transporting a mattress

The following is a comprehensive list of everything you'll need to successfully move and store your mattress.  

Mattress cover

A mattress bag is a large plastic bag designed to fit a mattress and keep it dry and clean during transport. I always double-bag my mattress and box springs when I move, as these can easily be damaged during transport. When shopping for a mattress bag, pay close attention to the depth measurements. Simply lay your mattress flat on the floor and measure its height in relation to the ground with a ruler or tape measure. A standard mattress is between eight and fourteen inches thick. If you're not sure what size mattress bag you need, pick the bigger one.

Change the tape

You can never have too much tape if you're packing to move. After you've stuffed your mattress into the plastic moving mattress bag, you can use this to make sure it stays put during transport.  

Scissors

Some people will advise you to use a box cutter to cut open the mattress bag, but I can tell you from experience that doing so is a surefire way to damage your mattress during the move. You're better off using scissors.  

Straps made of rope or ratchet buckles

After you have removed your mattress from your home or apartment, you should use ratchet straps or rope to fasten it inside your moving vehicle. Ratchet straps, also called tie-down straps, are sturdy straps with metal buckles designed for securing cargo. Get a few more than you think you'll need in case the bed is bigger than expected and you need to hook on some extra straps to make the ratchet straps longer. Choose a thick, industrial-strength rope over flimsy bungee cords that could let go and leave your mattress unsecure if you must use them.

The use of a furniture dolly is discretionary.

Although you can certainly improvise your way through the actual physical act of moving a mattress (for example, you can either push it along or rest it on top of a large piece of cardboard), a dolly will make your life much simpler. Unfortunately, it may be challenging to locate a place to rent a mattress dolly, despite the fact that they are the best option because they feature a secure slot to keep your mattress in place. Instead of carrying all of those heavy boxes and pieces of furniture yourself, you can rent a furniture dolly with four wheels and use it to make the move easier.  

Calculating the Size of Your Mattress

Standardized mattress sizes are helpful for getting a sense of the overall dimensions of a mattress, but the actual dimensions can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Take careful measurements of its length, width, and thickness.  

The mattress's longest dimension When you're flat on your back, this is the side that connects your head to your feet.   

Across the narrowest point of the bed's width.   

The depth of your mattress is another way of referring to its thickness. The standard thickness of a mattress is between 8 and 14 inches.  

mattress storage: dos and don'ts

Not much goes through our minds about our mattresses beyond whether or not they are keeping their end of the bargain while we are asleep. The proper way to store a mattress, however, is governed by a number of guidelines.  

• Remember to give your mattress a good cleaning before and after you store it. Get rid of dust and debris by vacuuming it, cleaning it with an upholstery cleaner or disinfecting spray, and letting it dry in the fresh air.  
• The best way to store your mattress is in a mattress bag. In fact, you can save time and effort by storing your mattress and box springs in the same protective plastic mattress bag you used during the move. The mattress must be completely dry before it is covered, and it must be well sealed inside the cover.  
• Mattresses SHOULD NOT be stored on their sides. We can't emphasize this enough: storing a mattress on its side, whether it's a spring, foam, gel, or hybrid, can compromise the interior integrity of the mattress and ruin it. After putting things on top of my wonderful, all-foam Tuft & Needle mattress for two years, I learned this the hard way. Never again was it the same. You should rotate its position once every 30 days if you have to store it on its side.
• DO NOT put your mattress in direct sunlight or near a heater. Your mattress may be damaged by extreme heat, cold, or moisture. This is why you shouldn't keep your mattress in the attic, basement, or garage. The temperature and humidity control of a storage facility is something to consider.  
• NOTHING should be placed on the mattress. That can throw off the mattress's shape and compromise its support.  

Finally, here's some encouraging information for anyone who has ever wondered how to transport or stow a mattress topper: This method is much more convenient. Simply roll them up, seal the ends with plastic and tape, and place them in the storage unit or a box with your other linens.

Moving a mattress can be a lot of work, but it's worth it if you take your time and do it right. When you finally lay your weary head on your favorite bed in your new home, you'll realize that every second and every doubt were well spent.

Los Angeles-based writer Katherine Alex Beaven has uprooted her life 20 times due to her insatiable appetite for travel and variety.