No matter the reason, there will come a time where we must get rid of our mattress. In this instance, finding out if you can store a mattress in a garage could save you a trip to goodwill, extra cash or time needed to re-sell it!
Mattresses can be stored in a garage if the necessary precautions are taken. To properly store a mattress in a garage, be sure to wrap it in plastic, or place it in a mattress bag to keep it clean from micro-invading forces such as dust, dirt, bugs, heat, and moisture.
A garage is a cold, damp and sometimes dirty place that forms dust quickly which means you shouldn’t be chucking your mattress in there and calling it a day (especially if you want to reuse or re-sell that mattress).
Protect Your Mattress Prior to Placing It Inside of Your Garage.
You can protect your mattress from mold, critters or similar bugs by covering it with a plastic storage bag. This will ensure nothing can get deep inside of the mattress and once you’re ready to reuse or re-sell it you can do so by simply cutting open the bag.
If you can opt for storing your mattress somewhere else (that isn’t so cold, damp and humid) then I recommend doing so, as a garage isn’t exactly an ideal place to store a mattress.
If you absolutely have to keep the mattress in a garage, remember to:
- Seal it securely to protect it from harboring bacteria.
- Place it flat (if you can) otherwise in an upright position is next suitable.
- Don’t store it in there for too long.
- Deep clean it once you remove it from the garage.
Can You Bend a Mattress?
If you wanted to bend a mattress without causing it damage, it would need to be a specific type of mattress.
Do You Have a Foam or Latex Style of Mattress?
Then yes you can bend this mattress without it causing significant damage. These types of mattresses were made to be durable and flexible, incase you needed to travel with it frequently. For you that means you can bend, roll or do all sorts of folding with these style of mattresses without worry.
Do You Have a Coil/Spring Style of Mattress?
Yes you can bend it, however, it should only be for a very short period of time otherwise it will definitely cause significant damage. These types of mattresses were not made for them to be bent, folded or rolled (plus it would be very hard to do so).
If you have a coil or spring style of mattress and you’re needing it to be bent for whatever reason, take a look further down this article where I explain an easy to read guide on how to compress a mattress.
Is a Mattress Protector Necessary?
A mattress protector is definitely necessary, especially if you find yourself doing more than just sleeping on your bed. (No, I’m not talking about anything sexual here. This is a mattress article! I’m talking about eating or drinking on your bed, young children sleeping in your bed or similar situations).
Not only is a mattress protector affordable but doesn’t impact the overall comfort of your mattress and it’s a great investment for protecting the lifespan of your mattress.
A mattress protector will help to protect your mattress by saving any spills, sweat or bad odors from seeping inside. Plus, it’s simple to clean and only requires it to be cleaned every 2 – 3 months!
How Long Do Sealy Mattresses Last?
The guarantee for a sealy mattress ensures it’ll last you up to ten years. Some customers, however, have claimed that their sealy mattress has lasted them multiple decades!
How Do You Compress a Mattress?
Considering you have a memory foam mattress, compressing (or deflating/folding) it isn’t as hard as you may imagine it to be.
- You’ll need to purchase a sealable mattress bag which is big enough to fit your mattress. You can purchase sealable mattress bags for your specific mattress size.
- Slide the bag over your mattress and carefully seal as well as duct taping every side to ensure there is no air being released from the bag.
- Once the bag is securely sealed, cut a hole (tight enough to fit your vacuum valve inside.
- Stick the valve firmly against the mattress and let the vacuum begin its magic.
- Once the mattress has reached a decent depth for it to be rolled up, carefully roll it up (with the valve still attached to the mattress) and begin duct taping each end. I suggest purchasing a few rolls of tape to ensure effectiveness.
- After you have duct taped each side of the mattress, take the valve out and finish taping the middle section where the vacuum was inserted.
- There you go! You now have a compressed mattress.
Compressing a mattress works exceptionally well if you’re moving houses and need to save space, as well as making it much easier for you to travel with.
Can You Wash Sealy Mattress Covers?
Yes you can wash sealy mattress covers. Depending on the exact model of the sealy mattress cover you’ve purchased, follow the instructions that come on the package.
In general however, machine wash the sealy mattress cover in warm water and tumble dry on low heat as per normal. Avoid using iron afterwards as well as non-chlorine bleach. If you do not have a dryer, simply allow it to air dry naturally.
How Often Should a Mattress Protector be Washed?
If you are anything like me, someone who is frantic about keeping the bedroom clean and tidy, then you’ll probably be washing your mattress protectors along with other bedding almost every month.
This is definitely too excessive and unnecassary (I know guys… I have a problem). A mattress protector doesn’t get as dirty as your regular sheets or bedding, therefore you can get away with washing it only once every 2 or 3 months.
Depending on the brand of your mattress protector, it’ll usually come with individual instructions explaining how to take care of it along with a guide on the frequency of wash; but generally only washing your mattress protector several times a year will be more than sufficient.
After washing your mattress protector, leave it out to air dry or you can use a dryer. If the protector is suitable for tumble drying then you can place it on a medium heat, otherwise opt for the “air dryer” setting just to be safe.
The more you take care of it, keeping it clean and protecting it from damage it will be able to last you anywhere between 5 – 15 years! (However, it wouldn’t hurt to change it earlier).
What’s the Difference Between a Mattress Pad and a Mattress Protector?
Although both mattress pads and mattress protectors are two both amazing products to have, there is a slight difference between the two.
A mattress pad and a mattress protector both have the same intention of protecting your mattress, however, the main difference between the two is:
- A mattress pad is ideally to add more comfort and;
- A mattress protector is used to protect random spills or other damage to your mattress.
Using a mattress pad works great in situations where you have an old or worn out mattress and can not afford or do not want to purchase a brand new mattress.
In this instance, purchasing a comfortable (and sometimes stylish) mattress pad will replicate the feeling of a brand new mattress and will allow you more comfortability again.
Using a mattress protector works great in all situations. Whether you’re an adult, child, dog or cat; having a mattress protector directly on top of your mattress will protect it from any spillage or drinks, stains, blood or urine, sweat and similar substances.
Do Mattresses Shrink Over Time?
Believe it or not, a mattress can shrink over time. Although the exterior of the mattress may not shrink, the overall depth definitely can.
If you think about how long you spend on your mattress, sleeping or sitting down on it per day; it can range anywhere from 8 -10 hours. Times this by 5 – 10 years and it’ll equal a long time you’ve spent on top of your mattress.
Considering this is the case (and the mattress is frequently used), the depth of the mattress will shrink and sometimes may form an indentation.
Avoid your mattress from shrinking over time by taking care of it frequently, and flipping it over regularly to prolong the shape and overall feel.
Do Mattresses Gain Weight?
If you’re one of the people who are interested in finding out the truth behind the myth “do mattresses gain weight” then you are not alone. In short, yes a mattress can gain weight over time (but maybe not as much as the common myth).
A mattress can gain weight simply due to the amount of dead skin we shed each week as well as dust mites and the droppings they do on our mattress. Considering both factors, our mattresses will absorb these things and over time will increase the original weight.
The weight of a mattress may not “double in size over a 10 year period” as some people may claim, however, it can definitely can gain a few lbs over the years simply from the two factors mentioned above.
To keep your mattress from gaining weight (or more importantly to stop it from containing dust mite and bacteria) you should ensure you clean your mattress at least once a month as well as using mattress protectors and clean sheets frequently.
Is There a Way to Deep Clean a Mattress?
Yes, there is a way to deep clean a mattress and in my opinion, it should be apart of everyone’s yearly routine.
If we could see the amount of bugs and bacteria living inside of our mattress, I doubt we’d allow ourselves to sleep on it (or get a good night’s sleep).
Deep cleaning a mattress has many benefits. To name a few it removes dust mites or similar bugs, it clears away any accumulating dust, ensures cleanliness to our skin, can remove certain stains and prolongs significant wear or tear.
The Best Way to Deep Clean a Mattress is:
1: Vacuum or Steam the Mattress
This will ensure you’ll remove any bacteria on the surface of the mattress and will contribute to getting rid of any unwanted dust.
2: Sterilize the Mattress
Whether you’ve purchased a deodorizer online or have opted to using baking soda, simply sprinkle the product over the mattress and allow it to be soaked up for at least 24 hours.
3: Disinfect the Mattress
Opt for liquid solutions and lightly soak it in a rag or an old towel. Gently pat down your mattress with slight pressure covering the entire surface. Go over any stains with a slightly harder pressure and work in circular motions.
The goal is to have the mattress slightly damp, not saturated.
Allow the solution to sit for an extended period and then pat down the mattress with a warm rag afterwards.
4: Vacuum the Mattress Again
Considering you’ve waited a decent amount of time for the mattress to dry in the sun, go over the mattress with a vacuum another time to remove any debris.
5: Protect Your Mattress
Once you’ve successfully deep cleaned your mattress, ensure you protect it by covering it with a fresh set of sheets and a mattress protector underneath.
If you have a young child or often sweat throughout the night, you have the option of purchasing a waterproof mattress protector instead!
How Heavy is a Mattress?
If you’re wanting to know how heavy is a mattress, you should consider the brand and size prior. Depending on the size and brand of your mattress, will determine just how heavy it truly is. As a basic guide for US based mattress weights:
| Twin Mattress | Full Mattress | Queen Mattress | King Mattress | Cal King Mattress |
| 45lbs / 20kgs | 56lbs / 25kgs | 71lbs / 32kgs | 92lbs / 41kgs | 92lbs / 41kgs |
Should I Vacuum My Mattress?
As previously mentioned, the table listed above will vary in weight depending on factors such as the weight inside of the box and out of the box, the brand of the mattress, the mattresses manufacturing origin and similar.
Yes, it is a great idea to vacuum your mattress, in fact it does not hurt to vacuum it every 4 weeks or so! Sure, we may clean our bed sheets every week, however, it’s important to remember that cleaning your mattress is just as important (and that goes for vacuuming).
It’s easy to forget how much bacteria can form on our mattress, regardless if we’ve washed our bed sheets 1000 times.
Dust mites as well as other little critters are so small we may not even know we have them in our mattress, therefore ensuring you vacuum once a month will help to reduce this problem.
Handy Tip: Every fourth week (usually when you change your bed sheets etc), is a great time to inspect your mattress and whip out the vacuum. That way, you kill two birds with one stone!
How Do You Disinfect a Mattress?
The easiest way for disinfecting your mattress is through the use of a steamer or similar steam cleaner and running it over the exterior of your mattress. This will help to rid away any dust mites that may be roaming the surfaces (which we can’t visibly see) and get rid of any excess germs.
If you’re looking for a thorough clean that gets deep inside the mattress, extra steps are required. Unfortunately, it won’t be as simple as sprinkling baking soda over the surface and calling it a day (although this will help to remove any odors!).
To thoroughly disinfect a mattress, you’ll want to use the advice mentioned above and then continue on cleaning by using a disinfectant spray or solution of some kind. (Avoid using bleach at all costs).
Spray a decent amount of disinfectant/antibacterial spray all over the mattress followed by using a warm cloth to wipe it clean or if you’re using a solution based product; Pat all over the surface ensuring your rag or towel is not completely saturated (this will cause mold to form) followed by wiping it afterwards.
Remember: You want the mattress to be slightly damp not saturated in solution.
Simply leave the mattress out to dry in a “not too hot, not too cold” area, preferably on a day where it isn’t cold or humid and it’ll be ready for use within 6 -8 hours (so remember to start early).
Where Can I Get Rid Of Old Mattresses?
If you’re doing a spring clean of your home and have realized that it’s time to upgrade your mattress, fear no more! If you live in the States, there are plenty of places or things you can do if you are looking to get rid of any old mattresses you may have.
- Salvation Army
- Goodwill
- Craigslist
- A mattress recycling/disposal store
- Habitat for Humanity
- Your local dump
- Repurpose it! Use sites such as YouTube or Pinterest to gain inspiration
- Loadup
- Earth911
- Homeless, women or family shelters
- 1800-GOT-JUNK
Sometimes if you do not live locally to thrift stores or can not afford to hire a company the best option is throwing it away. If you can repurpose the mattress, that would be ideal however, it’s not everyone’s first choice. Putting the mattress online may also work in your favor and you’ll be able to ask the buyer to pick it up too.
Here are some of our favorite products
Thank you for reading this post. We hope you found it helpful.
Tools used in Garage: We recommend homedepot. They offer Hand Tools, Tool Chests & Cabinets, Power Tool Accessories, Nail Guns & Staplers, Woodworking Power Tools,etc. You always can find what you need.
Customized Cabinets Online: We recommend Shaker Cabinets. Custom designs from dedicated professionals. Most styles ship within 5-7 business days. Orders over $2,400 ship for free! They also offer Bathroom Cabinets, Pantry Cabinets ,Laundry Room Cabinets.
Paint Spray Equipment and Accessories: Check out the Earlex HV5500. They offer Painting Equipments, Fluid Handling Equipments, Surface Prep Equipments, Powder Coating Equipments, Compressed Air, etc. FREE Shipping On Order Over 80$.
Water Filters: We recommend Waterdrop refrigerator filters Search your filter model Certified by NSF, WQA, and IAMPO against 42, 53 and 401 standards, Waterdrop replacement filters are safe and reliable. They offer Countertop Water Filters, Undersink Filters, Camping & Survival Filters, RV & Marine filters, Pool spa filters, Garden Filters and Whole House Water Filters. Free Shipping On All Orders & 30-day Return.
