How to Fold a Mattress for Moving

During the packing stage of cross border moving, you will realise that some of your belongings do not fit neatly into the expected spaces, and moving them can be tricky. For example, mattresses are enormous and weirdly shaped, making them incredibly difficult and awkward to transport or store. So how can you make it better? Can you fold and shape a mattress? 

Yes, you can fold a mattress. However, it can be difficult if you do not know what you are doing. And although some furniture movers or moving services do the packaging for you, it is important to know how to do it yourself. This article gives you tips and tricks to help you successfully fold your mattress when moving. 

Folding a Mattress

Before we get into it, it is essential to note that it is not advisable to fold innerspring or foam mattresses thicker than 6”. Ideally, foam mattresses should be vacuum-packed and rolled up instead of folding. 

The innerspring mattress should never be folded and should be moved as it is. Folding an innerspring mattress will not only be difficult (naturally, the mattress will want to spring back to its original flat position), but even if you successfully fold it, there is a risk of damaging the spring coils and the border rod inside. 

Thinner foam and latex mattresses can be folded in half (fold it lengthwise with top and bottom touching. If in doubt, check with your movers for advice on how to package your mattress correctly. 

Note: Try not to keep the mattress folded for a long time. 

So, here is how to fold a mattress. 

What You Will Need

1. Help (A family member or a friend)
2. Tie-down straps or rope
3. Mattress bag or a plastic sheet

Process

1. With the help of your friend or family member, put the mattress in the mattress bag (or cover it with a plastic sheet). 
2. Fold the mattress in half with the top and bottom touching. One person will need to hold it in place to keep it folded.
3. Now use the tie-down straps or rope to tie the mattress into place. If you are using a rope, try to make a taut-line hitch knot. With this knot, the tension of the mattress will do the rest of the work for you. Here is a video illustrating how to make a taut-line hitch knot:

4. Now seal off the bag or plastic sheet. Ensuring that the ends of the mattress’s top and bottom are as tight as they can be, now tightly tuck in the edges of the bag to make a neat tight snug. You can use packing tape to finish this step if you like. 

How to Vacuum-Pack a Foam Mattress

If you have a foam mattress, you might need to vacuum seal it instead of folding it. However, it is advisable to check the mattress warranty and see if vacuum sealing it at home is manufacturer-advised.  Once you have confirmed, here is how to seal it:

What You Will Need

• Vacuum
• Vacuum bag
• Packing tape
• Ratchet straps or rope
• Mattress bag or plastic sheet
• scissors

Process

1. Place the mattress into a mattress bag and seal it using the packing tape.
2. Remove the valve from the vacuum bag and draw an outline of it on the mattress bag.
3. Using the scissors, cut out the outline.
4. Place the valve on the hole and tape it shut to prevent air escapes.
5. Now use the vacuum on the valve to suck out the air.
6. Now start rolling up the mattress and hold it in place using the ratchet straps or rope. You might need help to complete this step.  

Conclusion

It can be challenging to get it right when packing to move long distances. However, do not sweat it. Some moving companies offer full-service moving solutions that include taking care of your mattress packaging. Just check with our movers to see what is included in their services.

Give us a call at (800) 430-1537 to experience extraordinary service from the best moving company in town!