Do I Need a Mattress Bag or Cover for My Move?

Do I Need a Mattress Bag or Cover for Moving?

Think moving a mattress is as easy as throwing it in the back of your moving truck? Think again. Unfortunately, both innerspring and memory foam mattresses are prone to damage when moved, making protective mattress bags an absolute essential. Without mattress bag covers, your floppy mattress will likely become dirty and bent out of shape while in transit. If this happens, you can say “goodbye” to those sweet dreams and “hello” to a myriad of sleep problems. Your mattress is, after all, one of your most underrated and valuable possessions. In fact, high quality mattresses don’t come cheap. These bedroom items cost anywhere from $500 to upwards of $5,000 or more, making them (oftentimes) more valuable than the bed, itself. So while protecting your mattress may not be at the top of your moving priority list, we think it should be. Here’s everything you need to know about mattress bags, including where to find them.

What are mattress bag covers?

If you’ve never used a mattress bag to move, we suggest starting now. These heavy-duty, plastic bags accommodate a variety of mattress sizes, including twin, full, queen and king sizes. No matter how big or small your mattress happens to be, you won’t have trouble finding a cover that fits. The heavy-grade material protects mattresses from dust, dirt and light exposure. If you plan to place your mattress in storage, mattress bag covers will also provide protection from moisture and water damage as well as pests (think: bed bugs and mice – yikes!). When choosing a mattress bag, just make sure to pick a product made of thick, waterproof plastic from a well-reviewed and reputable company.

Why do I need a mattress bag when moving?

Plastic mattress bag covers provide an easy way to preserve and shelter one of your most valuable household items. Three important reasons why you will need a mattress bag when moving include 1) to prevent bed bugs, 2) to protect your mattress from water damage and 3) to keep your mattress in tip-top condition when stored.

Unfortunately, bed bugs and pests can be a big problem when moving or storing a mattress. After all, you never know what’s inside a moving truck or storage unit. If you’re moving to a large, urban center where pests are prominent, you’ll need to be especially aware of any bed bug problems. Otherwise, you could end up with quite a few unwelcome house guests. Water damage is another big factor to consider when moving or storing a mattress. Moving a mattress from one home to another means having your mattress exposed to the outside elements (think: rain, snow or sleet). If your mattress becomes wet while in transit, it could get damaged (or worse – ruined completely) before it even makes it to the new home. Finally, keeping your mattress in tip-top condition requires the use of a mattress bag when moving. In addition to protecting your mattress from the elements, it will keep the springs inside your mattress in good working order.

Who sells mattress bags and where can I find them?

Disassembling a bed and moving a mattress isn’t easy. However, protecting these items from damage while they’re being moved is plenty doable, thanks to mattress bags and other moving supplies. Fortunately, finding a plastic mattress protector for moving and storage isn’t difficult. Curious who sells mattress bags? Here’s a list of five easy-to-find retailers selling mattress bag covers.

U-Haul– U-Haul’s online store carries mattress bags as well as plastic moving covers for other furniture items such as couches and chairs. Mattress bag options include plastic covers specifically designed for regular mattresses and pillow top mattresses. U-Haul also sells sealable mattress bags for extra protection against bugs and pests.
UBoxes– UBoxes provides a wide range of mattress bag sizes as well as dust covers and mattress box kits for king and queen mattress sizes. The retailer also sells mattress covers in multi-packs for customers who have more than one mattress to move.
The Home Depot– Whether it’s a queen size mattress cover for moving or a king size mattress cover for storage, you’ll find plenty of plastic mattress covers available in-store and online at The Home Depot.
Lowe’s Home Improvement– In addition to the typical plastic mattress bags, Lowe’s Home Improvement offers customers hypoallergenic bed covers. These covers are made of soft, cotton-like fabric and provide extra protection against dust mites, allergens and bed bugs.
Amazon– For a look at a wide variety of mattress bag brands and options, try searching on Amazon. The site sells every kind of mattress cover imaginable from a number of companies. Those with Amazon Prime may be eligible for free shipping as well.

How do I pack and move a mattress inside a mattress bag?

Given a mattress’s heavy, floppy nature, it’s important that this household item be moved correctly. Here are seven steps to packing and moving a mattress using a truck rental.

Purchase all necessary moving supplies

Find a friend to help

Remove and pack all bedding

Wipe down the mattress and place inside the mattress bag

Use caution when moving the mattress upright

Load the mattress onto a moving truck and secure with tie-downs

Lie mattress flat when storing

Need help moving your mattress to a new home?

Moving a mattress often requires more than one person. Fortunately, those in need of moving day assistance can find a reliable moving company through Moving.com’s extensive network of movers. Our website makes it easy to find and book the best moving company for the job. All relocation companies in our network are licensed and insured, so you can rest assured that your move will be in good hands. In addition to labor assistance, you may need help with planning and coordinating the actual move. For customizable moving checklists, personal tasks list, email reminders and coupons to help you stay organized during the move, check out our move planner tool. Best of luck and happy moving!