How to transport a mattress and slatted bed base when moving house?

In a nutshell

How to move a mattress:

• Wrap your mattress with a plastic cover specially designed for moving

• Only fold or roll the mattress as a last resort

• Put the mattress in the moving truck first, and store it vertically

How to move a slatted bed base:

• Take the entire bed base apart if possible and, if not, the legs will do

• Store the base vertically in the moving truck, next to the mattress

• Protect the visible side with a cover

• Do not transport it on the roof of a car

Whether it’s crockery, clothes or electronic equipment, every item needs special care when moving house.

And bedding is no exception.

For such large, relatively fragile and sometimes costly items, the quality of the packaging and the method of transport are key to protecting your slatted bed base and mattress when moving.

A mattress can easily tear if it comes into contact with furniture or a sharp object.

Similarly, a slatted bed base must be properly wedged to avoid potential bumps.

As for pillows and duvets, they too need to be protected during transport, otherwise they could be punctured.

Fortunately, our storage experts are at your disposal to make your life easier. Here’s a guide on how to protect your bedding when moving.

This is probably one of the most frequently asked questions when moving house.

Let’s be clear, we only recommend rolling or folding a mattress as a last resort, especially if it’s an innerspring mattress!

Indeed, twisting a mattress will almost certainly damage it.

If you really have no choice, here’s how to go about it:

1. Fold the mattress widthways. The side you sleep on should be on the inside
2. Maintain it shut with several straps
3. Transport it on a wheeled trolley to the moving truck

<mark class="cdx-marker">In another article</mark>, we said a hand trolley was the best investment to make when moving house.

Well, a good mattress cover is undoubtedly the best candidate for second place.

These are generally made of plastic and used to protect against impact and soiling during transport, and come in handy for medium to long-term storage in a storage unit, for instance.

If the mattress is transported next to objects that could damage it, don’t hesitate to add an extra cover over potential contact patches.

HOMEBOX’s tip: you can leave the undersheet in place to save time on arrival and provide additional protection for the mattress. ;)

Unfortunately, this largely depends on the type of bed base you have.

For instance, a wooden slatted bed base, which is often supplied in parts, can easily be taken apart in less than an hour with someone’s help.

On the other hand, if you have a low cost slatted bed base, or an electric or sprung base, the task can prove much more difficult!

In any case, make sure you remove the legs to make transporting and storing the bed base easier.

Before you consider moving your bedding, make sure to clear the path between your and the moving truck, in both your old and new homes. Open the doors wide and move all the furniture and boxes out of the way.

Using a truck or van is clearly the best transport option.

Store your mattress upright against the back wall of the truck.

This will act as a wedge for the bed base that you can slide next to it. This will also help keep the mattress upright, preventing it from folding in onto itself.

Don’t forget to protect the open side of the mattress with blankets or a tarp!

The second transport option is far trickier.

We do not recommend transporting bedding on the roof of a car for several reasons:

• It poses a risk to your mattress and/or slatted bed base

• It poses a risk to your car and therefore to yourself

• It poses a risk to passers-by and street furniture if the load comes loose because it is poorly secured or pushed off by a gust of wind

If however, you’re determined to use your own car, make sure to place the bed base and then the mattress on the roof bars, then use as many straps as possible to secure the load (at least two widthwise and one lengthwise).

Your objective here is twofold: to make your household linen remains pristine while saving as much space as possible.

The best (and most ingenious) solution involves using vacuum storage bags.

Vacuum storage bags are used in the same way as conventional fabric storage bags, with one exception: they have a valve that allows you to connect a hoover hose and create a vacuum!

This compresses the bag’s contents, saving an impressive amount of space.

If you live in a small apartment, these bags will become life-savers!