A well-made, high-quality mattress has only one job; to ensure your sleeping experience is comfortable and soothing. However, if your bedroom is upstairs, this type of mattress can seem overwhelming to carry over because the designs tend to produce an overall big and heavy mattress.
What will you do if your company delivers your mattress but does not help you get it upstairs? Of course, you won’t sleep outside. You’ll somehow have to get it upstairs.
Well, you don’t have to worry since getting the heavy mattress to your bed upstairs isn’t difficult as it may seem. Equipped with proper lifting techniques, you can carry the mattress over without any injuries, damages or getting dirty.
Some good techniques for manoeuvring tight corners on the stairwell also do exist.
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Why Don’t Mattress Deliverers Help Carry Mattresses Upstairs?
Most delivery companies do not allow their workers to help clients get their mattresses upstairs, and the reason is quite justifiable.
Often, delivery teams have many drops to make in a day. So, if they start carrying mattresses upstairs, they’ll lose a significant amount of their time and won’t be able to efficiently complete their deliveries within the scheduled timeframe.
What Kind of Mattress Is Easy to Carry on a Stairwell?
As of today, the most convenient mattress you can carry upstairs without much hassle is one that has a box package. They are smaller, rigid, and stable.
Plus, the package’s design is to offer protection.
If you anticipate needing a mattress upstairs while shopping for one, consider ordering one with a box package.
Is It Safe for Two People to Carry a Mattress Upstairs?
Yes, it is safe for two people to carry a foam mattress upstairs. Two extra pair of hands makes the job easier and less demanding. Here’s why and how:
- You’ll share the weight of the mattress, each carrying half of the weight
- It’s easier to spot any hazards like obstacles on the stairs when you are at opposite ends of the mattress.
- Unlike when carrying a mattress alone, being two enables you to hold the mattress comfortably and ergonomically.
Remember always to check how much the items you’re lifting weigh, whether you have partners or doing it alone.
Lifting anything outside your capabilities will drain you and even cause injury. Therefore, being cautious and mindful of your limitations is important to ensure a safe lifting experience.
How Can I Get Started Lifting a Heavy Mattress on a Staircase?
The first step before attempting anything is to always clear way. Little things and objects like shoes, doormats, and dog toys often crowd the stairwell. You have to remove them to minimise the risk of tripping over them.
Additionally, clear the path you’ll be using within the house. Remove chairs, house equipment, and even debris that happens to be in your way. And finally, in the bedroom, create some room for unrolling the mattress.
Mattresses in thick packages or boxes often need tools to open them. Ensure you have the right tools ahead of the mattress’s arrival time. If you have a bed frame, ensure it is set up so you can easily place the mattress on top.
How Can I Maintain a Clean Mattress While Carrying It up the Stairwell?
Staircases can be dusty and dirty, especially those shared in apartments. However, with the kind of mattress you have and the condition of your stairwell, it’s possible to keep a mattress clean when carrying it upstairs.
The most effective way to maintain a clean mattress while moving it is to retain it in the packaging box. Attempting to clean the stairwell will only leave you exhausted, plus it’ll waste most of the time you would have used on the actual task – carrying the mattress.
The only downside of carrying the mattress while still in the packing box or material is that you must return the packaging downstairs later. However, it’s still worth it since you’ll have a clean, beautiful mattress on your bed.
What if your mattress comes in limited packaging? You’ll have to be creative and wrap it in a sheet.
How Should You Correctly Lift a Mattress While Going Upstairs?
The proper techniques to carry any mattress upstairs are quite similar to those utilised when lifting other heavy materials.
These techniques emphasise proper body mechanics and distribution of weight to minimise the risk of injury and make the task more manageable. By applying these principles, individuals can ensure a smoother and safer experience while navigating staircases with a heavy mattress.
Below are crucial safety tips. Ensure you follow them.
- Keep your torso in a reasonably straight position. Bending forward invites back pains.
- Don’t turn abruptly or twist to one side. Generally, maintain an upright posture.
- Ensure you carry the bed at a low level that’s comfortable.
- Be cautious, and don’t exert too much weight on yourself. If possible, find a partner. Also, stop and take breaks whenever you feel like having one.
How Can I Get Past Corners With a Mattress?
There are types of mattresses that can easily fold, making them easy to pass places like corners. However, those that can’t need some creativity for you to manoeuvre a corner.
One effective technique is to raise the mattress and make it stand upright. If the mattress is in a box, it will be easier. This approach can be particularly effective if the mattress is encased in a box.
It’s essential to exercise caution and maintain a firm grip on the mattress while attempting this manoeuvre to prevent it from slipping or tipping over.
Is It Necessary to Move Your Mattress?
When moving houses, the need to also bring your old mattress might seem persuasive. The lifespan of most mattresses is around ten years. Is it necessary to move it?
Well, here’s your answer. If the mattress has signs of wear and tear, which include sagging and indentations, or it doesn’t provide you with a good, quality sleep at night, consider ordering a new one at your new place.
Yes, it will be costly, but worth it. Plus, you’ll still require a new bed quickly anyway. Ordering a mattress online helps you cut the middleman out, allowing you to purchase a mattress at an affordable price.
Online deals are more popular because of how convenient they are. With an online purchase, you’ll receive your mattress right at your step and packaged in easy-to-carry cardboard. Some stores allow you to specify the type of packaging you prefer.
Additionally, an online mattress has an extended trial period that you can use to decide whether you like its comfort or not.
What should you do with an old mattress you’ve decided you won’t move with? We have several guides that can help you determine your next action step, including how to donate it if you prefer.
General Tips for Moving a Mattress
You can get creative with how you move your mattress in several ways. The following are suggestions you can consider implementing when moving a mattress alone.
Helpful Tools for Moving Mattress
Moving a mattress requires a few necessary tools to make the task easier and more manageable. They include the following:
- Rope or straps
- Tape
- Cart or Dolly
- Bubble wrap
- A cover or mattress bag
- Moving blankets
- Scissors
1. Cover the Mattress
Besides sheets, your mattress still needs specific covering, like a mattress bag or plastic wrap, to ensure it stays clean throughout the moving, which is messy.
Your mattress may have contact with many surfaces, including the floor, the stairs, the ground outside, and the interior of the moving truck or van.
So before you think of sheets (the last covering), ensure you’ve covered the mattress with a bag or plastic wrapping. This way, you’ll ensure the bed has good protection when moving.
The following is a quick guide on how to wrap a mattress if you haven’t done it before:
- Remove all the toppers, sheets, pads, and pillows on the mattress.
- If you have a mattress bag, position your mattress on the wall, with the longer side facing upwards. Carefully cover the mattress by sliding the bag from the top. Gently lower the mattress to the floor and securely seal the opening by tightly taping it.
- To those covering the mattress in bubble wrap, moving blankets, or plastic wrapping, position the bed comfortably so it’s easy to wrap. Ensure you wrap it tightly so that little to no air is left.
- You can wrap the package with tape to give it an extra covering. This helps hold in place the material used in the covering to avoid slippage.
2. Fold Your Mattress
When moving a bigger, heavier mattress like the king or queen size, folding it up can make the process much easier, even for one person.
The best tip we can offer you when moving a big mattress is to fold it up. Folding helps reduce the width and height, making handling the package less flimsy.
Some mattresses are suitable for folding. The folding technique will work well on a mattress that’s all-foam and thin to medium in size, around 8 to 11.
Here’s how you can fold your mattress:
- Bend the mattress width-wise.
- Your preferred sleeping should face inside. This is to avoid it getting dirty.
- The bottom and the top should touch.
- Once the bed has folded, use straps to reinforce the position so it won’t flip open.
3. Strengthen the Support of a Floppy Mattress Using Cardboard
What if folding the mattress isn’t working for you, or it’s not just an option? Consider reinforcing its firmness with cardboard. Ratchet tie-downs or straps will come in handy when securing it to the slab of cardboard so that it doesn’t flop around while moving it.
4. Bend Your Knees When Lifting
Protect your back by avoiding using the back as your initial support when lifting heavy objects, including a mattress. So, to be sure you’re lifting correctly, don’t bend forward.
Do this instead. Start by bending your knees and hips to a squat position. Then pick up your mattress while ensuring it’s close to your body. To lift, straighten the legs.
Precautions include not lifting above your shoulder or turning or twisting the body when lifting heavy objects.
The National Library of Medicine of the U.S. outlines the following tips for lifting objects using the knees:
- Create base support by spreading your feet. It should be shoulder-width.
- Bring the object you’re attempting to lift close to the body as possible.
- Bend at the knees, not at the waistline, nor should you use the back.
- Tighten the stomach muscles (core) when lifting.
- Slowly, using knee and hip muscles, lift your object.
- When lifting the object, avoid leaning forward as you stand.
- When carrying the object around, keep it as close as possible
- Avoid twisting, especially your back, if you’re carrying or lifting an object
- When setting down the object, squat. Engage the knee and hip muscles while maintaining a straight back when squatting.
5. Take the Mattress to the Vehicle
After folding your mattress nicely or reinforcing it with cardboard, you can carefully carry it to the vehicle for transport. Help from a friend, neighbour, or family member will make this process more manageable.
If finding people to help you move is challenging, consider hiring a dolly. Most moving companies offer dolly rentals that you can take advantage of. Ensure you’ve cleared the path before gently rolling the mattress into the vehicle.
You may need a larger transport vehicle since most mattresses are larger and take up a lot of space. Once again, most moving companies and home improvement businesses have big trucks for rent. Consider using one to make your process easier.
How to Transport an All-Foam Memory Mattress
When moving memory foam mattresses, you must know a few extra tips. These mattresses are often heavy and change shape when you hold them. Therefore, a solid grip on the foam can take time and effort.
The following tips will help you move an all-foam mattress easily:
- The first step is to wrap the foam mattress. Follow the guidelines above.
- After wrapping it well, insert it into the cardboard. Customise the body board to hold the mattress.
- During transportation, place the mattress on a flat surface and do not stack other items on top. You can then tie the cardboard to ensure it is steady and firm.
Tips to Help You Move Your Mattress Alone
Use the Proper Type of Vehicle
Moving your mattress on your regular car is a bad idea. You risk damaging the mattress, and it will easily slip off. Use a truck or van to secure it.
Most, if not all, need to be transported while leaning against the wall of the truck. If that’s not the case, ensure that it’s secure in place with straps or ropes.
You can rent a moving truck or van from UHaul at reasonable prices if you don’t have one.
Hire a Shipping Company to Help You Move Your Mattress
If the distance you’re moving your mattress is long and you don’t have the finances to hire a truck and keep it on the road for long, consider shipping the bed. Cover the mattress well, and then look for a moving company to help you ship the price at reasonable rates.
We recommend working with uShp.com. You only need to provide measurements of the mattress and destination. You’ll get quotes to pick one that suits you. If the quotes are high, mention your budget to get shipping companies that will work with it.
Use a Cart or Dolly
Consider using a cart or dolly when moving a mattress from the house to the truck. Using some extra wheels, especially alone, can make things easier than expected.
Clear Your Way
Ensure the path you’ll be using is clear and free from obstacles. Tripping or bumping into objects while carrying a heavy object can be dangerous.
If an unmovable obstacle is on your way, you’ll have to angle your right mattress right to pass. Here, you’ll need some creativity, like carrying the mattress sides ways and at a degree that allows you to manoeuvre the obstacle.
Drag the Mattress
You can find two old unused blankets large enough for your mattress to fit inside them and tie all three together. Then, carefully drag the bed to its destination. Of course, only do this after moving it in the truck.
The blankets you use should be those you’re willing to dispose of after they get damaged, which is highly likely if the surfaces you are dragging the mattress on are rough. You should only resort to this method if everything possibly fails.
It is very unlikely that you can’t physically fit your mattress. If you reach this point, speak to neighbours and ask for help. Be ready to pay for their service. Or seek help from family members and relatives.
Unwrapping and Assembling Your Mattress
Finally, you’ve reached your new home, and it’s time to complete the moving process by unpacking and setting the mattress. Here’s how to go about it.
- Unwrap the mattress the moment you reach your new place. Otherwise, you risk the mattress developing tear lines and moisture accumulating in the wrappings.
- After unwrapping it, let it stand, leaning on the wall for some time to breathe. You can even store the mattress in a different room while setting up your bedroom furniture, including the bed frame.
- Next, we recommend you deep clean your mattress since it may have gathered dirt during transportation and when it was used (if it’s old). How to clean a mattress will vary from type to type, so check the cleaning guide before attempting any cleaning method.
- Once it’s clean, set it up on the bedframe.
We suggest that you do not spread your sheets on the mattress for some time so that the mattress can air out. Avoid utilising the sheets for as much time as you can and as long as it remains within your comfort level.
Conclusion
It can be tough to carry a heavy mattress upstairs, but it’s doable with the proper techniques, knowledge, and help from other people if necessary.
Before attempting to move your mattress, evaluate your physical capabilities with regard to the weight and size of the mattress.
Remember to employ recommended lifting practices to ensure you are safe and the mattress is not damaged. Squat down when lifting the mattress and also when setting it down. Bend your knees and keep your back straight or the spine at its natural position. Use equipment like dollies and straps to make the process efficient and easier.
To completely minimise the chances of accidents occurring, we strongly advise that you get help from at least one person.
Remember to take the necessary safety steps while moving a mattress upstairs. Follow the procedure we’ve outlined above to realise a successful move.
