If you have ever moved furniture, you know that one of the hardest things to handle is a mattress, especially if you have to climb stairs. Even with two or three people, there seems to be no easy way to grab a mattress. Here are some tips and advice before trying to conquer moving a mattress on your own.
Photo by St Gleam (Flickr)
Never Use the Mattress Handles
Ever wonder why mattress manufacturers put such flimsy handles on the sides of the mattress instead of the ends where it is easier for two people to lift vertically? Believe it or not, mattresses with handles were not designed to move and transport a mattress at all. So, if you have ever ripped off mattress handles while moving, you are in the majority of people who use mattress handles against the manufacturer’s intentions. While it may not seem logical, most mattresses handles are only provided for product positioning, not for exerting great force, such as attaching a rope to them and hauling the mattress to another floor.
Buy a Mattress Bag
You can purchase a specially-made mattress box or bag from a moving company. Mattress bags keep your mattresses and box springs clean during moving or storing while protecting against soil, dust and water damage. Many plastic mattress bags have built-in handles, but they are not very sturdy for transporting, so do not rely on them for transporting up a stairway.
Rent a Truck
Unless you have a large car with a roof rack, and you have experience with transporting large, awkward objects, tying a mattress to the roof of a car nearly always ends in disaster –especially if you have a king-sized mattress. It is not worth losing your mattress on the road. Even if you are moving your mattress a short distance, it is best to rent a small moving truck or pick-up truck. Home improvement stores have truck rentals for as low as $19.95.
Use a Moving Strap or Sling
Moving straps are sturdy tools for moving bulky furniture and would work fine for carrying a mattress up a flight of stairs. However, if you want to get even more specialized, one particular company makes a mattress strap sling carrier called the EZ-Sling. The EZ-Sling makes it easy for two people of different heights to carry and deliver an oversized mattress. For $19.95, you have greater control, helping you avoid swaying, wobbling and hard-to-balance hassles.
April Lentini writes for Apartment Guide in Washington, D.C.
