Mattresses can be bulky and difficult to store in small spaces. This is why the garage is a popular storage solution for keeping a mattress.

Mattresses are an expensive investment, so it is important to keep them in good condition until you are ready to use them again. Proper mattress storage will help your mattress retain its shape and decrease the chance of mold growth and odors. It will also help you save money by increasing the life span of your mattress.

Storing a mattress incorrectly in the garage can cause serious and irreversible damage. For this reason, it is important to learn how to store it properly the first time. In this post, I’ve gathered the best tips on how to store mattress in garage.

I may earn a small commission for purchases made through links in this post at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Frugal Home Addict! Learn more about my disclaimer policy here.

How To Store Mattress In Garage

1. Before storing, thoroughly clean the mattress (vacuum, treat stains, and deep clean).
2. Use a mattress storage bag.
3. Place silica gel packets inside the storage bag to keep your mattress dry and mold-free.
4. Lay the mattress flat on the floor. Don’t allow it to touch the floor directly, use a tarp if needed.

1. Clean The Mattress

Before learning how to store mattress in garage, it is important to give your mattress a thorough clean. A quality mattress can last a lifetime, so it’s important to take good care of it. You should deep clean your mattress regularly (at least twice a year) to get rid of any dirt, hair, dust and sweat build up.

A used mattress can be covered in bacteria, dust, and dirt. Thankfully, using the right cleaning products, it’s not too difficult to deep clean your mattress at home. Unless you want to, it’s not necessary to use a professional mattress cleaning service.

Without further ado, here’s three simple steps to clean your mattress properly:

a. Vacuum

Before storing your mattress in the garage, vacuum it thoroughly. Start by removing all pillows and blankets from your mattress. Strip off the bed sheets until the mattress is completely bare.

A hand held vacuum is perfect for this job and will easily pick up dirt and dust from tight crevices. Thoroughly vacuum the entire mattress to get rid of any dust and dirt build up. If needed, vacuum your mattress a few times to make sure the surface is clean.

For vacuuming a mattress, I highly recommend this QuickClean Cordless Handheld Vacuum from Black and Decker. This vacuum is lightweight, has a strong suction, and is easy to use. It’s a great product to remove hair, dirt, and debris from any surface and works well in tight spaces.

If you don’t have a hand held vacuum, your vacuum cleaner’s hose will also work. Note that it may be more difficult to use (because of the length of the hose), but will still get the same results. To deep clean AND disinfection your mattress, try using a UV Mattress Vacuum Cleaner instead. It works like a hand held vacuum with the added benefit of removing bacteria and mites.

b. Treat Stains

After vacuuming, it’s time to treat stains. Use an upholstery cleaner to get rid of deep stains without damaging the mattress.

For mattresses, I highly recommend this Fabric Cleaner from Forcefield. This professional strength cleaner deeply penetrates fabrics and effectively removes oil and water-based stains.

To use, stray this product directly onto stains and wait 1 to 5 minutes. Use a white microfiber cloth to blot out stains and excess product. Repeat until all stains are completely removed. For tough stains, use a scrub brush to gently loosen the stain for removal.

Avoid over soaking the mattress with a spot cleaner. If you use too much product, the mattress can take a while to dry. To prevent mold growth, make sure the mattress is completely dry before storing. This will help reduce the chance of odors in storage.

c. Deep Clean

It’s possible to deep clean your mattress without using a professional mattress cleaning service. Using a mattress cleaner machine, it is super easy to do it yourself at home! This special machine deep cleans and picks up tiny particles that normal vacuum cleaners can’t.

I recommend using a UV Mattress Vacuum Cleaner like this one from Dascooni. This product works similarly to a hand held vacuum, but will also deep clean and disinfect your mattress! This handheld mattress cleaner has a strong suction, built-in HEPA filter and UV lamp, and strong vibration to loosen particles.

If you want to give your mattress a professional clean at home, I recommend checking it. It’s a high quality product that’s well worth the cost! You can use it to also deep clean your couch, pillows, and more! Now that you’ve deep cleaned your mattress, here’s how to store it in a garage:

2. Use A Mattress Storage Bag

AlexHome Heavy Duty Mattress Bag | Amazon

Not sure how to store mattress in garage? Place your mattress inside a mattress storage bag. A mattress storage bag will help protect your mattress from dirt, dust, pests, and humidity. It will also help prevent your mattress from soaking odors and smelling like your garage.

It’s worth investing in a quality storage bag for your mattress. I highly recommend using this Heavy Duty Mattress Bag from AlexHome. This mattress bag is waterproof, reusable, and made of heavy duty tarp. It is designed specifically for moving and storing mattresses, and has 8 handles and dual zippers for easy transport and access.

Note: make sure the mattress is completely dry before placing it inside a storage bag. Moisture can cause mold and mildew growth, creating unpleasant odors and a difficult cleaning experience.

Best Mattress Storage Bag

3. Place Silica Gel Packets Inside The Storage Bag

If your garage isn’t climate-controlled, high moisture can cause odor-producing bacteria to grow inside your garage. If you live in an humid area, it’s important to keep your mattress as dry as possible. Although a quality mattress storage bag will help protect your mattress from moisture, it’s important take extra precautions.

Protect your mattress from a damp garage by placing silica gel packets inside the storage bag. Silica gel packets will help keep your mattress dry, clean, and odor-free. This is great tip on how to store mattress in garage longterm.

I highly recommend these silica gel packets from Amazon. This product is reusable can be reactivated by placing them in the microwave for 2 minutes. The silica gel starts out orange (this means it is dry and ready to absorb humidity). When the gel turns dark green, this means it is full of moisture and needs to be recharged!

This small hack will help you save time and money, and maintain the lifespan of your mattress. I recommend placing a few packets throughout the mattress storage bag and checking them every couple weeks.

4. Lay The Mattress Flat

Although leaning your mattress against a wall will save garage space, it’s better to lay it flat on the floor. When you store a mattress vertically, the gravity will cause it to warp overtime and damage its structure. Laying your mattress flat will help it retain its natural shape and maintain a long lifespan.

Never allow the mattress to touch the floor directly. Use a heavy duty mattress cover or place a tarp underneath it. For added security, I recommend using both. Tarps are inexpensive, waterproof, and will help keep your mattress dry when it’s lying flat on the floor. You can get a 6 x 8 feet tarp for under $10!

When choosing a spot for your mattress, avoid placing it near a heat source inside your garage. Some mattress materials (like some memory foams) will melt and lose its shape in high heat. I also recommend keeping sharp objects away from the mattress to prevent accidental punctures.

NEVER fold a mattress when storing (this will cause serious damage to it). Also avoid storing other items on top of the mattress. Lying objects on top of your mattress can cause permanent dents and deform it. These are important tips on how to store mattress in garage to keep its shape.

What To Do With Mattress Odors

In this post, I’ve gathered the best tips on how to store mattress in garage. Despite our best efforts, odors can still form on a mattress. If the mattress was not cleaned properly, odor-producing bacteria can thrive and feed on sweat, skin cells, and dust mites. If your garage has a high humidity, this can also cause mold spores grow.

Thankfully, it’s possible to get rid of odors from your mattress after storing it in a garage. I recommend using a fabric-friendly odor eliminating spray like this one from Fresh Wave. This plant-based odor eliminator effectively gets rid of strong odors from fabrics. Although this spray naturally smells like plants (pine needle, clove, lime, etc.) the odor does not linger around.

It’s a great product to make your mattress smell clean and fresh again after storing it inside a garage. This odor eliminating spray works better than standard fabric fresheners and won’t make your mattress smell like strong fragrances. If you think the mattress odor is caused by bacteria, I recommend also cleaning the mattress with a fabric cleaner and/or UV mattress vacuum cleaner.

Summarized: How To Store Mattress In Garage

There are many factors that can affect the life of your mattress. One of them is how you store it. If you are storing your mattress in a garage, here is quick step-by-step review on how to store it:

1. Start by removing all pillows and blankets from your mattress. Strip off the bed sheets until the mattress is completely bare. Before storing, thoroughly clean the mattress.
   1. Vacuum the surface with a hand held vacuum.
   2. Treat stains with a heavy duty fabric cleaner.
   3. Use a mattress cleaner machine to deep clean and disinfect. This is a great alternative to using a professional mattress cleaning service.
2. Place the mattress inside a mattress storage bag. To prevent mold growth, make sure the mattress is completely dry before storing.
3. To keep your mattress dry and mold-free, place a few silica gel packets inside the storage bag. You should check on the silica gel every couple weeks to see if they need to be reactivated or replaced.
4. Lay the mattress flat on the floor. Don’t allow it to touch the floor directly. I recommend placing a tarp underneath the mattress. NEVER fold a mattress when storing and avoid placing it near a heat source inside your garage. You should also avoid keeping sharp objects near the mattress and storing other items on top of it.

Conclusion

Mattresses are bulky and heavy items to store. If you have a small home, it is not practical to store your mattress indoors. The best option would be to store your mattress inside the garage.

When storing, it is important to cover the mattress with a quality mattress storage bag. The bag will protect your mattress from dust, dirt, moisture, and pests. Mattresses, without protection, should not be stored inside garages alone.

I hope this post gave you some helpful tips on how to store mattress in garage. Good luck!