Can I Roll Up a Memory Foam Mattress Topper

So, you need to roll up your mattress. Well, right away we can tell you that it's not as tricky as you may think. When you bought your memory foam mattress it came rolled up, in a box, so, rolling up a mattress is surely possible.

Of course, you may not be able to roll the mattress as good as it came to you, all perfectly packed, because mattress companies use giant machines to compress the memory foam mattresses.

But, we have a solution for you that is probably the closest one to the exact packing method of the mattress companies. So, without further ado, let's get rolling!

Roll Up A Memory Foam Mattress: What We Need?

A Plastic Mattress Bag (suitable for vacuuming)

Tie-down straps

Ropes

Duct tape

Vacuum (with a removable vacuum hose)

Someone to help you with the mattress

1. Plastic Mattress Bag

King Mattress Bag Cover for Moving Storage — Know More Details on Amazon

Plastic mattress bags are generally available in home repair stores and storage facilities. The bags are usually plastic, but mostly recyclable and heavy-duty. They are made to withstand even the biggest mattresses, but they come in different sizes to fit smaller mattresses as well.

You should always opt for the bags that come with a seal because it is much easier and stress-free to just seal the bag than bother with other ways of closing the bag once the mattress is rolled up. Mattress bags are made from thick plastic (approximately 3.5mil to 4mil thickness) and are sometimes even more durable than the plastic bag in which you received your mattress originally.

We recommend: King Mattress Bag Cover (also for California King and Queen)- 5 Mil Thick

2. Tie-Down Straps

Tie-down straps or ratchet straps are essential for this task. Without these, you cannot secure the rolled mattress. These straps are incredibly strong and can help fasten not only memory foam mattresses but even hybrid mattresses (and these feature springs which are hard to roll-up). They are also usually made from nylon but can be made from other fabrics and materials.

Also, tie-down straps are pretty cheap; you can find them from 5 bucks up to 20 bucks, either in repair or home stores or online on Amazon. Either way, the straps will help you secure the mattress once rolled up, but also ensure you have something to grab onto as you're moving it. You won't have to worry about the mattress unrolling in the middle of moving.

We recommend: AUGO Ratchet Cargo Straps

3. Ropes

Katzco Nylon Twisted Braided Rope — Know More Details on Amazon

Now, ropes are completely optional, since in the majority of cases tie-down straps are perfectly fine by themselves. However, sometimes it is good to have some backup security. For a memory foam mattress, you can use one or two ropes of any material. But, do make sure the ropes are strong and durable, especially if you're planning to keep the mattress rolled up for a longer time. Ropes are pretty inexpensive and you can find them in any home repair store.

We recommend: Katzco Nylon Twisted 100 Foot Rope

4. Duct Tape

We believe that sometimes duct tape can be helpful when rolling up a mattress, but it is completely optional. Alongside the tie-down straps and the ropes, using a duct-tape may seem redundant. However, using a duct-tape can help the mattress stay rolled even when something else stops from holding the mattress. Or, if you don't have ropes and can't find tie-down straps, you can rely on a duct-tape solely.

However, always make sure to buy a heavy-duty duct-tape, but not the stickiest one. The stickiest duct-tapes can damage the mattress plastic bag upon unwrapping, so you might want to avoid that. Also, some duct-tapes are so sticky, it is impossible to unwrap without tearing the plastic or cutting it with scissors and possibly damaging the mattress in the process.

We recommend: Tape King Tape Dispenser And Free Roll of Packaging Tape

5. Vacuum (with a removable vacuum hose)

To keep the mattress rolled up, you need to extract all the air from the mattress bag. You can accomplish this by using a vacuum with a removable vacuum hose.

You can use a regular vacuum, but the smaller ones may not be strong enough to vacuum all the air from the bag. Nevertheless, you can try using a smaller vacuum, but we recommend using the standard-sized and standard-powered vacuums for this task.

So, How Do I Roll The Mattress?

Step 1 – Remove The Bedding

Before rolling the mattress, it is important to remove all the bedding, including sheets, blankets, toppers, and all the things one can put on a mattress. The mattress needs to be bare, just as it was when you first received it. You shouldn't pack the bedding with the mattress, so make sure to get separate plastic bags or boxes for the bedding and the pillows.

Step 2 – Put The Mattress Bag Over The Mattress

Unpack the plastic mattress bag and try to line the open end of the bag against the top or the bottom of the mattress. Now, try to slip the mattress bag over the mattress and pull it over and under the mattress, all the way to the end. Once the mattress is completely inside the bag, you can close it if you have a plastic bag with a seal. If your memory foam mattress is king or queen size, you may need some help from one more person.

Step 3 – Seal The Bag With Duct Tape

Now, regardless of whether you have a bag with or without a seal, it is essential to seal it with duct tape. This way the seal will be airtight. So, what you'll do is tape the seal or open-end of the mattress bag. If you happened to buy a larger mattress bag, you can also tape the excess plastic so it doesn't come in the way later on. If there's a hole in the bag, make sure to leave it open so you can fit the vacuum hose into it.

Step 4 – Vacuum The Mattress Bag

At this point, you can use the vacuum to remove the air from the bag completely. This step is pretty straightforward. Simply turn on the vacuum and leave it for several minutes, or until there isn't any air in the bag. After you're done vacuuming and compressing, make sure to seal the vacuum hole and create an airtight seal. You can use the duct-tape for this task.

Step 5 – Start Rolling The Mattress

We've arrived at the main event; it is time to start rolling the mattress. Make sure to have an extra pair of hands for help, because you'll need it. Make sure to stand at the end of the mattress (opposite of the vacuum) and lift the end. As you're lifting it, try to press it down inside, creating a roll. Also, try to press it as hard as you can, compressing it and rolling it. Because you're rolling a memory foam mattress, it should be able to create a roll. However, if you're rolling a hybrid, you might fail, because this mattress can only be folded.

Step 6 -Secure The Roll

Now it's time to secure the roll. At this point, you will use either the tie-down straps or the ropes. If you don't have either of those, feel free to use the duct-tape. Now, have your friend hold the rolled mattress while you're strapping it. Use the tie-down straps by having them secured around the rolled mattress. Or, you can secure the roll using the ropes (make sure that your knots are firm and secure). If you're using the duct tape, make sure to tape the plastic properly and tightly, but not too tightly so it damages the plastic bag upon unwrapping.

Other Useful Tips

Proper mattress bag – before buying a mattress bag, make sure to check the dimensions of your mattress. This way you will buy a plastic bag that fits the mattress perfectly, and you won't have to deal with excess plastic during the rolling part.
Transporting the mattress roll – make sure to use the tie-down straps or the ropes aa a way to carry and handle the mattress roll. Also, try to have the roll horizontal instead of letting it stand vertically. So, if you're transporting the mattress in the car or a van, try to place it horizontally. You can put the roll in the back seat of the car if you have a smaller car, so don't worry about that.
Using a tape gun – now, this might come in handy if you're using duct tape to secure the mattress roll. The tape gun ensures quick and easy taping, especially on materials like plastic. We recommend you use a high-quality tape gun instead of the cheap one because the cheap one might break down during the taping, or simply stop working properly in the middle of the work.
Using sealable mattress bags – we always recommend people use sealable mattress bags instead of the regular ones. The sealable bags are easier to close and have the vacuumed. Also, sealable bags have thicker plastic and are more durable and resistant to scratches and damage, which can occur during transport.

Final Thoughts

See? Moving a mattress doesn't have to be a hassle. It may be tricky for some people to roll the mattress on their own, so always make sure to have someone by your side just in case.

Other than that, rolling a memory foam mattress is pretty straightforward. We hope our steps and tips will be helpful. The tools that we recommend are pretty inexpensive, and we hope they're available to you. So, good luck with the move and say goodbye to throwing away mattresses!

Can I Roll Up a Memory Foam Mattress Topper

Source: https://www.terrycralle.com/roll-up-a-memory-foam-mattress/