Don't want to trigger a foam slide

January 19, 2016 4:19 PM

Can I store a latex/foam hybrid mattress on its side for a month without compromising it?

I'm trying to decide between several bed-in-a-box style mattresses, and I've narrowed it to two (Brooklyn Bedding's Best Mattress Ever and the Leesa). Complicating factor: I have them both in my 450 sq ft apartment at the same time. I'd like to store the Brooklyn Bedding mattress on its side for 30 days while I try out the Leesa.

I've read that it's not a good idea to store a foam mattress on its side because it's not built to support itself that way, and the layers can get misshapen over time. Would I be putting the mattress at risk by storing it this way for only a month?

If it's helpful info, the Brooklyn Bedding mattress composed of: 2" talalay latex + 2" dunlop latex + 6" of convoluted polyfoam.

I've already driven myself a little crazy trying to decide between all these startup mattresses, so please excuse me if this question sounds nuts. I just don't want to ruin my mattress in the process of picking the best one....

posted by scarylarry to Home & Garden (5 answers total)

Hmmm. I'm not sure. But as an anecdote I stored my latex topper (maybe 1.5 inches thick?) folded over and squashed into a wardrobe for 6 months and it was totally fine. I was worried I might cause it to weaken and break at the folds but that fear seems to be unfounded.
posted by kitten magic at 5:22 PM on January 19, 2016

I have a foam mattress, and it came with a booklet that indicated storing it on its side is not recommended. I would be concerned that you would damage the mattress beyond your ability to return it (which I am assuming you're doing -- trying out a couple and then returning the one you don't pick?)

How are they packaged? If it's in a sturdy box you might be able to get away with storing it if you flip it from side to side a few times over the course of the month.
posted by ananci at 7:02 PM on January 19, 2016

It's not great to store memory foam mattresses on their side, but for thirty days you'll probably be OK -- if you make sure to give it plenty of time to fluff out properly first, and seconding that flipping it regularly would be a good idea. Though if there's any chance you can use under-the-bed space for the second mattress, do that.

Here's what you don't ever want to do: leave the thing boxed up in its original box (assuming it's compressed and shrink-wrapped the way most are shipped) for a couple of months. (Boring story involving a move and a time-limited discount on the mattress and it seemed like a good idea at the time.) When it was finally unboxed, it was all weird and lumpy and the manufacturer replaced it since they hadn't outright said not to leave it in the box for that long (A+ to Bed in a Box for customer service, mattress quality, and price.)
posted by asperity at 10:31 PM on January 19, 2016

Leesa says it's OK to keep their mattress in the box for 30 days. Of course, you can't try it out if it's in the box.

Having just gone through this myself, I sympathize with your situation, but respectfully suggest that the idea of storing and rotating two mattresses simultaneously in a small space is a bit nuts. Yes, you will get to compare your two candidates, but you will also guarantee that you will have to drag at least one of these mattresses in and out of your home (in addition to any old mattresses you are disposing of), which is a bigger hassle than I'd remembered. My advice would be to order the one you are most inclined toward (all else equal, the cheaper of the two) and see if it satisfices. Make sure you have a rigid surface for it, it makes a big difference.

We went with the Leesa, very happy with it.
posted by ndg at 9:58 AM on January 20, 2016

AncedotAlly, we stored our latex/memory foam mattress on its side for two years. When we got it back, it was slouched almost in half and looked like a loss. Within a day, it was back to normal. YMMV
posted by mrfuga0 at 8:57 PM on January 20, 2016