Short answer
Air it, inspect it, then clean every side. Stored mattresses often come out musty and dusty, especially from garages and basements, and the underside has been against a pallet or floor. Check the seams and underside, smell for musty odor, then have it cleaned with HEPA vacuuming, enzyme treatment, low-moisture dry vapor steam, UV-C and underside treatment.
Book your mattress cleaning
Regular price $249, Fall 2026 promotion price $199first mattress, any size · Fall 2026 promotion
HEPA vacuuming, enzyme treatment for organic odor, dry vapor steam and UV-C. We recommend cleaning twice a year.
The mattress has been in a unit, a garage or a parent's basement. Before it goes back on a bed, give it a reset.
Step 1: Air and inspect
Stand it up in a dry room with air moving across it. The EPA recommends fans and air movement to deal with moisture and keeping humidity at 30 to 50 percent (EPA). Then check:
- Smell: musty means it picked up moisture (musty mattress smell).
- Underside: spots or damp areas (damp undersides).
- Seams and tags: check them as you would for any used mattress (cleaning a used mattress).
Step 2: Clean every side
Stored mattresses need the underside cleaned as much as the top. Our cleaning plus underside treatment covers HEPA vacuuming, enzyme treatment for organic odor, low-moisture dry vapor steam, UV-C and a moisture check before we leave.
Step 3: Set it up right
Clean the frame before the mattress goes on (slats and frames), add a washable organic protector, and put it on a base with airflow (platform and storage beds).
Our existing guide on sanitizing after a move covers storage conditions in more detail, and moisture and mildew explains why musty storage smells happen.
How we clean what you can't see
This section is our view. Every Sleep Sanitation visit starts with a nose-and-eyes inspection to find where the odor actually lives, then HEPA vacuuming, enzyme treatment on organic odor, low-moisture dry vapor steam from our Italian-made Vapor Clean machines, UV-C light treatment and a moisture check before we leave. Underside treatment, for the side that faces the floor or frame, is +$50–$75 per mattress. The first mattress is $199 Fall 2026 special (regularly $249), any size. We recommend cleaning every mattress twice a year so odor never gets a head start. Not sure what your bed needs? Take the 60-second mattress quiz, or schedule your cleaning. Call or text (402) 512-5658, or email info@sleepsanitation.com.
Not sure what the smell means? Why does my mattress smell after storage?
Where to read next
Changelog
- 24 October 2026: First published. Sources accessed on this date.
Sources
- A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home · US EPA
- Mold Course, Chapter 1: Introduction to Molds · US EPA
Last reviewed October 24, 2026. Manufacturer specifications and care instructions change; check the current version for your exact model. This page is general information, not medical advice. How we source and check pages: editorial standards.