Short answer
Clean it before the move, wrap it in a clean mattress bag for the truck, keep it upright and off bare floors, and take the bag off as soon as it's inside so moisture isn't trapped. Avoid leaving it in a damp garage or truck. Once it's set up, a cleaning with underside treatment resets whatever it picked up on the way.
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.
A mattress is clean in your bedroom and then spends a day on a ramp, in a truck and maybe in a garage. Here's how to keep moving day from undoing your last cleaning.
Before the move
- Clean it first if it's due, so you aren't sealing old soil into a bag.
- Use a clean mattress bag sized to the bed.
- Pack the bed last so it spends less time out of the bedroom.
On moving day
- Keep it upright and off bare garage and driveway surfaces.
- Don't stack heavy boxes on top.
- Keep it out of the rain; a wet mattress bag holds water against the fabric.
When you arrive
Take the bag off once the mattress is inside. Plastic sealed around a mattress in a humid space can trap moisture, and the EPA's guidance on moisture is simple: "The key to mold control is moisture control" (EPA). Clean the new frame or slats before the mattress goes on (slats and frames).
Then reset it
A move is a natural time to clean: the mattress has been handled, bagged and set down on surfaces you don't control. Our existing guide covers whether to sanitize a mattress after moving. Book a cleaning with underside treatment in the new place. Going into storage instead? See storing a mattress.
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.
Changelog
- 24 October 2026: First published. Sources accessed on this date.
Sources
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.