Short answer
Clean it before storage, store it in a dry, climate-controlled space if you can, keep it off the floor, and use a breathable cover rather than sealed plastic in humid conditions. The EPA's own example of hidden mold includes a suitcase stored in a humid basement; a mattress is far more absorbent. Clean it again, top and underside, when it comes out.
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.
Garages, basements and unconditioned storage units are where mattresses pick up the most moisture and odor.
Before it goes in
Clean it. Sweat, skin oil and spills that sit for months in storage have a long time to break down into odor (sour mattress smell).
Choosing the space
The EPA's mold guide illustrates its point with "mold growing on a suitcase stored in a humid basement" and advises keeping indoor humidity below 60 percent, ideally 30 to 50 percent (EPA). A climate-controlled unit or a dry interior room is the better choice for a mattress.
How to store it
- Off the floor, on a pallet or clean platform, so it isn't against concrete.
- Covered, with a breathable cover or a bag that isn't sealed tight in humid spaces.
- Away from walls so air moves around it.
- Nothing heavy on top. Store it the way the maker recommends.
- Check it on visits for smell or damp.
When it comes out
See cleaning a mattress after storage. For moving-day handling, see protecting a mattress when moving and sanitizing after a move.
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.
More: can you store a mattress on its side? and how long can you store a mattress?.
Where to read next
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.