Chelsea on Mattresses are often one of the last items in your house that get loaded onto the truck. So when it comes time to move it to your new place, how do you prepare it for safe shipping? Different mattresses come with their own needs, and many require effort on your part in advance of the move, so it’s best to plan ahead. Here’s a guide on how to move your particular mattress: Did you know that if you store memory foam mattresses on their side for long periods of time, they can crack down the side? Sad, we know, but entirely preventable. While the mattress can be folded temporarily to pivot around stairwells in your four story walk-up, it’s not designed to weather these conditions through a long drive to Dallas or for months of storage in a portable container. Try to ship your memory foam mattress flat, and tell your movers in advance how the manufacturers recommend caring for it. Mattress companies deal with shipping and storage all the time; don’t hesitate to call for specifics.
To put it simply, moving a waterbed means draining and folding it. But draining a waterbed isn’t all that simple; this process can be a little complicated with several steps. First, remove your waterbed heater, this protects your mattress while draining it. Next, decide on how to drain the mattress. An electric pump can be quick and efficient, and are often rentable. You can also drain it au natural depending on the make. Refer to the instructions that came with your mattress or your provider for details that might be specific to your mattress. As you’re draining the water, tilt the mattress to get more water out. Roll the mattress like you would a rug. If you’re storing the mattress get a conditioner to prevent mold and bacteria, otherwise it should be truck-ready. Storing and moving a mattress on its side is simple enough. However, consider the size of your mattress and whether or not it comes with a box spring. These are two separate pieces that your mover will have to account for.
To protect your mattress during the move, look for bags specific to the size of your mattress. Your mover or packing service might have these already. Another option is to use a mattress box, which might provide more protection during a long distance move. Simply deflate your air mattress to prepare it for storage. When rolling the mattress, roll it as tightly as possible to prevent any damage. Try to pack it in its original box, as its guaranteed to fit. Similarly to an air mattress, Sleep Number beds must be deflated to prevent damage and boxed properly. The Sleep Number website recommends completely disassembling the base of your bed before moving, though the frame is very sturdy. If possible, remove the cover of your futon mattress before moving. If you can’t remove the cover, find a mattress bag that fits the mattress to protect it from stains and damage. Disassemble your frame (keep track of all the parts!) and keep the mattress flat during the moving process, this keeps interior stuffing intact the way the crafters intended.
When you’re moving, regardless your location or how far it is, consult with your movers before putting your bed in the truck. Check out other packing tips and move organizing tips from Moveline, a radically easier way to move.Babies can be exposed to high levels of chemical emission from mattresses as they sleep, a new study has found.Researchers tested the the foam padding in crib mattresses, and found they release significant amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), potentially harmful chemicals also found in household items such as cleaners and scented sprays.Today they warned parents to air mattresses properly to minimise the risk. The researchers say that mattresses release potentially harmful chemicals when a baby's body heat warms them. WHAT SHOULD PARENTS DO?Findings suggest reuse of an older crib or an extended airing-out period may help reduce infant VOC exposures.However, the team say reuse of crib mattress must be considered carefully because older mattresses might contain toxic substances, such as flame retardants, that have been banned.
The researchers studied samples of polyurethane foam and polyester foam padding from 20 new and old crib mattresses for the study in the February issue of Environmental Science & Technology.The 20 mattress samples are from 10 manufacturers. The researchers chose not to disclose the names of the manufacturers studied so that their results could draw general attention to the product segment without focusing on specific brands.Boor decided to conduct the study after finding out that infants spend 50 to 60 percent of their day sleeping. Infants are considered highly susceptible to the adverse health effects of exposure to indoor air pollutants.'I wanted to know more about the chemicals they may inhale as they sleep during their early stages of development,' said, who led the study. 'This research also helps to raise awareness about the various chemicals that may be found in crib mattresses, which are not typically listed by manufacturers.'New crib mattresses release about four times as many VOCs as old crib mattresses, the team found, and body heat increases emissions.
Chemical emissions are strongest in the sleeping infant’s immediate breathing zone, they said. The researchers identified more than 30 VOCs in the mattresses, including phenol, neodecanoic acid and linalool.At present, not much is known about the health effects that occur from the levels of VOCs found in homes, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.Among the many chemicals considered VOCs are formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, perchlorethylene and acetone. The crib mattresses analyzed in this study did not contain those organic compounds. The researchers concluded that, on average, mattresses emitted VOCs at a rate of 87.1 micrograms per square meter per hour, while older mattresses emitted VOCs at a rate of 22.1 micrograms per square meter per hour. Overall, Boor said crib mattresses release VOCs at rates comparable to other consumer products and indoor materials, including laminate flooring (20 to 35 micrograms per square meter per hour) and wall covering (51 micrograms per square meter per hour).
The researchers identified more than 30 VOCs in the mattresses, including phenol, neodecanoic acid and linalool. The most abundant chemicals identified in the crib mattress foam, such as limonene (a chemical that gives products a lemon scent), are routinely found in many cleaning and consumer products.Chemist and indoor air quality expert Charles J. Weschler, adjunct professor in environmental and occupational medicine at Rutgers University, said he does not think the levels of chemical concentration found in the mattresses are alarming, but he considers the research valuable.'It’s good to be alerted to the fact that crib mattresses are a significant source of chemicals in an infant’s environment,' said Weschler, who noted crib mattresses might one day be analyzed for noxious chemicals as a result of such research.The researchers found that VOC levels were significantly higher in a sleeping infant’s breathing zone when compared with bulk room air, exposing infants to about twice the VOC levels as people standing in the same room.
Additionally, because infants inhale significantly higher air volume per body weight than adults and sleep a longer time, they experience about 10 times as much inhalation exposure as adults when exposed to the same level of VOCs, the researchers said.'Our findings suggest the reuse of an older crib or an extended airing-out period may help reduce infant VOC exposures,' said assistant professor Ying Xu.Although used mattresses may appear to be a good alternative, the researchers noted that older mattresses might contain other harmful chemicals such as flame retardants now banned in mattress foams.Graduate student Brandon Boor, in the Cockrell School’s Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, conducted the study under the supervision of assistant professor Ying Xu and associate professor Atila Novoselac. Boor also worked with senior researcher Helena Järnström from the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. The 20 mattress samples are from 10 manufacturers.
The crib mattresses analyzed in this study did not contain those organic compounds.Understanding the sleeping environment is important to the health of infants and adults, added Richard Corsi, chair of the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering.“We need to better understand the complex sleep microenvironment to improve it and reduce the harmful effects of related pollutants on infants,” Corsi said.The National Science Foundation and the Nordic Research Opportunity program funded the project. Boor conducted the research in Finland, where he currently lives.The University of Texas at Austin is committed to transparency and disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. All UT investigators involved with this research have filed their required financial disclosure forms with the university. None of the researchers have reported receiving any research funding that would create a conflict of interest or the appearance of such a conflict.Notes for ParentsFindings suggest reuse of an older crib or an extended airing-out period may help reduce infant VOC exposures.