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Mattress 101

How to Keep Your Mattress From Sliding

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10 min read

There’s something just so incredibly annoying about a mattress sliding around on its box spring or bed frame. You move around as you snooze, but the bed shouldn’t move around with you.

Whether you’re having a restless night, a pillow fight, or a little spicy time with your partner, the very last thing you should have to worry about is your mattress slipping, causing you to end up on the floor -- ouch!

Thankfully, there are some simple yet effective things you can do that will easily stop your mattress from moving.

But First, Why Does My Mattress Keep Moving In The First Place?

Your mattress sliding can be caused by many different things, so it’s important to first identify the cause to help pinpoint the right solution. Here are just some of the common culprits:

Culprit #1: Lack of Friction

A lack of friction is typically the biggest reason for your mattress to start sliding all over the place, and it is SO annoying. Two-sided mattresses that you can flip over time when your bedding begins to sag might make your stuffing last a little longer, but they also have a really tough time staying in place on top of a bed frame. Why? Because they can’t get a good grip -- that’s why. 

Culprit #2: Improper Support

The answer to your slipping issue may be that your bed frame is simply too big for your mattress, or perhaps the legs to your bed frame are sliding around. Most bed frames come up a few inches from the slats so that the mattress sits down in the frame, which ultimately helps to keep it secure in place.

But sometimes, these frames have extra space between the sides and the mattress to accommodate any bedding -- but if there is too much space, it’s possible that your mattress slips off the frame a little bit. The legs could also have something to do with it, especially if they are wooden and sliding on a smooth, slippery surface. 

You might also be wondering, 'will my bed shift on a platform bed ?' And while most people will tell you ‘yes,’ the truth is that with the right support, your mattress should stay right in place on its foundation rather than trying to toss you to the floor. Before purchasing a new mattress, always be sure to check the manufacturer’s website to see which types of support it is compatible with. 

Culprit #3: Old Mattress

Like almost everything on this big beautiful planet besides fine wine, cheese and you (obviously), quality decreases with age. Think back to the time when you purchased your current mattress -- how long has it been since then?

If your answer is around ten years or older, then the culprit behind your mattress moving could simply be old age. Yup, it’s true -- all beds can only last for so long before they start to get old and saggy—no thanks. Unless you get a Big Fig, of course. 

Big Fig is a revolutionary mattress backed by a twenty-year warranty. Yes, you read that right: twenty-year warranty. Built to last, the Big Fig Mattress is truly one-of-a-kind, featuring THERMOGEL COOLING ® treated fabric to help lower your body temp for an actively cool sleeping experience and three layers of high-density polyfoam and pocketed steel coils for no-sag cushioning -- hallelujah!

How To Keep Your Mattress From Sliding

So, how do you keep your mattress from trying to take you sledding every single time you hit the hay? We’ll tell you. Here are the best ways to take back control from your naughty mattress:

Use Foam or Rubber Matting

Rubber has a natural grip, making it the perfect solution to keep your stubborn mattress in place. This is also an economical way to solve the issue of a slipping mattress.

You don’t need to buy a piece of rubber just for this purpose (because, seriously, where the heck do you buy that) -- look around the house for any of the following:

  • A clean rubber welcome mat
  • A thin yoga mat
  • Non-skid rubber area rug pads
  • Matting or shelf liners (you know, the kind your mom probably uses to help dishes in her cabinets stay in place)

The next step is to simply put one of these materials between your mattress and your box spring or bed frame. You will want to make sure any household item you choose is flat enough not to create any bumps or lumps in your mattress -- no one wants to sleep on a mattress that’s lumpier than a bowl of oatmeal. 

If you can’t find any of these items, you can always purchase foam rubber strips. One side of these strips has an adhesive. All you have to do is place the sticky side on top of the bed frame or box spring so the rubber side is in contact with your mattress, and voila!

Just like that, your mattress should stop doing the Electric Slide. 

Try Adhesive Hook-and-Loop Material

We’re taking it back to kindergarten with this one. Otherwise known as velcro, adhesive hook-and-loop strips are an excellent way to hold a mattress in place. Your local fabric store should carry this material for purchase, but just like everything else these days, you can easily find velcro strips online if you can’t get them in-store. 

Use a few velcro strips strategically placed around your mattress. A set of strips on each corner and one or two in the center is a good start. But if this doesn’t work, you can always add more. 

If you can't get your hands on velcro tape, carpet tape is a good alternative -- but only as a temporary fix because the adhesive is not as strong as velcro. Apply the carpet tape in the same areas as you would the velcro strips. You can even add longer strips along the side of your mattress for more stability.

Vacuum Under Your Mattress

Okay -- don’t laugh. It might sound silly, and we’re not trying to say you don’t clean up, but seriously, it works. Sometimes crumbs from late-night munchies, dust, and other debris accumulate between your box spring or bed frame and mattress.

This unwanted debris can cause your mattress to slip and slide throughout the night. So, sometimes all you really need to do to prevent your pesky mattress from sliding all over the place is vacuum it

Yup, that’s it. No velcro tape, no grip pads, no sticky adhesives. Just get out your handy-dandy vacuum cleaner and do a thorough job vacuuming the underside of your mattress. Be sure to get into every nook and cranny to remove as much dust as you can.

Then, do the same for your bed frame or box spring. And since you already have your vacuum out, you might as well breeze over the top of your mattress, as well, so the dust on that side doesn’t find its way to the underside in a few weeks (we’re all about working smarter, not harder).

And if you just so happen to play some music while you’re vacuuming and dance around the house, no one will be the wiser. 

Upgrade Your Mattress

We know you probably don't want to hear this one -- but it’s true. Sometimes when your mattress just won’t behave, it’s a surefire sign you need to purchase a new mattress. And we totally get it; a quality mattress can be expensive.

But at the end of the day, getting solid sleep on a mattress that stays in place is a #blessing, and it’s absolutely worth the cost. When you don’t sleep well, everything from your mental health to your physical health and everything in between is affected.

Not sure where to find a top-notch mattress to support your bigger figure? Head on over to Big Fig and prepare to be amazed. The Big Fig was built from the ground up to provide a quality mattress that fits all the needs of a bigger figure.

And the best part? When you purchase a Big Fig mattress, you can pair it with the Big Fig Foundation to help maintain the comfort and integrity of your mattress while keeping it firmly in place. 

Bottom Line

At the end of the day, there are many reasons why your mattress may slide around on your box springs or bed frame. Older mattresses are more prone to sliding, as are flippable or two-sided mattresses.

Simple solutions to keep your mattress in place include using foam or rubber matting and velcro strips. You can also try vacuuming it to help remove all the unwanted debris.

What we’re saying is that you have options, and you don’t have to live your life waking up on the floor every morning because your mattress dumped you off. 

When all else fails, it may be a sign you need to swap out your mattress for a new one. And if that’s the case, take it as a blessing in disguise because this means you can finally get rid of that old sagging mattress and bring home a Big Fig. 

Are you ready to get the best snooze of your life? Check out Big Fig today!

Happy dreaming.

Sources:

What Causes Restless Sleep | Sleep Foundation

What Happens To Wine As it Ages | Fine Wine Master.

How to Clean a Mattress (and Why) | Consumer Reports

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