8 Effective Ways How To Prevent Your Mattress From Sliding
It is a nightmare to wake up in the middle night and find that your mattress has slid off the frame. It can be frustrating to have a mattress that slides, especially if you are trying to sleep.
Your mattress may not be getting the grip that it needs to remain in place if your mattress moves around when you sit or lie on the edge of your bed, change positions, or switch between the two.
There are simple and quick DIY solutions that will keep your mattress in place on the bed.
- Limited Friction: Your mattress may be moving due to a lack of friction between the mattress and frame. It’s usually the bed frame that is to blame. The platform, Box Spring or Adjustable Bed Frame can be so slippery that the mattress cannot grip it. Frames with slats and support bars that are too far apart can also make it difficult for the mattress to stay in place.
- Incorrect size: If your mattress is too large or small for the frame of the bed, it will likely move around.
- A slippery mattress bottom: Most mattresses have an anti-slip bottom to help them grip the bed frame. If your mattress is too old or has a slippery bottom, this is likely to be the cause of your mattress sliding.
- No headboard or footboard: Frames without railings could be a problem, as they don’t corral your mattress against the force of your tossing. Raised rails are usually found on traditional bed frames to hold the mattress in place. Modern frames, such as platform beds and metal frames, sacrifice the rails to achieve a more aesthetic look, which makes the mattress more likely to slip. On frames that lack a headboard and footboard, mattresses are more likely to slide around.
- Uneven Support: When the bed frame or slats are not level, or if the support bars or slats are too far apart, the mattress will be unsupported, and it may slip.
How to stop your mattress from sliding
You can prevent your mattress from moving by following these 8 simple steps.
1) Mattress gripper pads:
Yes! There is a product that will keep your mattress in place. It’s called a mattress gripper. The pads have a rubberised grip on the bottom that sticks to the frame. This prevents your mattress from moving. These pads are available in every mattress size from single up to king. These pads are more expensive ($10 to $15). The mattress gripper pad is a great option if you want a quick and easy solution.
Platform bed, metal frames and box springs are recommended.
2) Nonslip Rug Pads:
While rug pads are designed to prevent rugs from sliding on the floor, these grippers also work well to hold the mattress in position. The pads are also affordable ($5-$10 per pad), come in different sizes, and are easy to locate. You won’t find many rug pads that are the same size as mattresses. Use several pads to cover your mattress and then cut them to size using scissors.
For better grip, place the rug pads horizontally (width-wise) instead of lengthwise.
Platform bed, metal frames and box springs are recommended.
3) Shelf or Drawer Liners:
Shelf liners are rubber mats with a textured surface or sticky surface. They’re used to line shelves and cabinets in the kitchen to stop dishes from sliding. Shelf liners can also be used to prevent the mattress from sliding. You may need to use several rolls of shelf liners to cover your mattress. This solution is not as durable as mattress pads or rug pads.
Platform bed, boxspring and adjustable bed.
5) Velcro, hook and tape:
This requires more effort but provides a more permanent solution. Use a 2″ thick industrial self-adhesive Velcro. If you want to use non-adhesive Velcro instead, then you will need to sew the rough side or the hook to the bottom. This is not convenient and may void any warranty.
Attach the Velcro loop side (soft side) to the bed frame at the same distance on both the head and the foot (or all sides if you want a secure grip). The hook side of Velcro should be pasted to the sides and foot of the bed frame so that the loop side overlaps. Use thicker Velcro tape. It would be difficult to align and adhere the two surfaces correctly if you did not use thicker Velcro tape.
Place two to four Velcro stripes at equal distances either horizontally or widthwise on a bed with slats. Avoid placing vertical strips, as they may loosen over time.
This solution is more permanent than the others, but it’s not as easily reversible.
A platform bed with a box spring is recommended.
6) Yoga Mats:
In the same vein as drawer liners and rug pads, yoga or exercise mats can also be a solution to your mattress sliding issue. If you have a twin-sized mattress, a single mat can be used. However, if the mattress is bigger, it may be necessary to use two. You can reduce the size of mats if you are using more than one to avoid overlapping. You don’t want an awkward ridge where mats overlap. This can create a see-sawing effect if it is too thick.
Platform beds and metal frames are recommended.
7) Rug and Carpet Tapes:
Like Velcro, carpet tape holds rugs and carpets in place to ensure they do not slip off the surface. Carpet tape is applied directly on the underside of the mattress. It has a rubberized backing that provides friction and keeps the mattress in position.
Avoid using double-sided adhesive to hold carpets in place instead of tape. It is a permanent solution that will keep carpets in place. Double-sided adhesives will prevent your mattress from sliding, but they may also leave a sticky residue that makes it difficult to move the mattress or make the bed.
Platform bed with box spring
8) Gap Fillers/Mattress Extenders:
Often there is a space between the headboard and footboard, which causes the mattress to move up and down. You can use gap fillers or mattress extenders in such cases. They can be tucked between the mattress frame and the mattress to act as a barrier that prevents the mattress from shifting. Mattress extenders may not be available in the exact size that you require.
You can also use a wooden board, foam pieces, a towel or any other material that will fit the gap, and is strong enough to act as an obstruction.
For this, we recommend: any bed with a head or footboard and adjustable beds.
9) Buy a new bedframe:
If none of the methods above work, and you do not want to replace your bed mattress, then consider buying a new bedframe.
Select a frame that has raised lips or rails all around. This will prevent the mattress from moving. Avoid cheap metal frames or floating platform beds as they can cause the mattress to slip.
How to keep the mattress from sliding on a platform bed?
Platform Beds have a sleek, modern appearance but also come with their own problems. Platform beds are often lacking in grip, which is important to hold the mattress in position. This is especially true if the bed lacks side panels.
In this case, you can use any of the methods mentioned above to prevent the mattress from sliding. Velcro is the best option as it provides a firm grip without requiring any modifications to the mattress.
Try using a non-slip rug or mattress gripper to prevent the mattress from sliding.
How do I keep the mattress from sliding on an adjustable bed frame?
On adjustable beds, mattresses tend to slide in a sideways direction. The majority of adjustable beds have a footboard and headboard to prevent the mattress from sliding up or down. If the mattress has a low profile (less than 25 cm), or if the side rails do not fit snugly or are too small, it may still be possible for the mattress to move from left to right.
Use a rug pad or mattress gripper to stop the mattress from sliding when you use an adjustable bed. Velcro tape or carpet tape will not work on an adjustable mattress because it moves vertically. This can hinder free movement.
How to Stop the Mattress from Sliding On a Metal Bed?
Use 100-grit sandpaper to sand down the glossy paint on the bed frame or the cylindrical beams to create friction. This will make the mattress more secure.
If you have metal frames, a rug pad or mattress gripper can be placed between the mattress and frame to prevent the mattress from sliding. Velcro may not be effective on metal frames because the support beams tend to be too thin for the Velcro strips.
How to Stop the Mattress from Sliding Onto a Box Spring?
If you find that your mattress slides off the boxspring, this is likely because it is a smooth surface. Velcro strips and carpet tape can be used to hold the mattress firmly in place. Be sure to clean off the surface of the boxspring before you apply the adhesive. This will ensure that it adheres properly.
Wrapping up
You can use several methods to stop the mattress from sliding. It depends on what type of mattress you have and the available materials. Most of the time, velcro strips and a non-slip rug pad should be enough.
