Moving Beds and Mattresses: Dismantling, Wrapping and Putting Them Back Together

Beds are the first thing you need on the first night in a new home, and one of the easiest things to get wrong on moving day. Missing bolts, a soiled mattress or a bed base that won't fit up the stairs can leave you sleeping on the floor. Here's how to get every bed in the house from the old bedroom to the new one in one piece.

A week before: work out what comes apart

Look at each bed and note:

• Bed frames: most timber and metal frames come apart into a head, a foot and side rails. Some need an Allen key, others a spanner.
• Ensemble bases: these are often split into two halves on queen and king sizes. Check whether yours is one piece or two.
• Bunk beds and loft beds: these always need to come apart, and the instructions matter. Search for the model online if you've lost them.
• Storage beds and gas-lift beds: the gas struts store energy. Follow the manufacturer's instructions before removing them.
• Adjustable or electric beds: unplug them and lower them flat. Check whether the motor or remote needs to be removed.

The night before: strip and bag

1. Strip all bedding and pack it in a clearly labelled "first night" bag for each person.
2. Take photos of each frame before dismantling so you know how it goes back.
3. Bag every bolt and bracket. Use a zip-lock bag for each bed, write the room on it and tape it firmly to the headboard. Lost bed bolts are the most common moving-day annoyance.

Protect the mattress

A mattress picks up dust, grime and moisture in transit, and it's hard to clean afterwards. The simplest protection is a plastic mattress bag, which you can buy from hardware and moving supply stores. Seal the open end with tape. Some removalists include wrapping as part of the service, so ask before you buy.

Keep these in mind:

• Carry mattresses on their side, not flat, so they don't fold or sag in the middle.
• Don't bend or roll a mattress that wasn't made to be rolled. It can damage the springs or foam.
• Don't put boxes on top of a mattress in the truck.

Check the path at the new home

King-size ensemble bases and tall headboards are the items most likely to get stuck on tight staircases or in narrow hallways. Measure the stairwell and doorways at the new home and compare them with the base and the headboard. If it's tight, tell your movers in advance. If there are stairs, it also affects the quote, as many movers charge per flight.

Unload beds first

Ask the crew to unload and set up the beds first, or at least put the frame pieces and mattress in the right room. Then, even if the rest of the house is still in boxes at the end of the day, everyone has somewhere to sleep.

When to call in help

You can dismantle a simple bed yourself in ten minutes. Bunk beds, heavy timber frames and big ensemble bases are where a professional crew earns its fee. Gold Coast moving company Move Mate Movers, based in Arundel, includes packing and wrapping at no extra service charge with a booked move. Their published rate is $143 per hour including GST for two movers and a truck, with a 2-hour minimum, plus a suburb-based call-out fee and $44 per flight of stairs. They work 24/7, which helps if your keys come through late in the day.

Bed moving checklist

• Each bed checked: what comes apart and what tools are needed
• Bedding stripped and packed in a first-night bag
• Photos taken before dismantling
• Bolts bagged, labelled and taped to the headboard
• Mattresses bagged and sealed
• Stairs and doorways at the new home measured
• Beds unloaded and set up first

A good night's sleep after moving day is entirely possible. It starts with a labelled bag of bolts and a sealed mattress.