How to Keep a Mattress from Sliding

Waking up to your mattress dangling off the bed frame is annoying, and constantly getting out of bed to re-adjust your mattress cuts into sleeping time and leaves you tired and sore the next day. Instead of facing this inconvenience each night, we share ways to keep the bed in place so you can get a good night’s sleep.

How To Prevent Sliding

Some cost-effective ways to prevent a mattress from sliding include installing Velcro strips or adding a non-slip pad between the bed and foundation. More drastic measures may involve replacing the bed frame or mattress.

Vacuum

Vacuuming underneath the mattress may seem like a small thing, but it can prevent mattress movement. Over time, dust and debris accumulate under the bed, causing the mattress to slip around. Take out your vacuum cleaner and, using the upholstery brush, vacuum the underside of your mattress. Pay special attention to the nooks and crannies (you may need to switch to the nozzle attachment), so the dust doesn’t find its way to the underside later on.

Before vacuuming and cleaning the mattress, consider deodorizing it. The bed will smell clean and fresh without bacteria-causing odor. After stripping the mattress, generously sprinkle baking soda over the surface. Let it sit at least 20 minutes to allow the baking soda to absorb allergens and bacteria. Using the upholstery attachment, vacuum the baking soda, then flip the mattress and repeat the process on the other side.

Velcro Strips

Velcro strips, otherwise known as adhesive hook-and-loop material, are a great way to hold a mattress in place. Remove the protective paper from the adhesive and place 2 to 6 medium length “hook” strips underneath each mattress corner. The corresponding “loop” strips should be placed on top of the box spring or bed frame. Velcro strips are available at most craft or fabric stores—you can also find them online.

Carpet tape is a good alternative to Velcro strips, but only as a temporary solution, because the adhesive isn’t as strong as Velcro. Apply the carpet tape in the same areas as you would the Velcro strips. You can even add longer strings along the side of the mattress for more stability.

Non-Slip Pad

An easy way to prevent a mattress from sliding is placing a non-slip pad or rubber matting between the bed and bed frame or mattress foundation. Non-slip rubber pads are commonly used as shelf liners to keep dishes in place. They’re also used to prevent area rugs from shifting around the floor.

Before adding a non-slip pad, measure your mattress first to get the right dimensions. It might be easier finding a pad large enough for a standard queen size mattress, but for bigger mattress sizes, like a king or California king, you will have to use two smaller pads instead. A thin exercise mat is a good alternative, but it would only work for twin size mattresses—exercise mats usually don’t come in larger sizes.

Bed Frame

A bed frame may be too big for your mattress, leaving sizable gaps between the bed and frame. There are two ways to fix this problem. One is to replace the bed frame with another size that better fits the mattress. Many new bed frames come with headboards and footboards, further keeping the mattress in place.

Another fix is placing wooden blocks or small rolls of material, like towels, in the extra spaces. We don’t recommend this option because it may require frequent adjustments. However, if a new bed frame isn’t possible right now, this works as a temporary solution.

New Mattress

Buying a new bed is an expensive solution, but if your current mattress is at least seven years old, it might be time for an upgrade. Mattresses generally last 7 to 9 years. Over time, the bed accumulates dust mites and allergens, which causes the underside to lose its grip on the bed frame. A new, better mattress could be just the thing you need, not only to prevent sliding but to achieve better sleep.

Why Do Mattresses Slide?

Common reasons why a mattress slides include the bed frame doesn’t have rails, the bed frame is too large for the mattress, or the mattress is old and needs to be replaced. Finding the cause of a sliding mattress helps identify the best solution.

Missing Rails

One reason behind mattress sliding is the lack of a barrier. While most bed frames come with some railing, platform beds don’t. Platform bed frames have a modern look and, unlike traditional bed frames, they don’t have a headboard or footboard. They also may not have slightly raised sides to hold the bed in place, so the mattress ends up sliding across the surface.

No Friction

Even the best mattresses can slide off a foundation or bed frame if it lacks friction, particularly double-sided beds. Double-sided mattresses are encased in a soft cover so that sleepers can enjoy either side of the bed.

A mattress cover could also cause the bed to slide. Most mattress covers have a soft surface with a slightly rougher underside to keep the bed in place, but some covers don’t have a good enough grip.

Bed Skirt

Bed skirts are a great way to hide the space under your bed and add an artistic flair to the bedroom. However, the material lacks friction and could cause the mattress to slip. If you prefer to keep a bed skirt, choose one made of cotton instead of synthetic materials. Cotton feels more coarse than synthetic materials, like microfiber, and can better hold the mattress.

FAQs

How do I keep my split king from sliding apart?

One of the best ways to prevent a split king mattress from sliding apart is by placing the two twin XL size mattresses inside a king size bed frame. A larger bedroom leaves gaps between the frame and mattress, making it easier for a split king to slide apart. Another method is to use a king size fitted sheet instead of two twin XL fitted sheets. The one sheet holds the two mattresses together better than two separate sheets.

Can you put a mattress directly on slats?

Some beds can be placed directly on slats, like latex foam, hybrid, and memory foam mattresses. Before buying a new mattress or bed frame, make sure the slats are 3 inches apart at most. Wider spaced slats won’t be able to support memory foam, latex, or hybrid mattresses and could lead to premature sagging.

How do I keep my adjustable bed from sliding?

Adjustable beds can slide when the foundation lifts electronically. To avoid this problem, look for an adjustable base with retainer bars or a non-slip material on the surface. This technology holds the mattress in place so you can rest comfortably without having to adjust the bed.

Do mattresses need box springs?

Latex, hybrid, and memory foam mattresses don’t need box springs. These types of mattresses don’t need extra support from box springs. Box springs could damage memory foam, hybrid, and latex foam mattresses because they contain dense, heavy materials that box springs cannot handle. Box springs would be a better choice for innerspring beds since the steel coils act as shock absorbers for innerspring coils.

How do I keep my bed skirt from sliding?

A bed skirt could be one of the reasons why your mattress is sliding. It may not be enough to secure the bed skirt to the mattress because the bed will still slide off the bed frame. A few ways to prevent sliding include pinning the bed skirt with safety pins to the box spring, installing Velcro tape to the mattress and bed frame, or placing a non-slip pad or mat between the bed skirt and the bed frame.

Conclusion

Regularly adjusting a sliding mattress may seem insignificant, but it gets old when you have to do it constantly. Using one of our helpful methods to keep the bed in place fixes the sliding mattress problem, ensuring better sleep. Some of the best methods include vacuuming underneath the mattress and placing a non-slip pad between the mattress and bed frame or box spring.