Getting a good night’s sleep or even having a restful nap in the middle of the day can really boost your energy levels. However, if you have to deal with disruptions to your slumber such as a wonky bed sheet, chances are you won’t have a very good night. If your mattress keeps moving around every time, you shift, instead of getting the rest you need, instead, you will feel like you are trying to stay upright in a bouncy house. Thankfully, if you are tired of dealing with a shifting mattress, there are a few simple solutions that can help.
Securing a sliding mattress is as simple as identifying the problem and then correcting it. We have put together some easy-to-follow solutions that are affordable, simple and will keep your mattress firmly in place no matter how roughly you toss and turn.
Why Does My Mattress Keep Sliding?
A sliding mattress can really be a pain but before you correct the problem you need to identify the source of the issue. Common causes range from the condition of the mattress to the configuration of the bed frame. Every problem will have a different solution that will prevent further sliding. Let’s take a closer look at some other common causes that make your mattress slide.
Cause 1. Improper Mattress Size
Solution: Your mattress should be paired with a bed frame made for its size. If a mattress is too small for the frame in which its housed, it will end up sliding around the frame or even onto the floor.
Cause 2. Old Mattress
Solution: Mattresses are made to last for many years, but they simply don’t last forever. Each time you sleep on your mattress, your body gives off sweat, oils, and moisture that will age the fabric of your mattress over time. The average life of a mattress is between 5 and 7 years. Some higher-end mattresses or those that have been wrapped may last 10 years.
Did You Know Aside from the fact that your old mattress loses support and structure as it ages, only mattresses manufactured after 2007 are required to meet fire resistance regulations.
Cause 3. Poor Friction Levels
Solution: Your mattress needs to have a certain amount of grip in order to be able to maintain its position in the frame. Some types of mattresses such as memory foam or latex mattresses are notorious for having a lot of slip and no grip. There are ways to help your mattress stay secured regardless of material type.
Cause 4. No Rails on The Bed Frame
Solution: No-railing frames are aesthetically pleasing but they don’t do much in terms of holding your mattress in place. When there is no railing around the frame, mattresses have a tendency to move around with whoever is on top of the bed.
Cause 5. Poor Support
Solution: Your bed frame needs to be properly leveled and even. Too wide or too narrow slats can lead to an uneven sleeping surface that causes your mattress to slip. Even if you have a perfectly level surface, old slats that are uneven can also cause slippage.
What Can I Use To Keep My Mattress From Sliding?
Once you figure out what is causing your mattress to move around, then you can put a solution into place. We have put together a few of our tried and true solutions that will help keep your mattress in place all night long.
1. Mattress Gap Fillers & Extenders
When your mattress is too small for your metal bed or platform bed, it can slide around. The best way to fix the problem is to purchase a new frame to match your mattress size. Until you buy a new frame, gap fillers and mattress extenders can help hold your mattress in place. Gap fillers like the Insieme Bed Bridge and mattress extenders like this one will help by adding width or length to your mattress to help prevent sliding.
Insieme Bed Bridge
Everything Medical Mattress Extender
2. Add Rails to Your Frame
For box spring mattresses and platform beds, you can add rails to your frame to help reduce or eliminate sliding completely. Most bed frames that use this type of mattress can have adjustable railings added in just a few steps. If you don’t want to invest in a premade rail and you are good with your hands, you can craft your own. By using railings on your mattress frame you will eliminate its ability to slide around when in use.
3. Clean Your Frame
Sometimes it is not the lack of grip or even the mattress size that is causing movement. Dust eases friction and not only is bad for your health, but it can also cause slippage. Make a point of cleaning under your bed and around your frame at least once a month. Use the hose attachment on your vacuum to rid your bed frame of dust and debris that may be encouraging sliding.
4. Use Non-slip Pads for your Mattress
A simple and affordable solution for mattress movement is non-slip mattress grip pads. They are made to be used on a bed, so they are very durable. They come in all sizes and fit well with any type of mattress material. They are not the same as a mattress encasement which will block moisture or a mattress cover that blocks dirt. Instead, they help prevent slippage and help to elevate the surface level of the mattress cushion underneath. You can usually find them at any big box store or location that sells linens. There are hundreds of options to choose from on Amazon as well like the one below that can be used on any style or size mattress, box spring or platform bed. If you have a king or California king, you may have to use two smaller pads instead.
Mockins Slip Resistant Mattress Grip Pad
5. Apply Heavy Duty Velcro
Velcro is a tried and true way to help keep things in place. Heavy-duty Velcro-like strips are very effective in keeping mattresses from sliding around the frame. You can use Velcro strips on any mattress and pair them with any type of frame to keep your mattress from sliding around. All you need to do is place a generous strip at both the head and foot of your bed frame to eliminate movement.
Velcro Brand Industrial Strength Stick On Adhesive Velcro
A helpful review: “[…] I am using between mattresses to keep the mattress from sliding off the bed….Just adding a few strips of this at the top end to keep the foam mattress in place.[…]”
6. Use Rug Pad Grippers
If you are looking for a quick and affordable way to stop your mattress from sliding around, grab a hack from your rug! Of course, we are not suggesting that you cut up your rug, but rather, use rug grippers on your mattress. Rug grippers like those below are very affordable and work amazingly well. They are available on Amazon or in most stores.
Home Techpro Rug Pads
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These little rubber grippers are made to keep high traffic rugs from moving on the floor. They can be equally effective in helping to keep your mattress in place as well. Just place the rug grippers between the support structure of your bed frame and the mattress to get rid of slippage for good.
Why Do I Slide Down The Bed When I Sleep?
There are several reasons you could be sliding down or sliding around your bed every time you sleep.
- For those who have elevated beds or beds that have one adjustable side, gravity is generally the cause of mid-sleep movement.
- Your sheets can also cause you to slip and slide around your bed while you sleep. Slippery fabrics such as silk or very smooth cotton offer no form of resistance which can lead to movement when you toss and turn.
- An unlevel bed or bed frame is yet another common cause of slipping down the bed when you sleep.
- Other causes include restlessness, night terrors, earthquakes, or simply the natural pattern of movement during sleep. If your mattress slides around on your frame during the night, it can also cause your body to slip down or to the side in the middle of the night.
How to Stop Sliding Down the Bed During Slumber
A few solutions can help you stop sliding down the bed in your sleep. The simplest way is to position a body pillow or a pillow wedge under your feet when you sleep. This will help you maintain your position and stop sliding when you sleep at night. If your beds are slippery, consider using different fabrics to help reduce the amount of slippage you encounter while you sleep.
Uneven bed frames and moving mattresses can make you move at night. To solve the issue of an uneven bed try using a few Cork or rubber Adhesive floor protectors or get some adjustable feet which can be screwed directly into your bed frame if wood.
Level your mattress frame to ensure that your bed is not at an angle to help reduce nighttime sliding. Using our suggestions above you can also make sure that your mattress is secured in the frame so that it doesn’t contribute to the late-night movement.
Can You Put Two Mattress On Top of Each Other?
It is possible to stack mattresses, however; it will cause the structure of the bed to become unstable. Mattresses are crafted to withstand a certain amount of body weight and by adding one mattress to the other the weight will be exceeded. Over time, the pressure of the top mattress and combined bodyweight will slowly crush the bottom mattress. This will cause it to become unstable, slide, and generally offer a poor level of support. If you are looking to increase the height of your bed, you can use a box spring affixed to a sturdy frame.