A question that is posed of me and our staff quite often is, "Can I just put my mattress on the floor?" Short answer? Of course, you can put your mattress on the floor, its your mattress!
The Alexander Signature Series Foam Mattress
However, the answer really isn't that simple. While the floor can make sense for some, depending on the type of mattress, the type of flooring, the environment in your bedroom and the part of the country you live, there can be many reasons why it is not the best place to put your mattress.
Putting your mattress on the floor can make for an inexpensive solution as to what to place your mattress on, but it can be a really bad idea depending on the factors above. Let's look at those factors:
- If you have a foam mattress, putting it on the floor can lead to mold beneath the mattress, and that can ultimately cause severe health issues. Even coil mattresses can provide mold with a great place to grow. Basically, mattresses need to breathe, or, air out. We all sweat in our sleep, some more than others. That moisture needs to go somewhere, and gravity pulls it to the bottom of your mattress. When your mattress is on the floor, that moisture is retained, and combined with a lack of light, provides the perfect breeding ground for mold.
- A spring mattress with the springs encased in foam is another example of a type of mattress that needs to be on a surface that is breathable. A regular spring mattress can allow airflow through the fabric sides.
- If you live near the water or a very humid environment, placing the mattress on the floor could allow for mold growth.
- If you have old hardwood floors, mold spores can be dormant in the flooring and lead to mold growth.
Mattresses should be able to breathe, through a slatted platform or a box spring. If you have to put your mattress on the floor, simply leaning it up against the wall on its side once a week would allow it to air out and should be a good solution until you are able to find something permanent.
I have seen many instances of moldy mattresses in my career, and most often they are on the floor or on a plywood base with no air flow under the mattress. This can happen for any type of mattress, such as memory foam, latex foam or futon. Mold under the mattress can cause mild to severe health issues. I have even seen it mold underneath a bed where people had stored lots of clothes and things, cutting off air flow.