How to Stop a Mattress from Sliding

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A sliding bed is a nuisance when you’re trying to get a good night’s sleep. Whether your mattress is slipping around on the frame, your mattress topper won’t stay put, or your bed frame is sliding around on a smooth floor, there are both premade accessories and do-it-yourself remedies that will fix the problem. In just a matter of time you’ll be sleeping steady and better than ever!

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Keeping a Mattress from Moving Around

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  1. Many bed stores sell grippy pads made of PVC rubber that fit between a mattress and the bed frame to keep the mattress from sliding around. Purchase a model that suits your mattress and frame combo, then stick it between them and see if that solves the problem.
    • If you can’t find a pad big enough for your bed, you can combine 2 smaller pads.
    • Non-slip mattress pads are very thin, so you shouldn’t notice a difference in feeling when you sleep on the new bed setup.
  2. Purchase a pad designed for area rugs that is big enough to fit under your mattress. Cut it to fit if it is wider or longer than the mattress.
    • Some gripping pads are sold as multi-use for both mattresses and area rugs, so it may not necessarily be a cheaper alternative, but it’s worth shopping around if you want to save a few bucks!
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  3. Buy long strips of velcro that have adhesive on 1 side and the velcro on the other. Cut the strips to fit your bed, stick strips along the bottom of your mattress, and stick the opposing strips on the box spring or bed frame so that they line up and hold the mattress in place.
    • Make sure to use “hook” and “loop” pieces of velcro opposite of each other, or the velcro won’t stick!
    • You could also try using double-sided carpet tape in the same way if you can’t find velcro strips.
  4. Sometimes a mattress will slide around when it is not completely snug in the frame. Try wedging a towel or other soft material between the bed frame and the mattress to stop the mattress from sliding.
    • This is a good way to temporarily stop sliding, however you will probably have to keep adjusting whatever you wedge in between the mattress and frame, so it is not a great permanent solution.
  5. Look at your bed frame and see if it is too big for your bed, or if the sides aren’t high enough to hold the mattress in place. Get a new bed frame that holds the mattress tighter if you can’t stop the mattress from sliding around with another method.
    • A bed frame that has both a headboard and a footboard can help reduce sliding as well.
  6. Many mattresses have 2 sides that are exactly the same, which means the bottom side is more prone to sliding. Buy a mattress that has 1 side for sleeping and 1 flat side that goes face down to decrease mattress slippage.
    • 1-sided mattresses can also be more comfortable than 2-sided mattresses because they are built bottom-up for maximum comfort on the sleeping surface.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Stopping a Mattress Topper from Slipping Off

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  1. Your mattress topper is more likely to slide around if your sheets are loose. Get the tightest-fitting bottom sheet you can find that will fit your bed and put it on to secure the topper in place.
  2. Clip the sheet straps to the bottom edges of the corners of the fitted sheet. Feed the straps under the mattress and clip them to the opposite corners.
    • The sheet suspenders should look like an “X” underneath the mattress.
  3. Pin the mattress topper to the mattress with at least 5 safety pins per side. This will distribute the pressure and hold the topper in place more securely.
    • You can also use safety pins to hold the fitted bottom sheet in place which will keep the mattress topper more stable.
  4. Tape the corners and edges down tightly to the mattress with duct tape, or spray adhesive over the entire backside of the topper and stick it down to the mattress. Make sure to use a tight-fitting sheet as well.
    • Note that if you use spray adhesive, there will be some residue left on the mattress if you ever want to rip off the topper. Duct tape can leave some residue on the mattress too if it is left on for a long time.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Preventing a Bed Frame from Sliding on Smooth Floors

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  1. Get an area rug that is slightly bigger than the area the bed covers. Move the bed off to the side and place the rug on the floor, then move the bed back on top of it. [1]
    • The more plush the rug is, the more traction the bed frame will have.
  2. Get furniture feet that are big enough to fit on the bottoms of the legs of your bed frame. Lift up the bed a corner at a time and stick the furniture feet on. [2]
    • You can get furniture feet at most furniture stores or home improvement centers.
  3. Cut pieces of non-slip shelf liner that are slightly bigger than the bottoms of the legs of the frame. Lift the bed frame up at each corner and slide the pieces of rubber liner underneath. [3]
    • The rubber liner you want to get is the kind used to line cabinets and keep things like glasses from sliding around.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    What can I use to keep my mattress from sliding?
    Drew Hawkins1
    Community Answer
    An easy solution is to place a non-slip mattress pad or rubber matting between your mattress and bed frame that will prevent it from sliding. You can also wedge a towel or blanket between the bed frame and the mattress to stop it wedge it into place so it doesn't slide. If all else fails, you can get a new bed frame that fits around your mattress more tightly so it doesn't have room to slide around.
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  • Question
    What should I put under my mattress?
    Drew Hawkins1
    Community Answer
    If you're trying to stabilize your mattress and keep it from moving or sliding, you can insert a non-slip mattress pad or a rubber mat between your mattress and your bed frame. You could also attach long strips of velcro along the bottom of your mattress and your box spring or bed frame so they hold your mattress in place.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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  • Question
    How can I keep my bed in place?
    Drew Hawkins1
    Community Answer
    You can keep your bed from moving around by placing an area rug beneath it, which will prevent it from sliding. You could also attach non-skid furniture feet to the bottom of each of the legs of your bed so it's held still. Another option is to place pieces of rubber shelf liner under the legs of your bed to keep the whole frame from moving.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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      Things You’ll Need

      Keeping a Mattress from Moving Around

      • Non-slip mattress pad
      • Adhesive velcro strips

      Stopping a Mattress Topper from Slipping Off

      • Tight-fitting sheet
      • Sheet suspenders
      • Safety pins

      Preventing a Bed Frame from Sliding on Smooth Floors

      • Area rug
      • Non-slip furniture feet
      • Rubber shelf liner

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      References

      1. ↑ https://homesteady.com/how-8791609-stop-bed-sliding.html
      2. ↑ https://homesteady.com/how-8791609-stop-bed-sliding.html
      3. ↑ https://homesteady.com/how-8791609-stop-bed-sliding.html

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      Whether your mattress is sliding off its frame or your mattress topper won’t stay put, you’ll want to fix the problem to get a good night’s rest. If your mattress keeps moving around on the frame, try wedging a towel or other soft material around the edges of the frame for a quick and easy temporary solution. For a more permanent fix, buy long velcro strips and stick them to the bottom of your mattress. Then, stick the opposing strips on the box spring or bed frame so they velcro your bed in place. You can also buy a large piece of rubber matting or a non-slip mattress pad to put it between your mattress and bed frame. If the issue is your mattress topper, then try securing it to the mattress by safety pinning them together at each corner. Another way to secure your topper to your mattress is to place a tight-fitting bottom sheet over both. To learn how to keep your bed frame from sliding on smooth floors, keep reading!

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