Why most pallets aren't suitable for making beds

Putting a mattress down directly onto the floor can result in more than a few problems.

• It makes getting down and up off the mattress more difficult. 
• Direct mattress to floor contact can cause moisture to build up under the mattress, resulting in mould and bad smells.
• The aesthetic of having a mattress on the floor can make it look as though you don't have your life together.

It's little wonder that so many people are embracing the industrial look and getting used pallets to act as a bed base. But sadly, while there are many excellent applications for used pallets, most pallets are ill-suited to be bed bases. Read on to find out more about this potentially dangerous interior design trend.

Sure, a used pallet bed base might not be a great idea. But with years of experience as pallet experts, our team at Plain Pallets can help you discover many other excellent uses for used wooden pallets.

People are sleeping on wooden pallets, but so are insects

Insects and vermin simply adore pallets. With so many nooks and crannies, a pallet is a perfect place for a little critter to hide. That's great for the insects, and not so great for you. You've heard the expression 'don't let the bed bugs bite?' Well, it'll be harder to stop that happening with a pallet bed base.

Fumigation is good for pallets, and not so good for you

When pallets are moved across state and national borders, they sometimes require fumigation. Often, this process is performed with methyl bromide, a highly toxic chemical. Even if much of the toxin has been scrubbed off the pallet by the time you sleep on it, even small traces could be harmful in the long run.

Pallets picked up off the side of the road may be diseased

If pallets have been left out in the open, or have been in proximity with unclean objects, they might carry unpleasant diseases like E. coli and Listeria. Plus, when they're left out in the elements, pallets can be prone to mould.

Beware harmful chemicals on pallets

Chemicals are often used to treat wooden pallets. Depending on the state of the pallets, and how old they are, those contaminating chemicals could leak out into a mattress or even get into the air.

What has the pallet been moving?

Do you know what the pallets you're using as a bed base have been doing in their professional life? What were the pallets used for before you got them?  They could have been used to move chemicals, fertilisers, petrochemicals, or just about anything. It might be hard to get a good night's sleep with that on your mind.

Different wood has different uses

Local Australian domestic pallets are generally made from case grade pine. This wood is rough sawn, not kiln-dried, so it contains moisture. This will leach onto your mattress, possibly along with any infestations from the forest floor, and make your bed unsuitable for sleep.

Pallet wood can be hard to work with as a bed base

Even if you seal or paint them, it is very difficult to get into every part of the pallet. They're constructed in such a way that there are many hard to access areas.

If you're absolutely set on a pallet bed, our suggestion is to go to a local hardware store to buy some kiln-dried, pressed pine. You can get it in the size of your choosing, and build your own pallets without much trouble.

This way, you can also paint or seal the new pallet before you put it together. You'll have a safe, beautiful timber bed base, perfect for air circulation, and you will have the satisfaction of having made it yourself.

There are other great uses for pallets 

Used pallets can be used for many other projects — it's just that bed bases are often a particularly bad idea! To find pallets, check out your local Bunnings, as they often give away pallets in their timber yards. Alternately, give Gumtree a go — many businesses give away their broken and unwanted pallets for free.

Put the thought of sleeping on wooden pallets to bed. Instead, let our team of pallet experts at Plain Pallets help you find more suitable uses for your used wooden pallets.