Quick answer: to stop toys, balls and dust disappearing under a sofa or bed, measure the gap between the furniture and the floor, cut a gap-blocker strip to the length of the furniture, and stick it along the base so it closes the gap. TidyMend’s under-couch gap blocker is 5 cm high and 3 m long, and it suits gaps up to about 5 cm. Check that the strip sits evenly, including at the ends, so nothing can slip through.
Why things go under the sofa
Many sofas and beds sit just far enough off the floor for a toy, a ball or a dust build-up to disappear underneath, and just low enough that it is awkward to reach in and get them back. A gap blocker is a stick-on strip that closes that space. It is not a toy box or a storage solution; it simply fills the gap so items stop rolling under the furniture.
TidyMend’s under-couch gap blocker is an adhesive strip, 5 cm high and 3 m long, that you cut to length and stick along the base of a sofa or bed. It suits gaps up to about 5 cm. See more in Floor & Furniture Protectors.
What you need
- An under-couch gap blocker strip
- A tape measure
- Scissors or a cutter suitable for the strip
- A cloth, to clean and dry the furniture base and the floor edge before you stick the strip on
Step-by-step
- Measure the gap. Measure the height of the space under the sofa or bed, in more than one place along the front (and along the sides if you plan to close those too). This strip is 5 cm high and suits gaps up to about that height. If the gap is clearly taller than 5 cm, this size will not close it.
- Measure the length. Measure along the base of the furniture where you want to close the gap. The strip is 3 m long and is cut to length, so one length can cover a typical sofa front, or be split across more than one side if the total is 3 m or less.
- Clean the surface. Wipe the furniture base (and the floor edge if the strip will sit against it) so it is free of dust, then let it dry. Adhesive strips stick better to a clean, dry surface.
- Cut the strip. Cut the 3 m length to fit the run you measured. If you are closing more than one side, cut a piece for each side.
- Stick it along the base. Peel the backing and press the strip along the base of the sofa or bed so it closes the gap to the floor. Keep it straight, and run your hand along the whole length so the adhesive sits flat.
- Check the ends and corners. Look along the strip, especially at the ends, to make sure there is no leftover opening where a toy or dust could slip through. Press down any section that is not sitting flush.
Tips
- Do one side at a time if you are closing the front and the ends, and butt the cut ends neatly at the corners.
- If you later need to move the sofa, see how to use furniture sliders so you can ease it out without scratching the floor. Check the gap blocker afterwards, in case a section has lifted.
- This strip is for closing a low gap. It is not a way to raise furniture. If you want to lift a bed, sofa or table to make room for storage underneath, that is a different job, using stackable furniture risers (about 2.6 cm per layer).
Frequently asked questions
What size gap does the strip cover?
The TidyMend strip is 5 cm high and 3 m long, and it suits gaps under a sofa or bed of up to about 5 cm. Measure the gap first. If it is taller than that, this size will not close it.
Can I cut it to length?
Yes. The 3 m length is cut to fit the furniture. Measure along the base first, then cut the pieces you need.
Does it work on a bed as well as a sofa?
Yes. The listing is for closing the gap under a sofa or a bed, including in homes where children lose toys under the furniture.
Will it stop dust as well as toys?
The strip is listed for keeping toys, balls and dust from disappearing under the sofa, provided it sits evenly along the length and at the ends.
What if I want storage under the bed instead?
A gap blocker closes the gap; it does not create storage space. For extra height under a bed, sofa, table or cabinet, stackable furniture risers lift each leg by about 2.6 cm per layer. That is a separate product and a separate job.
Related
How to use furniture sliders · Under-couch gap blocker · Floor & Furniture Protectors · All TidyMend guides