How Often Should I Replace My Mattress?

Why Should You Replace Your Mattress?

Replacing your mattress is not just about comfort, or because it’s just the ‘thing to do.’ It’s also about health. Here is why it matters:

1. Sagging: Dents or uneven spots mean poor spinal support, which can lead to pain.
2. Dust Mites: Mattresses trap allergens that affect breathing. Use a protector, but after years, replacement is best.
3. Creaking: Broken coils interrupt sleep cycles. If noise worsens, a new mattress may be needed.
4. Discomfort: Poor sleep impacts heart health, immunity, and mood. If you’re tossing and turning, upgrade.
5. Allergies: Dust and mildew build up over time, triggering reactions even with cleaning.
6. Joint Pain: Worn-out support causes stiffness and soreness. If rotating doesn’t help, replace it.

How Often Should You Replace Your Mattress?

While there are signs that your mattress should be replaced, there isn't a hard and fast rule about when it needs to be done. Usually, a mattress's comfort and support will start showing signs of wear after ten years, but a lot of different factors come into play, such as mattress material, the weight of the sleeper and how well the mattress has been taken care of. One way to know for sure if it's time to be replaced, though, is when you start waking up with back pain, a sign that your mattress is lacking critical support.

How Do You Know When You Need a New Mattress?

One of the best ways to tell whether it's time for a new mattress is by listening to your body. If you have trouble sleeping through the night due to tossing, turning and discomfort, don't wait any longer. Sleep is the most important investment you will ever make, and a comfortable mattress is the best way to get it.

Should You Flip a Mattress?

Yes – but ONLY if it is a double-sided mattress. You can check whether or not you need to flip or rotate your mattress by consulting the manufacturer’s instructions on the mattress tag/label.

How Do You Make Your Mattress Last Longer?

Regular maintenance of your mattress and following a few key prevention principles can go a long way in ensuring it lasts as long as possible. Here are three ways to get there:

1. Do not eat in bed. In mattress world, eating in bed is the worst crime one can commit. No matter how careful you are, crumbs have a way of escaping – and escape, seep, and nestle their way into the depths of your mattress they will – turning your mattress into a breeding ground for all kinds of gross bacteria and mold.
2. Do not let your pets share your bed. We get it: allowing Max to snuggle with you in bed is tempting. But resisting the urge will reap rewards – or rather, prevent a slew of nasty side effects. (The soft, porous, dark insides of a mattress are actually the perfect environments for roundworms, and other parasites common to pets, to thrive.)
3. Rotate/flip the mattress (if needed). If your mattress’s manufacturer’s instructions state that the bed needs to be flipped or rotated every few months, then it says so for a reason. A major key for lengthening the lifespan of your mattress as much as possible is simple: follow the instructions!

How Can I Make My Bed Firmer?

The best option for ensuring you’re getting enough firm support is to make sure the mattress you’ve purchased is of high quality to begin with. If you find yourself stuck with a mattress that’s starting to sag, though, there are a few DIY steps you can take to increase the firmness:

• Place a mattress topper. When most people think of mattress toppers, they think of those soft foam layers designed to make a bed more ‘cushiony.’ But did you know there are firming toppers available? Look into firm (or even extra-firm) memory foam mattresses toppers to add on to a weakening mattress – just make sure it’s a topper and not a pad! (Toppers labeled as ‘pads’ tend to encompass the softer, ‘cushiony’ types of mattress toppers.)
• Lower the thermostat. A warm room, believe it or not, can soften mattresses made of 100% foam. Lower the temperature of your room for a few days; if you start to notice a difference in how firm the mattress feels, consider changing your nightly habitat. Sleeping with a window open, adjusting the thermostat or cranking the AC have all been reported to make a difference in all-foam beds; just make sure to double up on blankets and pajamas for your own warmth!
• Look into your sheet sizes. Sometimes, loose bedding or the wrong sheet size can make it feel like your mattress is softer than it really is. If you are using the right sheet size and still feel like the sheets may to be blame, check the corners: a proper, ‘hotel-style’ bed will have each corner and edge pulled tightly under the bed for a flat, even, firmer top-surface feel.
• Flip or rotate your mattress. If your mattress is double-sided, then flipping it every few months can ensure even distribution of pressure.

How to Extend the Life of Your Mattress

Here is everything you need to know on how to extend the life of your mattress – and get the sleep you need for years to come.

1. Rotate (and flip) your mattress.

Sleeping on the same side of your bed night after night for years at a time can place undue pressure on your mattress, causing it to sag prematurely, and leading to loss of proper spinal support. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended that you flip your mattress onto its opposite side at least every six months – and rotate it every three.

2. Clean your mattress regularly.

Even if you regularly wash your sheets, your mattress can still absorb dust, dirt and bacteria; the slow build-up over time could cause your mattress to deteriorate – and lead to some serious health risks. Fortunately, this problem comes with a simple solution: baking soda! Sprinkle on – and then vacuum – no more than a pinch to help absorb and eliminate environmental toxins in your mattress.

3. Use a protective mattress covering.

If you do not have a protective layer between the sheets you sleep on and the mattress itself, then all the work you have put into cleaning and vacuuming your mattress will mean nothing! Either a thin covering or thick pad will get the job done – but go with thick if you also want extra cushioning.

4. Invest in a quality box spring or bunky board.

Quality mattress bases, like box springs, foundations and bunky boards, do not just lift your mattress above ground – they actually help to preserve its shape by providing a flat, sturdy surface that will not give in with use.