When to Buy a New Mattress & How Often Should You Change Your Mattress?

Your mattress should be an oasis that you feel comfortable enough to get a full night of deep rest. It should leave both your head and body feeling well rested in the morning.

An old mattress will make you sore, and discourage a good night’s sleep. They also collect dirt, oils, and even tiny bugs called dust mites which like to eat dead skin.

Even if you try to keep your room, linens, and mattress clean, it will collect these materials in the crevices and deep below the surface. Old mattresses also collect household allergens, causing you to have reactions that may keep you up at night.

Depending on how you treat your mattress, the type it is, and signs from your mattress, you should replace it every 5 to 10 years. Your age may also play a factor, as the older you get, the more likely you’ll need a firmer mattress to prevent back pain.

When Should You Change Your Mattress?

Signs from your mattress

Your mattress will tell you when it’s time to toss it and buy a new one. Pay attention to the signs that your mattress is becoming overused and too old. If your mattress is over ten years old, you should replace it anyway.

If it’s between 5 and ten years old, start paying attention to the signs that it’s too worn, old, and no longer giving you a proper night’s rest.

Waking up sore

You may wake up with sore muscles, joints, and pains throughout your back. You may feel unusually stiff in the morning; then your body begins to feel better after you get out of bed and move around a bit.

sleep-pain

Old mattresses do not adequately support your body, which doesn’t allow it to become relaxed. Your muscles spend the entire night in discomfort.

Not feeling rested

An old mattress doesn’t provide a restful night of sleep because your body isn’t comfortable. You’ll no longer wake up feeling refreshed and notice that you’re unusually tired. If you wake up tired every morning, your mattress may be getting too old.

Lumps or sags

When you run your hand over your mattress or lay flat on it, you’ll feel lumps and sags. You may also notice signs of physical wear such as tears. Mattresses that no longer hold their shape are ready to be replaced.

Excessive stains

Excessive stains on mattresses are sometimes not removable. When liquids make it past the surface of the mattress, it is challenging to remove them. They’ll collect moisture inside of it and grow mould and mildew.

After some time, it’ll start to smell, and this is usually impossible to remove. If you notice that you cannot successfully clean your mattress by removing stains and smells, you’ll need to replace it.

Tossing and turning

You won’t be comfortable on an old mattress. You and your partner will notice each other tossing and turning throughout the night, both before and after you fall asleep. This also contributes to not feeling rested and waking up with sore muscles and joints.

Better sleep elsewhere

You may notice that you slept much better at the last hotel you stayed in. When other beds feel much more comfortable than yours, and you sleep better elsewhere, you may need to replace your mattress.

Headaches

If you wake up with headaches, your mattress may be to blame. An old mattress doesn’t allow you to get a good night of sleep and isn’t comfortable for your body. It’ll be uncomfortable on your back and neck, which can cause headaches.

Make it last longer

You can lengthen the amount of time your mattress stays usable by taking extra special care of it. Maintaining your mattress will save you time, money, and many uncomfortable nights.

Use a mattress protector

Purchasing a mattress protector is one of the simplest and easiest ways to keeping your mattress in its best condition. Mattress protectors shield your mattress from liquid and significantly reduce the amount of dirt and oils that make their way to the mattress.

As noted above, when liquid makes its way to the mattress, it often goes past the mattress surface and is nearly impossible to remove. A mattress protector prevents the fluid from getting to the surface in the first place.

It also lessens the amount of wear and tear your mattress gets and reduces allergens, giving you a better night of sleep. Mattress protectors are generally inexpensive, but highly essential to make your mattress last longer.

Rotate the mattress

You should rotate your mattress at least every six months. If you notice your mattress is beginning to sag in one spot, you may need to turn it more often. Rotate the head of the bed to the foot of the bed to promote even wear. If you have a box spring, be sure to rotate that as well.

No pets

It might be difficult for some to follow, but allowing pets to sleep in your bed will make it deteriorate quicker. Animals’ claws make their way to the mattress and can easily cause tears.

Pets also add to the dirt, liquids, and oils that collect on the mattress. Try buying your pet its bed to lie on the floor in your room instead of on your expensive mattress.

pets-in-bed

Air it out

On sunny days, strip your bedding from your mattress and place the mattress near a large, open window or outside so that the sunlight can reach it.

Doing so has been found to reduce the risk of dust mites and remove moisture from the mattress. Even if you have not had any spills, mattresses collect moisture from sweat and humidity that gets trapped beneath the surface.

Support it

An unsupported or poorly supported mattress will cause a mattress to deteriorate quicker. If you have a spring mattress, it is essential to use a box spring under it for support.

For memory foam and other mattresses, a solid support is needed. Make sure your bed frame properly supports the type and size of mattress you have.

Wash bed linens

You should wash your bed linens at least once a week to remove sweat, oils, and other unwanted materials. Dirty sheets allow these materials to seep through to your mattress, causing it to deteriorate quicker.

Clean it

Vacuum your bed at least every three months. Treat stains gently with water and dish soap, but do not saturate the surface. Spot clean by dabbing the area. You can also deodorise your mattress by sprinkling it with baking soda.

Let the baking soda set for at least 30 minutes, but the longer, the better. After at least 30 minutes, vacuum the baking soda from the mattress.

Shopping tips

Buying a higher-quality mattress that you feel comfortable on will lengthen the time in between needing to buy a new one. When shopping for a new mattress, do your research to make sure you buy one that suits your body and lifestyle.

Decide your type

The main types of mattresses are memory foam, innerspring, and adjustable. Memory foam moulds to your body and is usually a favourite for those who suffer from back and joint pain.

Innerspring mattresses are generally the least expensive but come with a variety of unique layers. Some have extra padding, a pillow top, or gel. Adjustable mattresses have electric pumps to adjust the firmness.

Some can be modified on both sides so that you and your partner have personalised firmness.

Lay on the bed

Before ever purchasing a mattress, test it out by laying on it for at least five minutes. Lay in your preferred sleeping position and ensure that you feel comfortable.

Most people move throughout the night, so roll back and forth a few times and try different sleeping positions to make sure that you can freely move.

Moving while you’re sleeping may seem counterproductive, but it enhances circulation in your body and helps for a better night of sleep—as long as it’s not tossing and turning out of discomfort.

Understand the warranty

Warranties on mattresses range and some companies only cover manufacturing defects. If you’re expecting better warranties, make sure you understand it fully before purchasing your mattress.

Understand return policies

Some stores offer returns if you’re not satisfied. Sometimes this return is for a full refund, while others will be for store credit. The amount of time will vary from a week to several months.

Make sure to find out if the store charges restocking fees for returns, as these fees may be up to 15% of the purchase price. You should also check to find out if you’ll be responsible for physically returning the mattress or if the store offers free pickup.

Inspect on delivery

If you have your mattress delivered, thoroughly inspect it upon delivery. Check for damage, stains, and ensure that there is a label that reads “all-new material,” If the mattress is not in brand-new condition, refuse delivery.

Conclusion

Mattresses should be replaced every 5 to 10 years, but use your judgement to decide if yours needs to be replaced sooner rather than later. Watch for signs that the mattress is no longer comfortable for your body and has worn down.

In between purchasing mattresses, you can prolong the life of your current mattress by properly caring for it and maintaining it.

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