Noticeable Wear And Tear
The next time you change your sheets, scan over the entire mattress. Check for any significant lumps, saggy spots, worn edges, or rips in the material. These indicate the mattress has seen better days, and its usually not going to get any better. The sleep surface area will continue to wear down and any tears will only get bigger, allowing more dirt to enter the mattress.
Before going out to buy a brand new bed, check the warranty of your current mattress. Most brands are usually willing to replace a mattress with any manufacturing defects, excessive wear and tear despite normal usage, and sagging greater than 1 inch.
Let Your Mattress Breathe
If you bought your bed online, chances are it came compressed or rolled in a box. At the very least, its been wrapped tightly in plastic.
The materials may give off an off-gassing odor for a day or two. Further, if your mattress was compressed for shipping, it can take some time to expand to its full size.
Depending on the exact model you bought, it can take four to ten hours to expand to its full size. Sleeping on it too soon not only can cause you discomfort, but it can also affect the ability of the mattress to expand correctly. What may help is allowing your mattress to breathe without any sheets or bodyweight for the first 24 hours.
How To Throw Away An Old Mattress
Replacing a mattress also means that you need to go through the somewhat cumbersome process of throwing away the old one. You can take it to the tip or hire a rubbish removal company to collect it. However, these can be expensive options as tips typically charge a flat rate to dump one. This may be the only option in lesser populated and regional areas.
Many councils will collect them for free under household cleanups . But if you live in an area that with scheduled collections rather than collections on request, then you’ll need to put up with an old mattress stinking up the place for a couple of months.
Landfill may be the only option depending on your location, but did you know that you can recycle your mattress as well? These services operate across the country and offer a much more sustainable approach to putting your old bed to sleep.
How to recycle your old mattress
Soft Landing is a national social enterprise with the goal of keeping mattress waste out of landfill. They have partnered with a number of well-known mattress manufacturers to achieve this, and they’re endorsed by state and territory governments.
You can take your mattress to one of many drop-off points or organise a collection in many areas of New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and the ACT. Fees typically start at $50 for one mattress, then $35 for each one after that. Soft Landing doesn’t operate outside these states and territories.
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Seal The Mattress Before Disposal
If you drag the mattress through the home, bed bugs will jump off it and infest the rest of the house. You can prevent this to an extent by sealing the mattress in an encasement.
When you get to the dump, you can take the mattress out of the encasement. Seal the encasement in an airtight box or bag before laundering it at home.
This should prevent at least some of the bugs from spreading.
Other Ways To Dispose Of A Mattress
We wouldnt recommend these ways, as not only are some of these damaging to the environment, some are antisocial and illegal.
Although a couple of Which? members said they disposed of their last mattress by burning it, we dont advise it. Not only is a mattress fire hard to control, but the fumes released by the fire could also be damaging to both you and the environment.
If you happen to be renting a skip and dont mind your mattress contributing to a worsening landfill problem, then you can get rid of your old mattress using a skip.
But you should never dispose of your mattress by putting it in someone elses skip or, worse yet, simply abandoning it at the side of the road. As well as being antisocial and environmentally harmful, fly tipping is illegal and can result in a large fine.
Now that you know how to dispose of your old mattress, find out how to buy the best n to replace it with.
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When To Replace Your Mattress
Regardless of how long you’ve had your mattress, there are some signs that can help you decide when it needs replacing. These include:
- You’ve started to regularly have trouble sleeping for no other identifiable reason
- Your mattress has begun to show visible sagging or damage, especially in the middle or corners
- It has become asymmetrical in its shape, with possible lumps and bumps throughout
- When you wake up, you feel pain, soreness or stiffness in the joints or muscles
- Imprints of your body linger indefinitely in the memory foam
- You experience an increase in the number of days you suffer from allergies or asthma
- Your mattress feels either harder or softer than when it was purchased
- You start to realize you sleep better at other people’s homes or in hotels
- You can’t fall asleep on your mattress anymore, or it takes much longer than usual
- The mattress is starting to get noisier
- It has noticeably frayed edges
- You start to feel your partner moving more and more as your bed loses its ability to reduce motion transfer
Can You Return A Mattress
Making a warranty claim on your mattress
This can be tricky, because arguments regarding comfort, faults and so on can be considered subjective, or part of ‘normal wear and tear’.
And while most mattresses have a 10-year warranty period, the small print is often overflowing with restrictions and conditions.
Take SleepMaker for example. While their warranty covers manufacturing faults, they won’t protect against a reasonable level of dipping , comfort concern as a result of product selection and heat issues. These are just some of the terms, but they illustrate the grey areas consumers can find themselves in
As our investigation into spring mattresses found, advertised and tested firmness rarely match up, and it’s likely that your purchase may not be as comfortable as you expect. However, this wouldn’t fall under a warranty claim in SleepMaker’s case. These terms aren’t exclusive to SleepMaker. In fact, they’re one of the more upfront brands when it comes to outlining their claims procedure.
Most mattresses have a 10-year warranty period, but the small print is often overflowing with restrictions and conditions
Returning a mattress
The onus largely falls on you, the buyer, to make the right purchase if you’re buying from a retailer, even when the industry practices are questionable. Because mattresses are used in the same manner as clothes, headphones etc., getting a refund under general consumer protections can be difficult.
Returning a mattress-in-a-box
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Mattress Myth 1 Replace Your Mattress Every 8 Years
The Better Sleep Council recommends replacing your mattress every 7-10 years, depending on comfort and support. The truth is that the life of a mattress varies wildly, which depends on how you take care of it, how you sleep on it and how often you rotate it.
Think of your mattress as performance gear for your sleep. Just like a good pair of running shoes can help you run faster and prevent injuries, a supportive mattress can deliver better, healthier sleep. Youll know when its time to shop for a new mattress based on how you feel when you wake up.
Your Mattress Aggravates Your Allergies
When mold, mildew, and dust mites invade a mattress, they might exacerbate issues with allergies. If you wake up with watery eyes, a runny nose, and a headache frequently, the allergens in your mattress might be the cause.
There are some materials that can help prevent the buildup of allergens, so allergy sufferers may want to look for these particular materials when purchasing a new mattress. Also, make sure to read our piece on how to prevent dust mites.
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Are You Supposed To Flip Your Mattress
You can flip your mattress only if it is a double-sided mattress. Double-sided mattresses need to be flipped at least twice a year and rotated every three months, for even wear. Most mattresses are usually one-sided. Ask the salespersons or customer service representatives of the mattress manufacturers if the mattress is two-sided.
What Happens If You Sleep On A Memory Foam Mattress Before 24 Hours
You arrive home to find your new memory foam mattress at your doorstep. Your excitement is high as you begin to unbox the newest addition to your home. As you read the directions, your excitement hits rock bottom when you realize you are not supposed to sleep on it for 24 hours.
Everything is ready for this mattress to takes its place in your sleep sanctuary. Slats are placed perfectly for a firm foundation. The old mattress and box spring have been removed and discarded. Mattress topper and protector are ready. You just can not wait to crawl into this great mattress and enjoy a restful nights sleep.
Youre thinking, its only a couple of hours before bedtime.
So, is it true that you should wait 24 hours? What would happen if you did sleep on it before 24 hours has elapsed? Will it be ruined after the first night? This is exactly what we will be discussing. Keep reading to learn why 24 hours is the target number and what happens when you sleep on your new memory foam mattress before 24 hours have elapsed.
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What Do You Need To Know Before Buying A Mattress
- When buying a mattress, choose the right size. Before you go to the store , measure your exact measurements and write down the dimensions of your mattress.
- Read more about the different materials of mattresses.
- Check the mattress.
- Learn more about trial periods and return policy.
- Stick to your budget.
- Take care of your investment.
What Is The Cheapest Day To Buy Airfare
The cheapest day to buy airline tickets is Tuesday. This seems to be because the airlines announced the deals on Monday evening. Other airlines will aim to fulfill these offers on Tuesday afternoon. Therefore, Tuesday afternoon is the best time to look for discounted flights. The first problem is that Tuesday’s days change depending on where you are in the world.
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What Are Mattress Toppers And How Do They Work
Mattress covers are removable foam sheets that are draped over the bed. It is often used to increase the current lack of support of the mattress. It can also add comfort to the mattress or remove the bindings from your bed. Instead of buying another mattress, you can use a mattress topper to get the firmness you want.
Is Your Mattress Coping With Changes In Your Body
If youre a couple of stone heavier, or even lighter, than you were a few years ago, its possible that your body could have changed to the extent where your existing mattress is no longer comfortable. This also applies to childrens mattresses, which cant adapt by themselves to the growing demands of kids.
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Can You Donate A Mattress
If your mattress is still in good condition, consider donating it to charity or giving it away free. That way you can help someone in need, as well as ensuring that it doesn’t end up in landfill.
Organisations such as British Heart Foundation, British Red Cross and Emmaus will resell your mattress and put the proceeds towards a good cause. Several other charities also accept mattress donations, so if there’s a cause you particularly want to support, its worth contacting the charity directly.
As a general rule, these organisations will collect your mattress free of charge, but they might request that you send images first to prove that it’s of acceptable quality. Any organisation accepting a mattress donation will expect it to be fit for use, clean and have a fire label intact.
Another way to ensure your mattress stays out of landfill sites is to use a non-profit initiative such as Freecycle, or your local equivalent group, which can put you in touch with someone in the local area looking for a free second-hand mattress.
Your Mattress Is Causing Allergy Or Asthma Flare
Every night, you sweat and deposit millions of skin cells onto your bed, which is a feast for bacteria and dust mites. So, over time, mattresses can easily become a breeding ground for these little pests. And for people who struggle with asthma, dust mites can be a major trigger for asthma attacks.
You can keep these uninvited guests under control if you wash your sheets regularly and use a mattress cover. In fact, for one study, published in 2002 in the European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and conducted in Northern Norway, researchers found mite feces in 40.5% of foam mattresses that didn’t have covers.
But if you find your asthma flaring up every time you go to sleep, that’s a sign that it’s time to either wash your sheets or replace your mattress.
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You Wake Up With Pain Or Soreness
Unless you can definitively attribute muscle soreness to exercise or pain to injury, your mattress might be causing you to wake up achy. Keep an eye out for signs that your mattress is to blame: A stiff neck, sore lower back and a “pinching” pain in your joints, especially your neck and shoulders.
Also, consider whether the pain subsides as the day goes on. If you wake up with pain or soreness, but it’s gone by midmorning or afternoon, it may be time for a new mattress. You should also make sure you’re using the right kind of pillow to avoid neck and shoulder stiffness.
Don’t fret if you need a new mattress. Buying one isn’t as hard as it used to be, thanks to all of the bed-in-a-box online retailers.
Can You Flip A Memory Foam Mattress
Most memory foam mattresses have a top-down build. This means the top of the mattress is the comfort layer and the bottom is the support layer. If you flip a memory foam mattress, youll sleep on the uncomfortable support layer. Using a mattress upside-down also causes the mattress to sag quicker than expected.
Avoid flipping a memory foam mattress unless the brand says its flippable or dual-sided.
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Do You Wake Up Tired Or Sore
We all know how important it is to get a good night’s sleep. If you regularly wake up tired and sore, it’s likely your mattress has stopped supporting your body properly while you sleep. This can cause you to toss and turn through the night, which will prevent you from getting the rest you need. If this is something you struggle with, it’s probably time to look for a replacement.
The Difference Between Flipping And Rotating A Mattress
Both flipping and rotating evens out mattress wear. You enjoy a good nights sleep for a longer period of time. But mattresses are built differently and have different maintenance needs. Not all models need to be flipped or rotated. In fact, flipping can damage some of them. Some mattress manufacturers void warranties if you flip one-sided mattresses.
- Flipping: Flipping your mattress means turning it over so you can use the other side. Flipping allows you to sleep on both sides of the mattress.
- Rotating: Rotating your mattress means turning it 180 degrees. The part where your head rests will now support your feet and vice versa.
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Can You Recycle A Mattress
At the very least, some parts of your mattress will be recyclable, and its possible that all of it will be. And yet, according to The Furniture Recycling Group, Wembley Stadium could be filled five times with the 7.5m mattresses that are discarded in the UK every year.
While mattress recycling is relatively labour-intensive, more and more facilities capable of doing so are springing up around the UK. These facilities will break down your mattress into its recyclable components springs can then be melted down and remade into new metal products, while synthetic layers such as foam can either be used to make carpet underlay, or else can be sent to a plant where the waste can at least be converted into energy.
Aside from taking your old mattress to your nearest recycling centre yourself, the best way to ensure your mattress is recycled is to pay for it to be collected. But whether you use the local council, the company delivering your new mattress or a specialist mattress removal company, make sure it is clearly stated that the mattress will be recycled. Otherwise, its probably best to assume that it wont be.
You Often Wake Up Throughout The Night
Do you feel like you wake up every couple of hours, or even more frequently, throughout the night? Persistent awakenings can seriously ruin a good night’s sleep, but the remedy could be as simple as getting a new mattress.
Again, you’ll want to rule out medical conditions that cause sleeplessness before blaming your mattress. Make sure it’s not sleep apnea, anxiety, depression, insomnia, indigestion or another condition that can cause nighttime wakefulness.
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Reducing The Chemical Smell
To reduce the smell which is going to spread through the home, you ideally want to locate the mattress on a wall near to a few windows. By opening these windows, you can create air circulation which will drag out the VOCs and the associated smell, while bringing in fresh air which will allow you to continue to enjoy your home.
Its also possible to use air freshener to mask the smell but because these release VOCs too its not the wisest decision. Instead, lighting a few candles around the home can get rid of much of the scent without putting more dangerous gases into your house.
With an open window and a few candles around the home, not near the mattress, you should notice that the smell dissipates significantly in the first few hours. After 24 hours, almost all of the scent should disappear, allowing you to start using your new bed.
