When Should You Replace Your Mattress
Sleep is one of the most important aspects of human health. Without quality sleep, our bodies are not able to heal and rejuvenate themselves, and our brains struggle to process emotions and store memories.
One of the biggest factors in getting a good nights sleep is the comfort of your mattress. There are few other products that can have such a significant effect on our health and happiness. Therefore, its important to invest in the best mattress possible, and replace it according to expert guidelines. But when should you replace your mattress?
Under normal conditions, mattresses should be replaced every 6 to 8 years.
Of course, this is a general guideline and not a one-size-fits-all solution. There are various factors that influence when you should replace your mattress.
Generally speaking, you should replace your mattress if one or more of the following apply:
- Its 6-8+ years old
- Its negatively affecting your sleep
- Its noticeably saggy or damaged in certain areas
- Its making more noise than usual
- You find that you sleep better at hotels, friends houses, etc.
- You notice an increase in allergies and/or asthma
- You regularly wake up with muscle or joint stiffness
Essentially, you should replace your bed if its no longer helping you get restful sleep. Theres no clear-cut way to know for sure whether its time for a new bed but generally speaking, if youre thinking about a new bed, its likely worthwhile to make the investment sooner rather than later.
Top 10 Signs You Need A New Mattress
Your mattress is an essential part of your everyday life, and you put a lot of thought into selecting just the right one for you. So it can be easyand temptingto believe that you and your mattress will be together forever. Unfortunately, no matter how amazing your mattress may be, this is one relationship that must come to an end.
You can expect a good 7-10 years out of a premium mattress, before it eventually succumbs to the wear and tear of supporting your body every night. At that point, it stops providing you with proper support, leading to aches, pains, less-than-stellar sleepand the need to find a replacement.
But how do you know for sure when you need a new mattress? Here are 10 telltale signs:
Good Nights Sleep Or Good Bites Sleep
The main reason why sleep associations recommend replacing your mattress every 8-10 years is due to its potential to be a hotbed of bacteria. Imagine spending so much of your life on a 10-year-old mattress we doubt its clean at all .
Dust mites or bed bugs will make your mattress their home if left alone. Sure, you can use a mattress protector, but while that might prevent insect build-up, that wont be for forever.
Once you see one, chances are, there are others in different areas of your mattress. Nothing takes you out of the mood to sleep than a bite from a dust mite.
The presence of minuscule insects in your mattress extends beyond irritating bites. They threaten your overall health, and the longer you allow these critters to bug you, the worse its going to get.
When you discover mites and bugs, the life of your mattress is probably on its last legs. Next time you shop for a mattress, look for features such as water and dust mite-proof.
Something else to worry about is allergen accumulation. Dead skin cells and hair build up on pillowcases and mattress toppers, but they can also build up in your mattress.
If its time to say goodbye to your old and worn mattress, remember to look for a hypoallergenic and dust-mite repellant mattress.
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How Long Do Mattress Protectors Lasts
By simply using a mattress protector you can extend your mattress life span by a few years. Protectors prevent a build-up of skin cells, fluid and oil from entering the mattress. Over time, these things can seriously impact the structure and cause it to deteriorate much faster. When using a protector, it’s important to wash it once every two months to avoid nasty bacteria growing.
Running the mattress protector through the wash will gradually start to break down the fibres. Normally this is pretty easy to spot and you’ll likely notice signs of bobbling and thinning of the material. Generally, mattress protectors last between one to two years but you should replace them sooner if you notice any wear and tear. Over-washing, using a tumble dryer to dry and sleeping directly on the protector without a sheet will cause them to wear down faster.
The Type Of Mattress You Sleep On
The type of mattress you sleep on can make a difference in how long it lasts.
Open coil
An open coil mattress is made from a continuous wire wrapped around to form a coil. These coils are then linked together to create a spring unit. They are often cheaper than most other mattress types as they can be mass-produced by a machine quickly and easily.
As the springs work as one unit, you tend to feel your sleeping partners movement more in bed, which will worsen over time. Because of this, you may replace the mattress sooner than expected.
Open coil mattresses are less robust than other mattress types and generally wear out quicker. They are not as supportive and may not be suitable for sleeping partners of different body weights.
The typical lifespan of an open coil mattress is around 6 to 10 years.
Pocket springs
Pocket spring mattresses are more supportive and generally last longer than open coil mattresses.
A pocket spring mattress contains individual springs encased in fabric pockets and stitched or hand-tied together. The pocket springs work independently and reduce movement and roll-together. Weight is evenly distributed across the mattress.
Pocket springs provide good edge to edge support. In higher-quality mattresses, hand-side stitching is used to further strengthen the support around the edges while helping the mattress maintain its shape for longer.
Memory foam
Latex
Non-turn mattresses
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How Long Do Pillows Last
A good quality pillow should last up to two years. However, some lower quality pillows can need replacing every few months depending on the fillings used. You’ll know it’s time to replace your pillows when they stop feeling comfortable and supporting your head and neck properly. Feathered pillows tend to last longer than hollowfibre styles but can feel less supportive since they tend to dip in the centre. You should choose your pillow based on your comfort preferences. For more information on finding your perfect pillow, check out our helpful pillow buying guide.
Has your mattress seen better days?
Once you start noticing signs of wear and tear, it’s probably time for an upgrade. We have a huge range of mattresses in stock that are available for next day delivery. With styles to suit all kinds of sleep preferences and budgets, you’ll be sure to find the perfect one for you. If you need any help when choosing your new sleep set up you can contact one of our friendly sleep advisers or read more helpful buying guides on our advice hub.
Is Your Mattress Showing Signs Of Wear And Tear
You should check your mattress for visible signs of wear and tear whenever you change your bed sheets. If it looks worn, is lumpy, or has a visible dip where you tend to lie, it’s time to replace it. You should also pay attention to whether your mattress has become noisy. If it creaks, groans, or pings when you’re trying to get to sleep at night, this is also a sign that you should be looking to invest in a new mattress.
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Should You Buy A New Mattress For Your Second Baby
The answer to this depends on how you cared for it with your first child and how long you used it. If it was well taken care of, and you the baby switched to a new bed within the first three to five years, it probably has some life left in it.
On the other hand, if your first child had a lot of accidents that werent cleaned immediately, and they were spent a lot of time jumping and bouncing on the surface, it might be time for something new.
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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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.
How To Help Your Mattress Last Longer
Once youve replaced your old mattress, there are some things you should do to keep it in great condition for longer. This includes:
Rotating Most mattresses can be rotated, and doing so ensures any dips and bumps are levelled out, and that you are resting on an even surface. Aim to rotate yours every few months. Mattresses with zones that support the body at specific areas can’t be rotated, as these are designed to be used in one direction only.
Flipping A lot of new mattresses are one-sided with a sturdy foundation layer and a softer top, so check before you flip. If you can flip your mattress, flip and rotate it so that each side and end gets the same amount of time at the top of the bed.
Airing and cleaning Most beds can be kept fresh by running the vacuum cleaner over them. You could also sprinkle on bicarbonate of soda to soak up moisture and smells, leave for a few hours, then vacuum it up. If you can, strip the mattress, open the windows and place it in direct sunlight for UV rays to kill the bacteria.
Protection Using a mattress protector is one of the easiest ways to keep your mattress in good condition. Not only does they add a barrier against spills and sweat, protectors can be easily machine washed.
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How Long Does It Take A Mattress To Expand
Most memory foam mattresses fully expand within a few hours. In some cases, it can take up to 3 days to expand properly.
Some manufacturers claim that you shouldnt sleep on your memory foam mattress for 24 hours after unpacking it. In our experience, it isnt strictly necessary to follow that guideline. But if you notice that your memory foam mattress isnt expanding, then dont sleep on it immediately. It may need more time to expand to its full size.
Is Your Mattress Older Than 8 Years Old
This is the clincher. Both the mattress industry and the Sleep Council strongly recommend that you replace a mattress every eight years, because by this time it will have lost much of its original comfort and support.
We appreciate that a mattress is hidden under sheets and blankets for most of its life, so its not always obvious what condition its in, but if its starting to give you any of the problems weve mentioned then its probably time to say goodbye and buy yourself a new one.
Do you think you need to change your mattress? A better sleep could be just a mattress away . . .
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How Often Should You Change An Innerspring Mattress
Spring mattresses are often the cheapest option, so they’re more tempting to buy. This is a false economy though. Why? Because springs wear down quicker, which means your mattress will sag faster and within no time at all you won’t have the spinal support you need in bed.
Most innerspring or pocket-spring mattresses need to be replaced every four to six years. There are higher-quality options from the likes of Silentnight and Dreams, and these are guaranteed to last a little longer because they use better quality wire and construction methods.
Innerspring mattresses are more traditional. These comprise a straightforward layer of springs, while pocket-spring mattresses feature springs individually encased in their own fabric pocket. Each coil moves independently, so the mattress offers better support and less motion transfer than an innerspring.
What Are The Signs That Your Mattress Needs To Be Replaced
Once you’ve had your mattress for five years, you should start to pay more attention to its condition. We would recommend giving it a quick inspection whenever you change your sheets, so you can spot any problems before they begin to cause you too much trouble. Here, we’ll outline some of the most common issues that signal your mattress could be past its best.
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Your Mattress May Not Properly Expand
The main risk associate with leaving your memory foam mattress in a box for too long is that it may not expand fully once you open it.
If your mattress stays rolled-up tightly for an extended period of time, the material may get stuck and stay compressed when you eventually unpack it.
If youve waited too long to remove your memory foam mattress from its packaging and it isnt expanding, there are a few things you can do to help it decompress. We recommend increasing the temperature in the room, increasing air circulation , placing it on the floor or other flat surface, and massaging the the foam layers.
Dont Bring Home Unwanted Hitchhikers
Bedbugs are one of the fastest ways to ruin a mattress, as they can be difficult to get rid of once they infiltrate.
When sleeping away from home, always inspect the bed from signs of bed bugs and try to keep luggage off the floor. If you suspect bedbugs, Texas A& M University has a few tips for preventing bringing them back home.
In apartments or areas of the country where these critters are common, consider using a bedbug-proof mattress encasement. These differ from mattress protectors as they have impenetrable zippers and cover the bed on all sides to prevent bugs from making their home in your mattress.
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The Lifespan Of Tempur
If youâre looking around for a new bed and are thinking of a TempurPedic bed, you might be questioning yourself: How long can a TempurPedic Mattress last?
If you have read some of our buying guides, you likely know we anticipate an excellent mattress to last you about 8-10 years.
There are tons of variables that go into how lasting a mattress will be, like your own body weight, the amount of usage, its structure, the quality of materials inside, and much more.
If you think relating to this, a mattress sitting in your guest room will probably last longer than the mattress you sleep with your loved one every night.
Additionally, an under $300 mattress that sources low-density foams from abroad is far less likely to hold up as long as a $2,000 premium luxury mattress is made right here in the USA. But generally, a fantastic mattress that is used regularly should last you about ten years, take or give a year or so.
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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.
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Needs Too Much Cleaning
Youd be surprised to learn just how much moisture your mattress absorbs, as we can release up to 2 litres of sweat every night. If youve washed a mattress thats been around for years, you know how hard it is to get it to dry.
Sure, you can try airing it out and letting the sun do its thing, but that can take a long time, even leaving you sleeping on the couch for a night while it dries.
People should clean their mattresses regularly, but when yours starts needing it more and more, thats a bad sign. The older a mattress is, the more it accumulates dirt and the harder it is to clean.
Your Mattress Is Uncomfortable
Knowing whether your mattress is comfortable sounds like common sense, but many people adjust to discomfort. If you get better sleep on a hotel mattress or a friends guest room, your home bed might not be comfortable enough. A bed may seem comfortable in a showroom but then doesnt perform well at home.
The upper part of your mattress consists of comfort layers that should support your body and provide pressure relief. Comfort layers break down over time resulting in poor sleep and body aches but in some cases, your mattress choice might have been faulty from the start, and you need to replace it.
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