How Do I Know If My Mattress Is Causing My Back Pain
A quality mattress leaves you feeling better waking up than you did going to sleep. If your back feels fine when you lie down and you wake up feeling sore and stiff, it might be your mattresss fault. Another sign that youre sleeping on a bad mattress is that you toss and turn, struggling to feel comfortable.
If you want to test if its just a bad bed or a medical condition, try sleeping elsewhere. If you sleep better in your guest room or on the couch than you do in your own bed, it might be a sign that you should replace your mattress.
When To Toss Them: 2 Years
Sheets can be a big outlay. How long should we expect them to last? It runs the gamut very much like the price does. Most people will replace them within two years, according to a bedroom poll from the National Sleep Foundation. Co-founder of Brooklinen Vicki Fulop says that sounds about right. After regular use and wash cycles, the fibers of your bed linens can start to break down and show signs of wear and tear. But don’t tell Siri to remind you in 2020 just yet. Having said that, it doesn’t mean your sheets will all of a sudden fall apart after two years, Fulop notes, just that if they’re starting to look and feel worn out, and you want the optimal condition and comfort for your bed, two years or so is a great time for a refresh.
How do you know when it’s time for a new pillow? Fold it in half and see if it stays that way.
How Can I Extend The Life Of My Mattress
The best way to ensure your mattress lasts as long as possible is to practice a little prevention. Always place a mattress protector or encasement on your bed as soon as you get it this will keep out bed bugs, dust mites, and liquid stains or spills. Any or all of these things can void your mattress warranty, which you might need if the mattress shows signs of sagging during the warranty period.
To maintain a quality mattress, its more about what you dont do to it than what you do:
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How Do You Know When You Need A New Mattress
The most common sign that you need a bed upgrade is when you wake up feeling older than your age. If you consistently feel like you’re getting poor quality sleep or you sleep better in a hotel, it could be due to your ageing mattress.
Mild sagging is a sign that you need to consider replacing your mattress. However, if it feels misshapen, lumpy or has obvious body indentations, its definitely time for an upgrade. Sleeping on a bed that isn’t offering the essential spinal support you need can lead to stiff joints and uncomfortable back pain.
It’s also important to regularly check your children’s mattresses for signs of wear and tear. Having proper spinal support is key to the healthy formation of their bones.
When To Toss Them: 1 To 2 Years
And how about where you lay your weary head? The National Sleep Foundation tells us to plan on replacing pillows every year or two. Why so often? Apparently they absorb body oil, dead skin cells, and hair, which can create the perfect environment for dust mites . They also recommend washing your pillows every six months and using a protective case between the pillow and pillowcase. How do you know when it’s time for a new pillow? Fold it in half and see if it stays that way, they say. If it does, its time for a new one. If you spring for a quality down pillow and take good care of it, lifestyle guru you can get 10 or 15 years out of them.
If you’re over 40 you can expect even less time out of a bed, since your body tolerates less pressure as it ages.
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Your Mattress Has Worn Or Frayed Edges
Worn or frayed edges aren’t the end of the world — they don’t necessarily affect the area of the mattress you sleep on. But, mattresses are built to last, and worn edges are a clear sign that your mattress is well past the average lifespan of 10 years. So even if you don’t notice any sagging or asymmetry, take a look at the edges to check whether it might be time for a new mattress.
How Do I Know When To Replace My Mattress
Knowing when to replace your mattress is likely to be a natural conclusion. Youll find yourself no longer enjoying a good nights sleep, you might begin to suffer from aches and pains, or it could be a case of spotting general wear and tear.
Here are some tell-tale signs that you need fresh comfort layers and its time to buy a new memory foam mattress:
- Lumps and bumps forming on your mattress
- Trouble falling to sleep and staying to sleep comfortably
- Aches and pains in your neck or back in the morning
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Have You Had Your Mattress For Over 7 Years
With so much on the market, its not always easy to know what mattress to buy. A.H. Beard mattresses have long-time associations with comfort and quality, and are lovingly-crafted to suit all body types and budgets. Australian-made and owned and passed down through 120 years of family heritage, A.H. Beard is a company dedicated to providing the best quality sleep possible.
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 a quality mattress, 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.
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How Long Should A Memory Foam Mattress Last
Typically, memory foam mattress lasts as long as any other style – roughly seven years. However, premium memory foam styles have been known to last between eight to ten years which is slightly above average. Although, it’s important to use this time-frame as a guideline and you should replace the mattress when it starts seeing signs of wear and tear. Investing in your mattress from the start by choosing a high-quality style, using protector and regularly cleaning it can extend the mattress life span by a few years.
What Type Of Mattress Lasts The Longest
Latex foam mattresses have the longest average life span of around ten to twelve years. With some premium styles being known to last a whopping twenty. Although, it is extremely rare for a mattress to last for that long and should certainly be taken with a pinch of salt.
If longevity is what you’re looking for, you need to invest in your mattress initially. Cheaper styles are made with less durable materials. It doesn’t necessarily mean they will feel uncomfortable however they’re not designed to withstand the test of time. If you opt for an averagely priced mattress, you can expect it to last the average amount of time which is around seven years. More expensive styles tend to be made from premium materials and hold up better in the long run.
If replacing an inexpensive style more regularly works out better for your budget, that’s perfectly fine and there are plenty of affordable options available. But if you would prefer to splash out more initially then the mattress will be more likely to last longer than average.
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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.
When To Toss Them: 15 To 25 Years
Luckily, we can expect comforters to last longer. Because it doesn’t have to support weight the way pillows and mattresses do, according to Stewart, your comforter should last 15 to 25 years if you keep it covered and air it regularly. No way you’ll remember how long you’ve had it? Replace it when it begins to look limp and flat or starts leaking bits of filling, she says.
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Limit Jumping And Critter Time
If you have littles in your household, give them a trampoline and make it clear that’s where the jumping happens — not on the mattresses. Similarly, animals are great sleeping companions, but their claws, playful chewing and dirty paws aren’t great for keeping a mattress in good condition. Consider buying or making them their own beds.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
What Is Foam Density And How Does It Affect My Mattress
It is important to note that lower density memory foam mattresses are not always a bad choice. For example, if youre looking for a guest bedroom mattressthat is not used regularly then a lower density mattress is perfect. The shorter lifetime is suitable for its purpose and youll save some money too.
Before purchasing a memory foam mattress, make sure youre dealing with a reputable company that will disclose the density of their memory foam products and meet BS regulations. Our memory foam densities are displayed on our product pages and all of our memory foam mattresses come with a 12-month guarantee and many with an extended warranty of up to 10 years. This gives you an indication of the confidence we have in our products and the high-quality materials we use.
Be aware that there are companies out there that import cheap foam mattresses from abroad that do not comply with British fire standards, use substandard materials and as a result will deteriorate extremely rapidly.
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Will A Mattress Topper Help
We use mattress toppers for various reasons, but most of the time its to add some extra comfort to the top layers of our bed. Sometimes people buy a topper to extend the mattress lifespan, thinking it will cover up sags and thus make the bed more supportive and comfortable. While this is true for a little while, a topper can only do so much for an old, supportive mattress.
If your mattress is causing you pain, a topper wont help for long. We recommend investing in a new mattress as soon as you can.
Wash Bed Linens Regularly
When you sleep, you shed sweat, oils, hair and skin cells. Eating in bed also leaves behind crumbs, and pets can track in all sorts of things. In addition to getting yucky, all of this can get into mattress layers, breeding bacteria and encouraging dust mites.
Bed sheets and blankets should ideally be washed every week to every two weeks according to most cleaning experts. Even when using a mattress protector, it’s still important to keep linens clean. The mattress protector should also be washed occasionally according to a manufacturer’s directions.
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When Is It Time To Replace Your Mattress
Eventually, even with all the care and maintenance in the world, it will be time to replace our mattresses. Our goal is not to avoid replacing our mattresses forever, but to extend the lifespan of our mattresses for as long as we can by buying great, durable mattresses, and taking excellent care of them.
So, if you feel like it might be time to replace your faithful old mattress, there are signs to look out for that will let you know for sure.
Tips To Make Your Mattress Last Longer
You can extend your bed’s lifespan by taking the following measures:
- Rotate the Mattress Regularly: Rotating the bed head-to-foot every three to six months can prevent deep body impressions from forming.
- Use a Topper: Toppers are individual cushioning layers placed on top of the bed’s surface. They are designed to make the bed feel softer or firmer, but they can also protect the surface from impressions and dents.
- Evaluate your Support System: Your box spring, foundation, frame, or base is also susceptible to wear and tear, and an older support system can also cause the mattress to deteriorate rather quickly. Consider buying a new support system with your mattress if this is within your budget. Also, make sure the support system’s size matches that of the bed, and check the mattress warranty for information about acceptable foundations, slat spacing, and other requirements.
- Use Pillows to Even out the Surface: Pillows can be used to pad dents and impressions to an extent. Keep in mind that pillows should also be periodically replaced, and worn-out pillows can contribute to your discomfort, too.
- Maintain a Hygienic Bedroom:Keeping your bedroom clean will protect the mattress from dust mites, mold, and other contaminants that can cause major damage to the bed’s internal and external components.
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When To Toss It: 10 Years
Let’s start with the bed. Do you even remember how long you’ve had your mattress? If it’s more than 10 years, according to Consumer Reports, it probably time to go shopping. Depending on the type of bed, says all-things-sleep review site Sleep Like the Dead, it could be even less time their research shows latex mattresses last around eight years, memory foam around seven, and inner spring even less.
Consumer Reports has more bad news. If you’re over 40 you can expect even less time out of a bed, since your body tolerates less pressure as it ages, they say.
How do you know when it’s time for out with the old and in with the new? Just listen to your body. If it’s generally uncomfortable, or youve been waking up with back pain, it may be time for a new one, says the National Sleep Foundation.
Can An Old Mattress Make You Sick
An old mattress can have adverse effects on your health in many ways. If the mattress starts to sag or dip, you could have back pain. Additional health risks could range from allergies due to dust mites which cause sneezing, runny noses, watery eyes, coughing, and sinus pressure. Even individuals that suffer from asthma could be affected.
Over the years, mattresses could even be home to harmful mold or bacteria such as norovirus, enterococcus, or staphylococcus. A bad mattress can also affect your health by lowering your immune system, which in turn can cause depression or you can develop respiratory issues. In addition to all of these physical health issues, you could run the risk of sleep deprivation from tossing and turning because of an old mattress. If you are not able to get enough sleep, you will be exhausted and irritable, your mood will be affected, and youll potentially face a loss of sex drive, not to mention that sleep deprivation leads to additional health issues. This could all be traced back to a mattress in poor condition.
Whether or not a mattress can withstand the test of time, the more important thing is if its clean and maintained on a regular basis. Gravity has a way of affecting everything and over time, your mattress will begin to sag and you will feel the beginnings of back pain, hip pain, and wake up stiff. This is a telltale sign that its time for a new mattress.
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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.
