Your Body Has Changed
Even if theres nothing wrong with your mattress or bed, there are a number of reasons why you still might need to invest in a new one.
For one, body shapes change over time.
If youve recently gained or lost a substantial amount of weight, the mattress that used to feel like floating on air can suddenly be far too hard or soft.
This is especially common during and after pregnancies.
You might also want to consider a new mattress if youve recently had an accident or undergone surgery, and also if youve developed chronic symptoms like back pain or arthritis.
The right mattress can go a long way to soothing our joints and muscles, so its important to recognize when its time to make the change.
Additionally, if youre over 40, the best mattress for your body can actually change every seven to eight years.
Your Mattress Is Sagging
If your mattress is starting to sag, its an obvious sign that you might need a new mattress. Sagging can occur when the coils in a mattress start to weaken or the memory foam begins to lose its shape.
You can partly tell that a mattress is sagging if there is a noticeable body impression in the mattress this is especially common for heavier people, whose bodies may leave a deep indentation in the mattress. If you get up and your mattress does not quickly return to its normal, flat appearance, it might be time to consider a new mattress.
If a mattress not sagging over time is important to you, be sure to read our list of the best mattresses that wont sag.
How To Choose A Mattress
“When we look at overall sleep quality and a bed, we are really trying to best understand two areas: support and comfort,” he says. “Support is the product’s ability to keep the spine aligned, while comfort is the product’s ability to keep you in a position of alignment.”
A firm mattress will offer a bit more support, while a soft mattress may feel more comfortable to those who enjoy a plush feel. Deciding between a firm or a soft mattress typically comes down to personal preference.
You may want to consider your sleeping position as well. Side sleepers tend to do better with softer mattresses, while stomach sleepers may prefer a firmer mattress. Consider something in between the two if you sleep on your back.
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How Often Should You Rotate Your Mattress
The rotation frequency depends on the materials used in your mattress. Different manufacturers recommend how often each mattress type should be rotated. Usually, innerspring and memory foam mattresses should be rotated every three months. Hybrids should be rotated every three to six months, and latex mattresses every six months.
How Do You Know Your Mattress Needs Replacing
The age of your mattress is a good reason to take a closer look at it and see if its still fit to sleep on. But what are some of the clues that your mattress is ready to be tossed? Some are hard to deny, such as a sagging mattress, but others are a little more subtle, like worsening allergy symptoms.
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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.
Read This If You Have Memory Foam
If your mattress is made with memory foam, it can sometimes be a little more difficult to tell if theres a problem .
Memory foam is, after all, meant to conform to your body, so its not unusual for you to see indents or feel yourself sinking.
The thing with memory foam, though, is it tends to get softer over time.
If you notice yourself sinking deeper than two inches into the foam, or if you notice the impression left by your body lasting long after youve gotten up, then you should know its time to move on to a better mattress.
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Dont Go Broke Buying One
No matter who you are, mattress buying is an investment, but theres no reason to break your finances and gouge your savings to buy a new bed. There are fantastic sleep solutions out there that should match what you need, regardless of your budget, so sit down ahead of time and decide what money you are willing to spend before you begin looking.
How Often Should You Replace Your Pillows
Most experts recommend replacing pillows every 1 to 2 years. Doing so helps to ensure that youre using pillows that are supportive, clean, and free of allergens. It is also important to care for the pillows you use to ensure their longevity.
Generally, youll be able to tell when its time to replace your pillows. If youre waking up with a sore neck or if youre unable to find a comfortable sleeping position, it might mean that your pillow is no longer providing the support you need. Just as with a mattress, you should replace pillows when they start sagging or developing lumps. It might also be time to look into new pillows when you notice excessive yellowing, or if your allergies are acting up at night.
Certain pillow materials are more durable than others. For example, a polyester pillow might last just 1 year, while a latex pillow might last up to 3 years. In addition to the material type, the quality of the materials or the density of the foams can also play a role. Choosing a pillow made with higher quality materials generally means youll have to replace it less often.
Clean your pillow and pillowcase regularly to protect the pillow and improve its lifespan. You should wash your pillowcases every time you wash your sheets, and many pillows themselves can be periodically machine washed and dried.
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Here Are 9 Signs To Determine If You Need A New Mattress:
1) Your mattress is over 8 years oldThe age of the mattress is one of the first things to consider. Most people dont remember when they bought their last mattress. If you are not good at keeping files, you should write the date of purchase on the mattress label. Consumer Reports magazine recommends replacement every 7 to 10 years. This may be a shock to many people who have purchased a mattress with a 20-year warranty. You should know that the warranty is meant to cover certain parts and workmanship and not a mattresss overall comfort.
2) You dont feel rested when you wakeIf you get a good nights sleep you should wake up feeling refreshed and rested. If you find that you are waking up tired and feeling drowsy during the day it may be due to too much tossing and turning throughout the night. Your body is working overtime to find a comfortable sleeping position that does not exist.
3) You wake up with aches and pains and holding your back
Are you waking up stiff and tired every morning? If you are then chances are you need a new mattress. Old mattresses tend to gradually lose the ability to provide proper support and once the comfort zone has matted down you will get pressure points by sleeping directly on the springs. As the comfort layers lose their compression , your mid-section, which represents the heavier part of your body, will sag into the mattress.
How Do You Know When Your Mattress Needs Replacing
Once you see or feel sagging you should look for a new mattress. If youre suddenly experiencing back pain, it might be your bed, not your body. Its possible your memory foam or innerspring mattress can no longer support your body. If you see exposed layers, rips, and tears then its a sure sign the bed needs to be replaced. This is especially critical if you have health concerns since ripped mattresses can be susceptible to bed bugs.
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How Often Should You Replace Your Mattress And Box Spring
Box springs are known to endure far longer than mattresses, with some experts advising that you replace your box spring every 10 years. Many contemporary mattresses, on the other hand, no longer require the use of a box spring to be comfortable. Using a box spring with a foam mattress might actually cause the mattress to get damaged.
What Should You Look For In A New Mattress
Once its clear that you need to replace your mattress, youre probably wondering what to consider when purchasing a new mattress. How can you make sure you get a high-quality mattress that will last a long time?
First, if you are looking for a mattress that contains foam, you should find a mattress with a higher-density foam. Ideally, a 4- to 5-lb density is what you should be looking for. Three- to 3.5-lb foams may break down more quickly, but higher-density foams are more durable and should make for a longer-lasting mattress.
Second, consider a mattress with coils these mattresses are durable and can make for longer lasting mattresses. Mattress coils can help fight sagging and ensure that shoppers are making a wise investment.
Besides finding durable materials, you also want to make sure the mattress is a good fit for your sleeping preferences. Here are some general guidelines:
- Back sleepers will want a mattress with a balance of comfort and support. You want support in this position, but you also want your hips to sink in somewhat.
- Side sleepers should find a softer mattress you want a soft comfort layer to relieve pressure on your shoulders and hips.
- Stomach sleepers should opt for a firmer mattress your hips need enough support to ensure they dont sink in when youre stomach sleeping.
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How Should You Rotate Your Mattress
Once you know how frequently you have to rotate your new bed, its best to set a reminder on your phone or calendar. Follow these steps to rotate your mattress without damaging it.
- Remove nightstands, lamps, and other furniture close to your bed.
- Gently rotate the mattress 180 degrees . The head side should now be on the feet side and vice-versa.
- While rotating, pause in between to vacuum dust mites, germs, and allergen buildup beneath your mattress. Accumulated allergens can trigger symptoms such as itchy throat, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, breathing difficulties, or skin irritation.
Mattress Myth 3 The Right Mattress Will Prevent Tossing And Turning
Babies start rolling over in their sleep at around 4 months of age and by adulthood, were moving as much as 75 times a night whether its a simple twitch or a full-out roll. We move during the night to alleviate pressure point pain and to reduce stress and strain on our backs and joints. A good mattress will reduce how much you move at night by providing pressure point relief, which will allow you to slip into deeper, healing REM sleep.
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Signs Its Time To Buy A New Mattress
It can sometimes seem like a mattress is a permanent part of a house.
Youll change the sheets every couple weeks, sure.
Maybe youll invest in new toppers, new pillows.
If you really know what youre doing, maybe youll even flip your mattress every three months or so, the way youre supposed to.
But actually replacing a mattress?
Thats not something we often have to think about.
Buying a mattress is a fairly big investment, and the signs of needing a new one tend to creep up on us slowly.
Still, we all know somewhere deep down that that mattress just isnt going to last forever.
Here are a couple of the clearest signs its time to put your old mattress aside and invest in a new one.
Signs It Is Time To Replace Your Mattress
When your mattress no longer supports your body the way it used to, youll start feeling uncomfortable in bed. This discomfort during sleep may be the earliest sign its time to replace your mattress. With time, you may start noticing some other signs of wear on your mattress.
If you see or feel any of the following signs, its probably time to replace your mattress. Depending on the mattress type, material quality, and how well you maintain it, you may notice these signs within 2 to 10 years of buying your mattress.
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Learn About Different Mattress Materials
Before you buy, familiarize yourself with the most common mattress types and how they are constructed.
- Innerspring mattresses use coils, which often provide a traditional bounce feel and strong support.
- Latex mattresses typically offer more bounce and responsiveness than innerspring mattresses, and they tend to sleep cooler.
- Memory foam mattresses are designed to contour to the body, which may lead to pressure relief. Some users of memory foam report that the material sleeps warm.
- Hybrid mattresses combine memory foam or latex layers atop an innerspring mattress, often with the goal of providing a mix of softness and support.
- Air mattresses use an air pump to inflate the mattress to the desired firmness level. Typically, each side of the bed uses a separate chamber of air to accommodate two sleepers with differing preferences.
Mattresses are also rated based on firmness. In general, a mattress that is too old or too soft may not support the spine well enough.
What About The Bedding
It’s clear that picking the right mattress is a big decision, but finding the sheets that suit your sleeping preferences can be equally as important. If you have upgraded your mattress, you may want to consider doing the same for your bedding.
From duvets to comforters to everything in between, there are endless choices for bedding. A hot sleeper may want to consider a cooling fabric such as percale or linen, while flannel or 100% cotton may work best for those who run cold.
Spend some time researching the right bedding for your sleep style before you splurge on a new set.
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Most Comfortable Memory Foam Mattress
A more obvious signal that now is the best time to buy a new mattress is back pain. If you do not wake up in the morning feeling like P. Diddy, you definitely do not have the right mattress for your body! It is true that different mattresses come with different advantages and fit different body types. The harder memory foam mattress gives support and lasts longer. But they may be more prone to causing pressure point pain and retaining too much heat. The softer memory foam mattress is stereotypically thought of as the best of the memory foam mattresses. Contrary to common belief, soft memory foam mattresses tend to cause more back pain because the mattress conforms to the body but does not deliver proper support.
That leaves medium-firm, the Beyonce of memory foam mattresses. Medium-firm memory foam mattresses are the best at conforming to your body while providing optimal support for your different pressure points. Medium-firm memory foam mattresses are also great for hot sleepers. All of this combined with Emma Mattress top cooling mattress layer creates a dream-like sleep! Please remember, give yourself some time to get used to your new mattress, typically 2 months. That is why, much like the Emma Mattress, many mattresses nowadays come with a 100 night trial.
Do You Need A New Base
If youre investing in a mattress, you may also want to consider buying a new base or frame. While traditional innerspring beds often paired with box springs, many modern beds do not require much more than a platform or can even be placed on the floor, if you prefer.
Some brands, especially those that are all-foam, may make recommendations regarding wooden slats, central supports, or other features that can provide a more substantial base for the bed, so consult with customer service reps to see what will work best. Theres little point in investing your hard-earned money in a brand new mattress and using an out-of-date base that could, in some cases, void the warranty.
You may also want to consider an adjustable base, as newer models by far out-perform the clunky, noisy adjustable bases you may be more familiar with. Whisper quiet models are designed to fit seamlessly into existing bed frames so you do not need to sacrifice your decor, and split sided bases could allow you and your partner to sleep in your preferred position without compromise.
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You Sleep Better On A Different Mattress
You might want to replace your mattress if you notice that you sleep much better on a different mattress. If you often wake up with a stuffed-up nose or joint pain, and then they sleep in a hotel and wake up with none of those problems, this could be a sign that your mattress is causing your sleep troubles.
If you think your mattress might be reaching the end of its lifespan, you should try sleeping on a newer mattress and compare your experience.
