Getting Rid Of Your Old Mattress
Throwing your mattress away so it ends up in a landfill is only one option, and its not great for the environment. There are several other options that are not only better for the planet, but may help others.
- Donate: you may know someone who could benefit from your used mattress. If not, there are many organizations that will take your mattress. Make sure its in relatively good condition, doesnt have bed bugs, and some organizations may even pick it up. Some choices include the Salvation Army, The Furniture Bank Association of America, Habitat for Humanity, or Goodwill. You can also ask local churches or religious organizations, womens shelters, homeless shelters, or refugee resettlement groups.
- Sell: if your mattress isnt in bad shape, and local laws dont prohibit it, you might be able to get a little money for it. Craigs List is a popular option to sell any items you no longer need.
- Recycle: all major North American cities have mattress recycling programs.
- Upcycle: You can break down a mattress yourself and use the materials inside for a new purpose. Box springs can create a wine rack or table. You can get creative and have unique items in your home that came from your old mattress.
Waking Up With Back Pains It May Be Time For A New Bed
There are tell-tale signs that a bed has reached its expiration date, including back pain. Here’s what to lookout for.
Though every mattress has a different lifespan depending on the material, manufacturer and usage, the average lifespan of a mattress is about 7-8 years. Of course, you can continue sleeping on a mattress longer than that , but sleeping on a worn-out mattress can have real consequences on your sleep quality and overall health.
Not only can old, poor mattresses contribute to back pain, but they can also keep you from getting a proper night’s rest. Sleep is an important part of maintaining your mental and physical health. Without it, you risk harming your cognitive functions, decision making, worsening immune strength and your overall health.
If you find yourself wondering why you can’t fall asleep or why your back hurts so much when you wake up, it’s probably time for a new bed. Continue on below to learn when to replace your mattress.
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Noisy While Changing Sides
There is only enough room for one annoying sound in the bedroom and that’s the snores of your partner. If you find your mattress squeaking and creaking every time you turn around, it’s time to go mattress shopping. Noisy mattresses aren’t natural, it’s a sign of damaged foundation or base that needs to retire immediately.
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Signs That It’s Time To Change Your Mattress
There are certain situations and scenarios where you would benefit from changing your mattress to something new. These include the following:
Your body has changed If you weight has increased since you first bought your mattress and you now find it too soft, pick a firmer option for better support. If it has decreased and your mattress now feels too hard, pick a softer model that cushions your main pressure points .
Youre waking up with a sore back Sagging mattresses cause sore backs and necks, plus joint pain. Look for one with zoned support from top to toe, but if your back pain is severe, ask a physiotherapist for recommendations first.
Youre hot and bothered Not only does sweat cause mattress staining, but sleeping hot is a breeding ground for dust mites . Thankfully, many mattresses now use cooling technologies and antimicrobial materials like copper to combat hot sleeping and pesky mites.
Youre sneezing and coughing more If youre waking up or unable to sleep because of coughing, itching and sneezing, your ageing mattress could be to blame.
With years of build-up to feast upon, dust mites can trigger allergies. They love snacking on dead skin cells, then leaving droppings that aggravate your allergies.
Your Mattress Has A Bad Smell
This may not be the most pleasant thing to consider, but your mattress may just start to smell. This can happen over time as mildew, mold, and fungi build up in the mattress it can happen even more quickly if you live in a humid climate.
If you take a whiff of your mattress and smell some serious must, it might be time to get rid of it.
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How To Care For Your Mattress So It Lasts Longer
Youll save money in the long term by not having to replace your mattress as frequently if you follow these simple tips:
To maintain the surface even and prevent any indents, rotate it frequently. To be safe, always check with the manufacturer to see if a mattress may be flipped. In some cases, a mattress might be harmed if it is turned over.
2. Make sure your mattress is supported by a solid foundation. There is a wide range of bed bases that are suitable for mattresses, but a box spring, platform or bed frame with slats that are regularly placed can give adequate support.
3. To keep your bed smelling fresh, clean and aerate it frequently. Many modern mattresses feature washable covers that can be removed and machine washed, however some can only be spot-cleaned this is the case for some mattresses. Prevent the accumulation of dust mites, germs, and sweat by vacuuming your mattress regularly and washing your bedding.
4. Always sleep on a mattress protector. These fit over your mattress like a fitted sheet, protecting it from dirt, sweat, and bacteria. They can be washed and dried in the washing machine, and they dont have to cost a fortune.
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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How Often To Replace A Mattress
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Of course, every mattress will have to be replaced at some point. But how often you replace your mattress can vary widely. Different mattress types experience wear and tear at different rates. Furthermore, how dedicated you are to maintaining your mattress also impacts how long it will last.
Below, well talk about how long you can expect each kind of mattress to last and some of the things you can do to keep your current mattress in good shape for longer.
You Cant Get Comfortable
Having trouble getting comfortable or staying comfortable while you sleep can be another sign that you need a new mattress is finished.
If youre tossing and turning, that may mean your mattress has lost its comfort and support. If you find yourself waking up often throughout the night, it is possible your old mattress is to blame.
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Lower Back Pain Pressure Points At The Shoulders & Hips Oh No
Tossing and turning, just can’t get comfortable during the night, but still sleeping on the same old mattress? Now, if your mattress suddenly felt this way overnight, you’d realize that something was seriously wrong, that somehow your mattress had “died.”
Unfortunately, the breakdown of a mattress happens slowly, and you adapt to the discomfort without realizing the culprit, your mattress. So, on and on it goes, another restless night, hard to be productive at work, maybe another cup of coffee will do the trick. Yes, it is time to replace your mattress!
How Often Should You Replace Sheets
Your bed is one of the most important pieces of furniture you own, and your bed sheets are the most important accessories. So, how often should you buy new sheets for optimal comfort? With this in mind, most experts recommend buying new sheets every two to three years if youre buying sheets of standard quality.
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Your Allergies Are Worse Than Usual
Do you get stuffed up or start sneezing as soon as you lay down at night? If youve ruled out common culprits such as your bedding and pillows, it could be your mattress causing allergy issues. After years of use, dust mites, mold, mildew and other allergens can work their way into your mattress. Unfortunately, theres no way to get them out.
Giving your mattress a thorough cleaning may help for a while, but youll definitely want to start budgeting for a new sleep surface.
Up The Mattress Maintenance
Make sure you take good care of your mattress if you want to keep its quality for as long as possible. This means you must clean your mattress regularly and rotate it every few months . If its flippable, flip it as directed , too. Consider a professional cleaning once a year, if it works for your budget.
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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 More Than Five Years Old
While this isnt the only criteria to use when deciding how often you should change your mattress, its still an important one. If youve had your mattress for at least five years, its recommended you start monitoring its health more regularly. You should ask yourself all of the above questions at least once every six to 12 months. If your mattress isnt allowing you to rest, its degrading, or its affecting your partners sleep, it could be time to change your mattress.
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Signs Its Time To Replace Your Mattress
Mattresses dont last forever, but how do you know when its time to replace yours?
Waking up with back pain? Yeah, its time
Though every mattress has a different lifespan depending on the material, manufacturer and usage, the average lifespan of a mattress is about 10 years. Of course, you can continue sleeping on a mattress much longer than that , but sleeping on a worn-out mattress can have real consequences on your sleep quality and overall health.
If you find yourself wondering why you cant fall asleep or why your back hurts so much when you wake up, its probably time for a new mattress.
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Myth 4 Your New Mattress Should Be A Perfect Fit From The First Time You Sleep On It
Most people need at least a month to adjust their bodies to a new sleep surface. Considering how long we spend in bed in a 24 hour period, its no wonder that our muscles and joints retain a memory of how to find the most comfortable spot on the mattress. Does that mean you should only buy from a mattress retailer that offers a comfort guarantee? Not necessarily. If youve done your research, shopped around and spent time testing a variety of mattresses, your body will still take time to adjust but it will happen.
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How Often Should I Change My Mattress
We recommend that you replace your mattress every seven years, in line with advice from the National Bed Federation.
On average, we spend a third of every day asleep. Over seven years, this equates to over 20,000 hours of sleep! During this time, your mattress undergoes a lot of wear and tear.
Good quality sleep is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle and overall wellbeing. The key to sleeping well is a comfortable bed and mattress. Read on to discover why you should replace your mattress regularly for optimal comfort, support and a better nights sleep.
You Wake Stiff And Sore
Poor sleep can contribute to chronic back pain. If you wake up stiff and sore every day, your mattress could be part of the problem. If your back pain is worse when you wake but subsides when you stretch and move around, thats a sign that the mattress is causing or contributing to your pain.
A firm mattress may not be the answer. A study from the Kovacs Foundation in Mallorca found that medium-firm mattresses provided better comfort for chronic low-back pain. Experts recommend sleep testing different types of mattresses before buying if you suffer pain while sleeping or when waking.
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What Happens To Returned Tempur
Tempur-Pedic offers a generous return policy, allowing customers to try out the mattress for up to 90 days. If you are unhappy with your mattress during this period, you can return the mattress for a full refund. Mattress pickup can be arranged through the Tempur company, and shipping charges may apply.
Do You Know When You Should Replace Your Bed
May 27, 2021 |
If youve spent every night with your mattress for years, maybe nows the time to think about replacing it. While there is no official use by date on a mattress, there is definitely a best before. And that means before your sleep starts suffering!
Yet most people only replace their mattresses when theyre finding them truly uncomfortable. We often dont take into account that it is not just about how the mattress looks or feels there are other factors involved. Your mattress may look okay to the naked eye but whats really going on inside? Is it still supporting you correctly? Is it still offering the optimum levels of comfort?
Theres also the hygiene aspect too. Each year you shed a pound of skin into your mattress and lose around half a pint of moisture while sleeping each night. Plus regular mattress replacement is vital to reduce the prevalence of the house dust mites linked with many allergic health problems.
Dont forget if youve had your mattress more than 10 years your body may be sensitive to new problems , you may have lost or gained a sleeping partner and you may have got slimmer or bigger.
If you were asked how long do you think a mattress should last, what would your answer be? Five years? 10 years? Or would you say something shocking like 15 years? Its not uncommon for people to believe that a mattress should last around 10-15 years, even if theyve only paid a couple of hundred pounds for it.
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How To Maintain A Tempurpedic Mattress
First, you dont need to use mattress pads, covers, electric blankets, and heating pads on this product. The additional layer of pads and covers will prevent the Tempur material from responding to your body, and heat can damage the mattress and its response to body temperature. Remember that these qualities are what make the Tempurpedic mattress comfortable, supportive, and pressure-relieving.
What about cleaning? Moisture is a big no-no to Tempurpedic mattresses, so you must immediately soak and wipe up spills. You should also avoid the washing machine and dryer when treating stains because they can deform the foam. Instead, remove the cover and wash it in your washing machine according to the tag.
Some cold water and gentle detergent are enough for the cover and then dry it outside before reusing. Never use bleach because its too harsh and if your mattress gets damp, air-dry it thoroughly to avoid mold and mildew. And finally, never fold your Tempurpedic mattress but instead, lay it flat for traveling or storage.
How To Extend The Life Of Your Mattress
Mattresses can last longer than expected depending on their use and care. Here are some preventative measures to extend the life of your mattress.
- Use a secure baseWithout the right support, your mattress will sag prematurely. Use a proper foundation, such as a box spring, wooden slats, or a metal base.
But consider to purchasing a new base if yours:
- No longer retains its shape
How often should you buy a new mattress?
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