Should I Replace My Mattress?
“When should I replace my mattress?” If you’ve had your mattress for a while you might be asking yourself this question. Having a good night’s sleep is very important for your health and well-being. And since you spend a third of your life in bed, you should invest in a good mattress that will make that part of your life as comfortable as possible.
Is it time to replace my mattress?
Buying a new mattress can be a daunting task, from comparing prices and features of different brands to sorting out through many other variables before getting the right mattress can be overwhelming.
If you’re wondering whether or not it’s the right time to replace your mattress, most likely it is. There is no set time as to when you should change your mattress, but when the mattress you’re sleeping on becomes uncomfortable and starts to show signs of wear then you should probably replace it.
A change in your health or sleeping arrangements can justify the need for a new mattress. An accumulation of allergens and dust mites could reduce the shelf life of your mattress, especially if you have respiratory problems or allergies.
Tips on how to extend the life of your mattress
Invest in a mattress protector. This protects your mattress from debris build-up, mold, liquids from slipping inside, and bedbugs. You may not know this, but having stains on your mattress can void your warranty.
Let your mattress breathe once in a while. Once in a while remove all the beddings from your bed and let your mattress breathe for about 30 minutes. This helps to remove excess moisture which could be inside the layers. Also if you can, expose your mattress to sunlight to help get rid of bedbugs.
Rotate or flip your mattress. If the design on your mattress permits it, you can rotate or flip your mattress to prevent sagging and help redistribute the weight. You can also rotate by turning over or swapping the head and foot of a double-sided mattress.
Signs that you need to replace your mattress
Your mattress is older than 8 years
Whether it’s a queen, king, or twin xl mattress, it’s recommended that you should change your mattress after every 8 years because by that time your mattress will have lost most of its comfort and support.
A mattress will wear out faster, especially if you’re a large or heavy person. Excessive wear and tear ages a mattress faster and even the best firm mattress have a limited lifespan and will eventually need to be replaced.
Your mattress being old is the first sign that you need to replace it.
Your mattress is saggy
If there is a visible dip in the middle of your mattress or there is a dent in the shape of your body, it’s a sign that your mattress is worn out. Any mattress material can sag and you will mostly know at the edges or your sleeping area.
If you sleep on a spring mattress, the springs can break down and sag, and even foam and fiber materials sag after some time.
The deeper the sag in your mattress the more uncomfortable it will be to sleep on which will disrupt your sleep causing aches and pains.
Misaligned spine when you sleep
It doesn’t matter if your mattress is old or new, if it doesn’t properly align and support your body you won’t be comfortable sleeping on it.
For stomach and back sleepers, you should have the natural S curve on your spine, and if you’re a side sleeper, if your spine is properly supported your body should be straight from your head to your feet.
Your mattress is uncomfortable
This may be an obvious point, but most people assume the discomfort of their mattress and just adapt to it.
Your bed should be more comfortable than your friend’s bed or the hotel bed, but if it’s not then you need a better mattress. A mattress has comfort layers at the top that provide support to your body and pressure relief.
With time the comfort layers break down which leads to poor sleep and you wake up with body aches and pains. In some cases, your mattress may have been faulty from the start while in others you just need to replace it.
Your mattress lacks motion transfer
An old mattress will not reduce motion transfer like it should which can keep you or your partner awake at night. It loses its ability to absorb movement so you can feel every time your partner shifts from the bed more than in the past.
A good mattress from a mattress firm, for example, should be able to provide adequate support to both partners equally.
Your asthma or allergies are worsening
If your allergies and asthma are acting up and it’s not allergy season or there isn’t any explanation, then your mattress could be causing it.
If your mattress has dust mites, its feces may be causing allergic reactions and flaring up your asthma. Even the accumulation of dust in your mattress can be the cause.
You can reduce the dust and mites by flipping, vacuuming, or steaming your mattress, but if this doesn’t help a new mattress could be the solution.
You wake up feeling sore and stiff
If your back, hips, and shoulders are sore and stiff every morning after you wake up, it could be time to get a new mattress. If you’re waking up with back pains and after moving around and stretching it disappears, it could be a sign that your mattress may be the cause or a contributing factor to your pain.
You might think that getting a firm mattress may be the answer, but according to experts getting a medium-firm mattress provides adequate comfort to help with your chronic back pain.
If you suffer from pain when asleep it would also be a good idea to test some of the mattresses to get the right one before you buy.
Wrap-Up
When it’s time to get a new mattress, go for a mattress that will provide you with proper support and alignment of your body and spine.
Also, make sure the mattress meets your personal preferences and comfort.
