Given how important quality sleep is to our well-being, it’s crucial that you put a lot of thought and effort into purchasing a mattress. Once you make your purchase, it’s only natural to wonder what you can do to ensure your investment pays off. That’s why we’ve put together a few tips to help you take care of your mattress the right way.
Rotating Your Mattress
Over time, it’s normal for your mattress to start sagging or develop permanent indentations. To evenly break in your mattress and keep one part of it from becoming softer than the rest, it’s a good idea to rotate the bed from time to time. Latex, foam, and newer innerspring mattresses should, ideally, be rotated at least every 12 months. And older mattresses should be rotated every two to six months.
Changing Your Linens
Changing your bedding and sheets is important for hygiene reasons, but did you know it can also protect your bed from getting damaged? Blankets, sheets, and pillowcases accumulate a lot of sweat, dust, and body oils over time – these can seep into your mattress if you don’t change the bedding often.
Using a Mattress Protector
Mattress protectors are designed to fit on top of a mattress and under the bedsheet. Using a protector is vital since it serves as a barrier to keep sweat, dust, dirt, mites, and other contaminants from entering the mattress. The best part is that most mattress protectors can be washed in the machine.
Is It Time to Replace Your Mattress?
Even if you take great care of your mattress, you’ll need to replace it eventually. On average, the typical mattress lasts around 7-10 years. As the years go by, it starts to lose its pressure-relieving capabilities. This causes the bed to become more and more uncomfortable. Latex mattresses tend to last the longest, between 7.5 to 8.5 years. Innerspring mattresses can last around 5-6 years. Foam mattresses, in comparison, last between 6 and 7 years. These numbers, of course, will vary based on the quality of the mattress, the primary user’s body type and sleep position, and the maintenance routine you follow.
