How Often Should You Change Your Mattress?

A good night’s sleep is essential for a productive day at any age, but what is one of those basic things that aid such a peaceful sleep? The answer to this is the bedding that you are using — the mattress in particular.

There are many different types of mattresses available for purchase both online and in stores. Buying them and installing them in your homes — especially with the bed-in-a-box kind of mattress — is the easy part but one place where people tend to get very confused is when is the right time to change the mattress that they have bought? 

If you are struggling with this question yourself and want to figure out how often you should be changing out your mattress for maximum comfort, you have found yourself in the right place. Here, we will be walking you through the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions in this regard and also talk about the ways in which you can make a mattress last longer, so keep reading!

How Long Do Different Types of Mattress Usually Last?

As there are many different types of mattresses available in the market, the average time for which they last also vary depending on the materials that are used to build these mattresses. Here is a list of the more popular types of mattresses and how long they will last you on average:

• Innerspring Mattress — Up to 10 years.
• Memory Foam Mattress — Anywhere between 10 to 15 years.
• Latex Mattress — Anywhere between 20 to 25 years.
• Hybrid Mattress — Approximately 6 years.
• Pillowtop Mattress — About 5 to 6 years.
• Waterbed Mattress — Anywhere between 5 to 10 years, depending on the type.

What Are the Signs That You Should Change Your Mattress?

While there are different time frames that are considered appropriate for changing different kinds of mattress — over 5 for innerspring, 7 for memory foam and so on — the final decision will depend on the condition of your mattress. The mattress itself will start to give you signs that it is time to change! Some of these signs are discussed briefly below:

• The Mattress Is Old — If you purchased your mattress anywhere between 7 to 10 years ago, there is a high chance that it has taken on enough wear and tear to deserve a change. There are a lot of factors that come into play when it comes to faster or slower deterioration, for example, more people sleeping on the mattress, size of the people and more, but in most cases, mattresses don’t last longer than this.

• It Is Starting to Sag — One of the most evident signs that you need to change the mattress that you are sleeping on is a huge dent in the shape of your body on top of the mattress. Almost all types of mattress can experience sagging and once it sets it, it is time to consider a change.

• Spine Alignment Is Off — This factor isn’t dependent on how new or old your mattress is, but if your spine is not aligning with the mattress, you are going to start experiencing aches and pains in areas that you hadn’t experienced before.

• It Just Isn’t Comfortable Anymore — This is a no-brainer. There comes a point when there is nothing overtly wrong with the mattress but it just stops feeling comfortable anymore. A good way to assess this is by checking if you are getting better sleep in a hotel or a friend’s bed.

• You Are Waking up Tired — If you are waking up in the morning feeling sore and still, it is highly likely that your mattress is giving you trouble and that you need to switch it out for a better option. Sleep is supposed to rejuvenate you and not leave you feeling worse than you felt the night before.

• You Have Recently Put on or Lost Weight — In cases where you have recently put on a large amount of weight or even lose some, you may need to switch out your mattress for your current body type. Additionally, if you have recently got a co-sleeper, you may need to assess the situation in a similar manner.

• Allergies or Health Issues Are Getting Worse — While most mattresses being produced right now are made with hypoallergenic material and are supposed to be dust mite resistant, if you notice some off allergies or a flare-up of conditions like asthma, you may need to switch out the mattress because of the presence of some allergens.

Read our guide on the Best Place to Buy A Mattress.

What about the Mattress’ Warranty?

After going through the different signs mentioned above, if you come to the conclusion that it is time to change the current mattress, you need to check whether or not the mattress is still under warranty or not. There are two types of warranties that you need to think about — written warranties or a warranty of merchantability. 

The first of these — written warranties — is the written commitment that the manufacturer gives you to change or repair a mattress that has been damaged, as long as all the listed conditions are met. These usually run anywhere between 5 to 20 years. On the other hand, a warranty of merchantability or any implied warranty is a promise that the product will be in a working condition and include everything that was advertised.

Check whether or not the company can help you with the warranty before deciding to dispose of it. 

How Can You Dispose of Your Mattress?

In case the mattress’ warranty isn’t valid anymore and you just have to get rid of it, there is always that question of where you will be throwing that huge piece of foam and springs — or whatever material it has been built. Under regular circumstances, there are three different options that are in front of you:

• Recycling Facilities — There are mattresses that are anywhere between 80% and 90% recyclable and may be accepted by major recycling facilities in your area. Just look it up on the Internet and pay a nominal charge for pick up. Keep in mind that this isn’t an option if the mattress is stained or infested with bugs.

• Charities — There are many local and national charities that will be ready to accept mattresses that have been used but are still in good condition. You can simply do an Internet search and make a few calls. In case this doesn’t work out, a lot of homeless shelters and people in need will be ready to take your used mattress, as long as they are still usable.

• Junk Removal Services — In case the above options aren’t working out for you, you need to turn to professional junk removal services to get your job done for you. There will be a nominal charge in this case.

How Can You Make Your Mattress Last Longer?

All mattresses will become unusable beyond a certain point but you can make it last longer just by taking a few precautionary steps along the way. Some of these tips and tricks that can make the mattress last longer are given below:

• If you have a flippable mattress, you should consider flipping it every 6 to 12 months to get the maximum usage out of it without damaging your mattress.
• Try to rotate the mattress around every 3 to 5 months, so that the wear is even.
• Use a mattress protector to prevent any damage inflicted by spills and dust.
• Try to ventilate the mattress as often as possible.

• Clean it according to the instructions given by the manufacturer to make it last as long as possible.
• Keep your children from jumping on the mattress to prevent damage to the coils and memory foam.
• Try to keep your pets off the mattress, as they can end up damaging it by clawing on it or biting into it.

Final Thoughts