How to Fix A Sagging Mattress

Sagging cannot be avoided. With regular use, your mattress will go the natural route of daily wear. Even the most durable bed can suffer the same fate. The main difference, though, is that you don’t experience premature sagging with a premium model. But since you’re here, you’ve probably been hit by it early. Or you’ve decided to fix the issue instead of buying a new mattress.

Stay with us as we walk you through various methods on how to fix a sagging mattress. These should help you dodge the cost of shopping for a replacement. However, we urge you to try any of these options if your bed is not aging. Or it’s too impractical to get another mattress at this point.

Browse through the Table of Contents to find the solution specific to your mattress type. Also, make sure to understand why mattresses sag and how sagging affects your sleep quality. These are all the pieces of information you need to deal with the issue.

Why Do Mattresses Sag?

Sagging happens as a result of a bed’s natural progression. Its structure and materials eventually give way to wear and tear. This applies to whatever is inside: memory foam, latex, polyurethane, and springs. Yes, even the spring coils shrink and fail to return to their original shape after enough compression.

You’re likely going to experience sagging in pressure point areas. These are the places on which your shoulders, back, and hips lie. Some comfort layers can adapt to the pressure from these body parts. Foams can bounce back fast, particularly latex foam. But over time, they can lead to an uneven surface. This can extend to the edges, especially if the bed has no proper support here.

The quality of the materials also has an impact. Low-density foams and high-gauge coils, which are thinner, can be vulnerable to early sagging. These are probably less expensive to produce, which is reflected in the mattress price. While not all inexpensive models have poor quality, the cost can be an indication. But also consider the quality of each layer to avoid generalizing.

Lastly, if you’re a couple who loves to snuggle in the middle zone, this is where your bodies can create impressions. This can also result in sagging at a faster rate at the center. 

How to Fix A Sagging Mattress

How to Fix A Sagging Memory Foam Mattress

There comes a time when a memory foam mattress starts sagging. If it hasn’t reached its average lifespan yet, between 5 to 10 years, your bed might have been hit by premature sagging. As you read above, depression in certain spots makes for an uneven surface. How do you fix it? Here are a few ways:

Use A Mattress Topper

A mattress topper is dense enough to cover the dips. It can also add softness to your sleeping space. If you’re looking for something material-specific, a memory foam topper sounds about right. It can contour to your curves just like you want. And no matter its thickness, it can balance the surface once again.

Read: Do You Need A Mattress Pad or Mattress Protector?

Put A Pillow Underneath

If the sagging is concentrated in a small area, buying a mattress pad can be drastic. Try pillows made of soft fiber instead. With the right pressure, this sleep accessory will provide excellent compression. To set up, place a pillow or more underneath the mattress. Target the point/s where the sagging’s occurred. The presence of the pillow/s will counteract the depression without producing bumps.

Use A Mattress Helper

Does the sagging appear like a valley? This usually shows up at the center, where a couple or an individual tends to snooze. This does not only look unappealing. It also delivers less support to your body, leaving your spine alignment in trouble. The solution? A nifty item called mattress helper. 

This looks like an oversized chocolate bar that comes in different sizes. This “bar” is made of lightweight polyfoam, which you place under your mattress to lift and restore the shape of the latter. The mattress helper works well with a box spring or any flat surface. Make sure to pick the right size for your bed. 

Put the Mattress on the Floor

Or insert plywood underneath (more on this later). The flat surface should help firm up the sagging mattress at the least.

Rotate Or Flip Your Mattress

Flipping your mattress means turning the bottom side upward. This is only applicable to flippable versions, as well as all-foam types with a comfort layer that is strong enough to be converted into a base layer. Meanwhile, rotation refers to turning the bed 180 degrees lengthwise. So what used to support your feet is now supporting your head. This should redistribute the weight and prevent further sagging.

How to Fix A Sagging Pillow Top Mattress

A sagging pillow top can lose its plushness. So, if you want to prolong the life of your mattress, try one of these easy fixes:

Rotate the Mattress

Obviously, you can’t flip your pillow top. But fortunately, you can rotate it. Reverse the head and feet to redistribute weight. Weight distribution is an essential element here. 

Slip A Thick Cardboard Underneath

If rotation does not solve the issue, get yourself a one-inch piece of cardboard. Some suggest a wooden board. Insert this between your mattress and box spring. This should balance out the surface while providing added support. Take note that this will also bump up the firmness of your bed.

Put It In the Dryer

Is your pillow top wrapped in a zip-off cover? If this is the case, unzip the cover and take out the padding. Put the latter in the dryer with 3 tennis or dryers balls. Set the machine to air dry, allowing the balls to bounce against the filling and fluffing it in the process.

Pat It With the End of A Broomstick

No, there won’t be Hogwarts-inspired spells involved here. You just need to hit the insert with the broom handle to even it out. This should redistribute the filling so that it’s evenly fluffy once again.

How to Fix A Sagging Mattress With Plywood

As mentioned earlier, using a piece of plywood underneath can help. It’s not going to restore the sagging area to its shape. But it should even out the surface through enhancing support. It is recommended that you have a box spring where the plywood can sit. But if you have a bed slat or a platform bed, you can work around the issue by adding 2 layers of plywood instead.

Cut the plywood according to the dimensions of your mattress. It should support the whole surface to be effective. Also, you’ll end up with a firmer feel with this option. Consider this if you prefer a plusher sleeping space.

How to Fix Mattress Indentation

How do you fix an indentation in your mattress? The thing is, you shouldn’t. While body impressions can turn into full-blown sagging, small indentations can form without causing any harm. These little curves cradle your spine into proper alignment. 

But if your bed has poor quality, the top layers might not return to their original shape. This can lead to the appearance of a significant dip. This is when your spine alignment is compromised, as the affected zone can no longer deliver the right support to your midsection. In this case, try any of the solutions presented in the previous subsections.

How Does Sagging Affect Sleep?

Like we previously pointed out, sagging can show up minimally or significantly. And each part of the buildup has a different effect on your sleep quality. The little inconveniences are as follows:

Pressure and Pain

If the surface is uneven, the support may not be distributed evenly. This can lead to aches and soreness in your pressure points, such as the shoulders, necks, lower back, and hips. At the same time, this situation can create more pressure, making the effect circular.

Reduced Breathability

In innerspring and hybrid models, the compression of comfort layers can decrease ventilation. They can block the airflow in the spring base. This can make the bed sleep warm, which is terrible news for those who sleep hot.

Increased Noise

All-foam types are spared from this effect. But innerspring and hybrids can end up squeaking and creaking when coil tension decreases. It might be time to change your mattress if this happens.

Discomfort During Sex 

Dents and dips on the mattress surface can feel uncomfortable for couples engaging in amorous activities.

Additionally, a sagging mattress can have a more significant impact:

Insomnia

Insomnia refers to the difficulty of falling asleep or staying asleep once awakened. An uneven surface can cause this kind of problem among sleepers. In this regard, the combination of the discomfort and lack of support can have severe implications for your sleep quality.

Sleep Apnea

Another sleep disorder that is related to sagging is sleep apnea. It is the result of the air passage being blocked while you drift off, characterized by pauses in breathing. One of its symptoms is snoring. This can occur alongside sagging as your head and neck may lack the elevation needed to clear your airway.

Sagging that are at least one inch deep can have more serious implications compared to sags that are less than an inch deep.

Read: 5 Sleep Disorders You Should Know Aside from Insomnia

A Word On Warranties

Sagging is a mattress defect that may be covered by your warranty. This entirely depends on the terms specified by your manufacturer. In most cases, the dip is deemed defective if it is at least one inch deep. Others may define it, though, as a range, e.g., 0.5 to 2 inches.

When making a claim, check out that your measurement is according to company terms. Consult the fine print first. Only defective sagging will be considered for repair or replacement. And we cannot emphasize enough that this has a corresponding figure. Dissatisfaction with the firmness or softening of the surface (i.e., sagging that is less than one inch deep) are not valid grounds for getting a replacement.

Even if you fulfill the depth requirement, the manufacturer may still deny your claim if you didn’t follow the rest of the terms. One of the critical items here is the use of a box spring or proper foundation. If you didn’t place your mattress on the specified bed base, it’s considered breaking the rules. And replacement won’t be possible.

Lastly, check out if your warranty coverage falls under the prorated or non-prorated category. If prorated, you will have to pay a fraction of the mattress’ original price based on how long you have been its owner. If non-prorated, you pay only for shipping and handling charges. But there is no additional cost to having your mattress repaired or replaced.

Conclusion