As Mattresses Age

Unless you purchased a new mattress within the last year or so, there’s a good chance that you can’t remember exactly when you bought the one you’re sleeping on. Mattresses are one of those things that we are loath to purchase because they represent a pretty big single expenditure, but once we’ve paid the money and enjoyed the newness of its improved support, we tend to forget and start taking it for granted. And that’s okay up to a point.

Mattresses are made to last for quite a while, and as long as they are well within their expected life cycle, there’s no reason for you to give it much thought. But there does come a time when your mattress will stop doing its job, and it’s important that you’re able to recognize that point so that when it comes, you can take immediate action and preserve your health and the quality of your sleep. A mattress that is of reasonable quality is expected to last several years, though there is no set number. Much of it has to do with the materials that it is made of and what kind of use it has gotten, but the average age that mattress manufacturers recommend for replacement is around eight years.

The most obvious sign that it is time to replace a bed is when it starts to sag in the middle, or on either (or both) sides when it customarily holds two people

If your mattress is currently doing the job for you and you don’t see a need to replace it, you’d be well advised to make sure that you’re doing everything you can to extend its life. The best ways to care for your mattress are to rotate it every two months, use a bed frame to prevent it from sagging, and avoid misuse like letting children jump on it. In terms of turning, even a memory foam or pillow top mattress should be rotated in order to provide more even use. Still, after several years, no matter how well you’ve taken care of it, your mattress is going to need to be replaced. The impact of dead skin, dust mites, body oil, and the sheer weight that it supports every night will cause it to begin to wear out. The most obvious sign that it is time to replace a bed is when it starts to sag in the middle, or on either (or both) sides when it customarily holds two people. If you look at your bed and instead of seeing a flat surface you see dips, it means that it is time for a replacement. An uneven sleeping surface is going to ruin your sleep and mess up your back. Though you may be able to solve the problem temporarily with some kind of mattress pad or by propping up your body parts on pillows, seeing those sags and dips is your final call for going shopping to find a new mattress.

If you’re looking for a new mattress, you should take the time to do some research and educate yourself about all of the different types of mattresses that are currently available on the market today. Mattresses come in a wide range of materials, constructions and costs, and the more that you know, the better you will be able to find what you need and make sure that you are getting a good price at the same time. Three of the most popular types of mattresses today are the innerspring, the memory foam, and the latex mattress.

Innersprings are traditional mattresses that are made of comfortable materials laid over coil springs. They provide a wide range of firmness and costs, but generally also have the shortest life span. Memory foam mattresses are relatively new entries onto the market. They are made up of thousands of cells of foam that respond to the weight that is put on them, as well as the temperature of the body that lays on them. They are known for providing overall support and for reducing the pain that can come from pressure points. Finally, latex mattresses also offer firmness and support, and can be made from either natural materials or synthetic materials. They offer a good level of firmness, though some feel that they do not have enough give.

Determining which mattress is going to be the best fit for your specific comfort needs involves spending a good deal of time testing out how it feels. Mattress retailers offer showrooms that are filled with a wide variety of mattress samples, and though it may feel somewhat odd to lay down on a bed in a public place, it is the best way for you to find the mattress that is the right fit for you. Don’t be self-conscious – everybody who is in the store is either doing the same thing that you are, or is there to help. After learning about the different features and choosing which bed (or beds) you are interested in, be sure to take at least ten minutes laying down on each bed to see whether you find it comfortable. It may seem like an eternity to lie there in front of strangers, but the truth is that it takes at least that long for your body to relax enough for you to truly be able to measure whether you are comfortable or not. Many mattress retailers offer a trial period so that even if you bring a bed home and find that it isn’t to your liking, you have the opportunity to return it or exchange it for one that is a better fit.

Buying a new mattress can be a big investment, but you’ll find that it is well worth the money when you find it makes an improvement in the way your body feels when you wake up in the morning, as well as in the quality of the sleep that you get each night.