A good night’s sleep is essential to help our bodies rejuvenate themselves while letting our brains process emotions and keep memories. However, without a good mattress, your health can be significantly impacted. For this reason, investing in a quality mattress and replacing it according to your manufacturer’s guidelines is essential.
So how often should you replace your mattress?
Under normal circumstances, you should replace a mattress every six years, but it can stretch up to eight years if well-maintained. However, the springs and foams may lose their structure and strength after six years of use, resulting in a sagging mattress.
While this is a general guideline, you must consider the various factors determining when to replace your mattress. That way, you can know whether or not your mattress needs to be replaced.
Signs Your Old Mattress Is Done
The first thing you’ll want to check is your comfort. If you constantly wake up to sore muscles or back pains, then it’s time you replace your mattress. Additionally, you may want to dispose of your old mattress if:
- It is sagging
- If your body leaves marks on the mattress
- It has holes and tears
- You notice irritable noise from the innerspring mattress
- It has odours and stains despite wiping and airing it out.
You won’t achieve quality sleep if your mattress shows the above signs. As such, you should check your mattress occasionally for these signs, particularly if it sags in the corners and middle.
When to replace your mattress
While the general rule is to replace your mattress every six years, some signs can help you determine whether or not it needs a replacement. For example, you’ll know your mattress’ time is up when:
- You start having trouble sleeping for no good reason
- It starts sagging in the middle or corners of your bed
- It has begun losing shape, showing visible bumps and lumps all over
- You start waking up to sore muscles, back pains, or stiff joints
- Imprints of your body remain on the mattress
- You start to encounter an increase in the number of days you have allergies
- The texture feels different from when you purchased it ( softer or harder)
- You start finding sleeping at hotels or other people’s homes comfortable
- It takes longer than usual to fall asleep, or you can’t sleep at all on your mattress
- The springs start producing squeaking noises when you turn over your mattress
- It has visible frayed edges
- It starts losing its ability to manage motion transfer
The Mattress Lifespan
How long your mattress lasts will depend on various factors, such as the type of mattress, but as a general rule, a good mattress should serve you for about 6 to 8 years. That said, outlined are the types of mattresses and their recommended lifespans.
- Pillowtop: This type of mattress has a lifespan of up to 7 years, after which it may show visible signs of sagging.
- Innerspring mattresses: Depending on your bed quality, these mattresses can last up to 5 years. However, if the mattress has a thicker coil gauge and a high spring count, it can stretch up to 8 years with no signs of wear and tear.
- Memory foam mattresses: True foam mattresses are slightly durable and will last up to a decade due to their high absorbency. Ergoflex is an excellent example of a memory foam mattress as it configures the body in response to heat and pressure, distributing body weight evenly throughout the mattress.
- Hybrid mattress: This type of mattress is good for 8 to 10 years if well-maintained.
- Polyfoam mattress: This mattress’s durability highly depends on your body’s mileage and foam quality. Nevertheless, it should serve you for about ten years.
- Latex mattresses: Organic or natural latex is extremely durable and hypoallergenic, thus tend to last longer than its counterparts. More often, latex mattresses will keep for 12 years if well-kept.
Now that you know different mattresses and their lifespan, it would also help to check your mattress’ warranty so that if it starts showing signs of wear and tear within the warranty period, you can contact the manufacturer for help.
Different Types of Mattresses
Memory foam
A well-maintained memory foam mattress that’s routinely rotated should take you a couple of years before it starts to wear. Most importantly, they are made of top-notch materials that can take you for a decade or so (10 to 15 years).
Innerspring
Another mattress to serve you for a couple of years is the innerspring mattress. Often, they have a lifespan of between 5 ½ to ten years or even longer, depending on the maintenance. This means keeping them clean and flipping them regularly or according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Hybrid
Hybrid mattresses integrate both foam and innerspring coils to ensure a high level of durability. Under normal conditions, they will keep for about six to 7 ½ years. However, treated well, hybrid mattresses can last longer than the stipulated timeframe.
Latex
Over the years, latex mattresses have tended to last long, which has made customers come to terms with their constantly higher quoted price.
These mattresses can take up to 8 years or even longer if you opt for the natural latex variety. The best part? They come with extensive warranties of up to 25 years.
Airbeds
Airbeds take pride in their custom-made air chambers to help you adjust personal comfort on both sides or independently. Additionally, they come with remote controls exclusively for this purpose, making them pricier than other options.
While this explains their competitive prices, airbeds are also popular for their high-end construction and durability, with a minimum lifespan of about eight years. The only downside is that they are expensive to repair should there be an occasional breakdown.
Factors Influencing Mattress Lifespan
Materials
The materials used in the production of your mattress can have a significant impact on its durability. Low-quality innerspring and all-foam mattresses will often have the shortest lifespans, as they are vulnerable to sagging and body concepts.
Hybrid mattresses will also exhibit these problems; however, since they are always sold as upscale alternatives and made with high-end materials, they tend to last long. Latex mattresses, on the other hand, are extremely durable and can last up to eight years.
That said, there are a few ways to determine the durability of your mattress based on the material. For instance, choose one with thicker coils when opting for hybrid and innerspring mattresses, thus a lower coil gauge.
As for all-foam mattresses, opt for those with higher foam densities. Lastly, opt for mattresses with organic latex rather than synthetic ones, as they tend to last longer than the latter.
Foam densities and coil gauges
Foam densities and coil gauges often vary depending on the mattress type. True memory foam mattress, for instance, has higher foam density than innerspring and hybrids. However, these two supersedes memory foam mattresses regarding council gauges.
Foam density is often measured in pounds per cubic foot (PCF), and a good thickness for memory foam is about 5 PCF. Polyfoam, on the other hand, should exhibit at least 1.7 PCF.
For durability, ensure the coil gauge on a hybrid or innerspring mattress are thicker (about 13-gauge) to provide a great duration of individual life. As for latex, opt for an all-natural option instead of synthetic for extra firmness.
Maintenance & Care
Like all other products, a well-maintained mattress will last an extended period. This includes putting on a mattress protector, vacuuming and flipping it every 3 to 6 months (according to the manufacturer’s instructions).
Sleeper Size & Weight
Another factor influencing the lifespan of a mattress is the sleeper’s weight. How heavy you weigh will determine the rate at which your mattress wears out.
For instance, heavier sleepers will likely make a mattress sag quicker than lightweight sleepers. Correspondingly, a mattress accommodating more than one person is like degrade sooner than an individual’s.
Children & Pets
You already know how messier things can get when sharing a bed with pets and children — not to mention the extra weight put in by them. If you’re sharing bed with either of them, you’ll need to replace your mattress more often as they will likely stain or damage it.
How to Extend the Life of Your Current Mattress
All good things must come to an end, and that includes your mattress. While you will eventually have to purchase a new one, you can take steps to ensure it lasts as long as possible. These include:
Up the mattress maintenance
While this may seem a lot of work, taking good care of your mattress will ensure its longevity. After all, this isn’t day-to-day; you can clean and flip your mattress every 3 to 6 months. If your budget allows, have a professional deep clean your mattress once a year. That way, you can be assured your mattress will last for years.
Use a mattress protector
With advances in technology, mattress protectors have become popular. They are cozy and soft to provide the utmost comfort. Some even have cooling features to enhance your sleeping experience.
Carry It Properly
Another tip for enhancing the lifespan of your mattress is to carry it properly. If you want to move your bed around, lift it from the bottom and keep it straight while in motion — avoid using the straps at all costs. Most importantly, don’t tie the mattress when transporting it from one place to another, as this will only weaken your bed.
Match it with the proper base
Matching your mattress with the right base is essential to enhance your durability. Before settling for any base, research to determine the proper foundation for your bed. Try to settle for a base from the same brand as your mattress, but this will cost you a few bucks.
Let the sunshine in
Sometimes the tender little care we give to our mattresses goes a long way to enhance their lifespan. Opening up the windows and allowing sunlight and fresh air into the room will help eliminate any moisture that’s starting to accumulate and increase ventilation. Do this at least once a week for complete effectiveness.
Limit jumping and critter time
You’ll want to limit your household’s jumping and critter playtime. If you have toddlers around, get a trampoline and discourage them from jumping on the bed. Pets can potentially damage your mattress with their claws. Get or make your pets a bed to keep your mattress in good condition for years.
Which Mattress Materials Are Most Durable?
The lifespan of a mattress can vary significantly depending on the material used. However, the foam quality plays a major role in determining durability. If cheap materials are used to make your mattress, rest assured it will start sagging after a few years.
Mattresses made from organic latex are extremely durable and resilient, meaning they can retain their firmness for extended periods. If pricing isn’t a factor when purchasing a mattress, a latex mattress should be your go-to option.
Finding Your Perfect Mattress
In conclusion, finding the perfect mattress is essential for a good night’s sleep. Finding the right one may take trial and error, but it will be worth it. Consider your sleeping position, body type, budget, and preferences.
Consider consulting with a sleep specialist or online mattress reviews to help narrow down your choices. With some research and patience, you will find the perfect mattress and enjoy many nights of restful sleep.
