Nothing beats the feeling of first receiving your much-awaited mattress. You’re not only excited to lay on it but do every possible thing on it! And then you wish this joy could last a lifetime – but will it? COULD IT POSSIBLY?
Look, there’s no definite mattress expiry date. You can keep it for as long as you want, granted you don’t compromise any important factors like sleep, comfort and health.
But for safety and hygienic purposes, the recommended time to replace your mattress is between 8-10 years.
The lifespan of a mattress can vary depending on the materials it’s made of. Memory foam and latex could stay with you for 8-15 years without fail; innerspring, futon and air beds might just take 5-8 years. Different mattress brands also use different qualities of foam – it’s something they account for when they craft their warranty. Depending on how you care for your mattress – if you maintain it regularly – it could possibly last or even outlast its warranty period.
So, here’s the rule of thumb: if you and/or your mattress start to feel weird in any way, start inspecting because it might be a sign to say goodbye.
But you may also replace your pillow sooner if you feel that it is starting to wear out.
5 Tell-Tale Signs
Attachment to your mattress of 10 years or a tight budget are also very normal reasons for holding back. So, how exactly do you know when it’s time to let go?
1. Good night’s sleep or good BITE’s sleep?
The main reason why sleep associations recommend replacing your mattress every 8-10 years is due to its potential to be a hotbed of bacteria. Imagine spending so much of your life on a 10-year-old mattress – we doubt it’s clean at all (except if you do clean it).
Moisture transferred onto your mattress can form mould, while dead skin cells can attract dust mites and bed bugs. So, if you’re getting more bites than good nights, you know what to do.
2. Pain greets you in the morning.
So much can change in a year – what more in 8 or even 10? Your mattress is naturally subject to wear and tear depending on usage. If you’re starting to suffer from back pains, suffice it to say your mattress can no longer give the same support it has given you before. This is especially dangerous for sleep apnoea sufferers who might have their air passages blocked because of a misaligned spine.
3. Parts of your body rise and fall due to lumps and sags.
This is a definitive sign that your mattress has deteriorated from all the pressure put upon it. If you find deep mattress dips or lumps, please start looking for a replacement. You’re going to cause yourself more harm in staying.
4. Your mattress won’t dry up anymore.
If your mattress goes through a lot of moisture – wee, sweat, wine spillage – it could reach a dead-end. So, after any liquid incident, take your mattress out into the sun to dry it. If it fails to dry up after several attempts, it’s likely permanent damage.
Oh, and how does a waterproof mattress sound?
5. If your partner starts complaining about it.
This goes without saying, but ‘happy spouse, happy house’, right?
In a Jiffy
The material, foam quality, and care provided for the mattress can all influence its longevity. But when you start seeing the signs – don’t wait any further.