How Often Should You Replace Your Mattress?

How often should you replace your mattress? Most sleep experts agree you should replace your mattress every 6 to 10 years. The exact number depends on a few variables.

The mattress business frequently uses the 8-year rule of thumb, but it is far from the final word on how often you should replace your mattress.

Mattresses don’t have set expiration dates. The materials used, the quality of the initial construction, the number and weight of the sleepers using the mattress, their typical sleeping positions, and how well the mattress has been cleaned and maintained are all factors that affect the mattress’s longevity.

When Should You Replace Your Mattress?

These are some clear indicators you need a new mattress if you’re having difficulties falling asleep, sagging on your side of the bed, and never manage to wake up feeling rested owing to poor sleep.

But don’t worry, a new, high-quality mattress can help you get a better night’s sleep by improving sleep quality.

how often should you replace your mattress
How often should you replace your mattress?

How to Tell if Your Mattress Needs Replacing

If your bed isn’t helping you in getting a good night’s sleep, it’s time to change it. Check out our review of Puffy mattress if you need a new mattress.

It’s interfering with your sleep

If you wake up exhausted and foggy after tossing and turning all night, it could be due to an old mattress.

Saggy mattresses are notorious for getting in the way of a restful night’s sleep. If your mattress has significant troughs or dips, it’s time for a replacement.

Similarly, if lumps or bumps in the mattress prohibit you from finding a comfortable sleeping position, the mattress’s foam and other cushioning may have migrated or degraded, and it’s time to replace it.

It’s making a lot more noise than it usually does

Innersprings are supposed to cushion and cradle the sleeper without creating noise, so if your mattress’s springs start to squeak, it’s a symptom of deterioration.

Squeaks and creaks indicate that the coils are beginning to deteriorate and may sag, break, or snap. It’s time to replace your mattress if you see or feel springs poking through the mattress cover.

As the coils of the box spring begin to wear down, noise and squeaks may be heard. If you begin to hear or feel your partner’s movements more frequently than before, it’s a sign that the coils are maturing and your mattress is nearing its end of life.

You’ve noticed a rise in allergies

Another clue that your mattress needs to be replaced is an increase in allergy or asthma symptoms.

Regardless of how often you vacuum and clean your mattress, it will collect dead skin, body oils, and moisture, attracting dust mites that feed on dead skin cells. An average used mattress contains millions of dust mites, which can cause allergic reactions in some people and aggravate asthma symptoms in others.

In the same way, when a mattress absorbs oil and moisture from your skin, mold and mildew can grow. If your mattress has black stains or a moldy or musty odor, it’s time to replace it.

It’s 6 to 8 years old

The type of mattress you have and the quality of the original construction are two of the most important elements affecting its longevity.

Mattresses made of low-quality materials wear out more quickly than mattresses made of higher-quality materials. In addition, the projected lifespans of various mattress kinds vary.

It’s saggy or damaged

A sagging mattress is terrible. Your mattress will adjust to your weight and sleeping position over time, but major dips, grooves, or sagging regions that hinder you from reaching good spinal alignment are a warning that you should replace it.

Sagging may be more noticeable in heavier sleepers. Sagging patches around the hips and shoulders may develop in people who sleep on their sides.

Rotating your mattress every six months is one technique to prevent sagging. Most newer mattresses aren’t built to be flipped from top to bottom.

You sleep better at hotels or elsewhere

If you wake up exhausted and foggy after tossing and turning all night, it could be due to an old mattress. Saggy mattresses are notorious for getting in the way of a restful night’s sleep.

If your mattress has significant dips, it’s time for a replacement.

Similarly, if lumps or bumps in the mattress prohibit you from finding a comfortable sleeping position, the mattress’s foam and other cushioning may have migrated or degraded, and it’s time to replace it.

You wake up in pain in your joints or muscles

By supporting your body and keeping your spine aligned, a good mattress can help you obtain a better night’s sleep and contribute to your overall health.

It’s a sign that your mattress needs to be replaced if you wake up stiff and painful, with unexplainable aches and pains in your back, sides, neck, knees, or shoulders.

A nice method to test this is to spend a night in a different bed. If you sleep better in a hotel or someone else’s home, it’s time to shop for a new mattress.

Factors That Have an Impact On Mattress Lifespan

The lifetime of a mattress is influenced by a few factors. A low-cost bed, for example, will deteriorate considerably faster than a high-end mattress.

  • Maintenance & Care
  • Mattress Material
  • Your size and weight
  • Whether you have children or pets
  • Mattress price

Why Replace Your Mattress?

The most important reason to change your mattress is for comfort. A mattress’s shape can deteriorate and droop with time, resulting in lumps and dips. Your ability to get a decent night’s sleep can be hampered by an uncomfortable mattress.

Sleep deprivation has been linked to a number of diseases, including heart disease and diabetes.

Dust mites and other allergens collect in mattresses, causing or exacerbating symptoms in those with allergies, asthma, and other respiratory problems.

What Should You Look For In A New Mattress?

You should opt for a mattress with a higher-density foam if you’re looking for a foam mattress. Higher density foams are more durable and should result in a mattress that lasts longer.

Consider a mattress with coils if you want a mattress that will last a long time. Mattress coils can help keep your mattress from sagging.

A hybrid mattress may be an excellent choice if you sleep hot because the coils allow for airflow. If you choose an all-foam mattress, be sure it has some cooling functions to prevent you from becoming overheated.

If you are lighter, you may not require the same level of assistance as someone who is heavier. If you’re heavier, a thicker comfort layer may be required to avoid bottoming out.

FAQ

How can you tell when you need a new mattress?

If your mattress is sagging, makes a lot of noise, is smelly, you can’t get comfortable and you wake up in pain, you should probably get a new mattress.

What happens to a mattress after 10 years?

The average mattress will double in weight in ten years as a result of being loaded with dead dust mites and their waste, according to one alarming figure. These kinds of facts can make even the most doubtful consumer reach for the dust mop.

What is the average life of a bed mattress?

The average mattress should last between seven and ten years. However, there are a slew of factors that can affect mattress longevity. The mattress’s original build quality, the materials utilized, and even the weight and sleeping patterns of the sleepers can all have an impact on how long a bed lasts.

Can a mattress last 20 years?

A mattress could last for up to 20 years. The durability of your mattress is determined by a number of things, including the amount of wear and tear it endures and the quality of its components. Memory foam and latex mattresses, for example, can last up to 15 years, far longer than the ordinary innerspring mattress.

What is the best month to buy a new mattress?

May is unquestionably the best month to buy a mattress. New items are frequently introduced to the business as a whole in June, and they remain popular until September. As a result, when May rolls around, the corporations seek to get rid of their older models.

How do you fix a sunken mattress?

Use a mattress topper. Rotate the mattress. Replace the foundation. Use extra pillows. Check warranty coverage.

Can an old mattress make you sick?

A number of germs, including staphylococcus, enterococcus, norovirus, and, in rare situations, MRSA, thrive in older mattresses. If your room becomes humid, mold might become a problem.

About Perry Morris

Perry Morris is a freelance writer, columnist, and mattress expert who contributes content for online publications such as New Mattress Time.