Truth be told, your mattress should handle the use for more than a decade. More often than not, it does start looking that a revival is required. Don’t rush into conclusion and worry that you need to buy a new one. Taking care of your mattress regularly should be enough for extending its lifespan.
Let’s assume that you got yourself the best mattress for your needs and wallet. it maintains your spine well aligned, it supports your body and eliminates any aches, so that you wake up well rested in the morning. However, you need to do a couple of things for sustaining its performance for a long time.
Here are some things you should do for taking care of your mattress:
- Start rotating it
Even if modern times mattresses no longer have double-sided springs, this doesn’t mean that you should forget about rotating it completely. You need to rotate the mattress top to bottom every month (to say the least) so that the risk for it to develop sags or valleys decreases.
- Use a mattress pad
Moisture, dust, body oils and skin flakes are enemies for the durability of your mattress. The mattress pad is going to protect it against them and you should never undermine its importance.
Nowadays mattresses pads are breathable and comfortable and many are even dust-mite resistant. It’s easier to wash a mattress pad and you should do it 2-3 times per year.
- Use a bed skirt too
Even if the dust ruffles are for the looks, adding a bit of colour to the bedroom, you should use a bed skirt for many other reasons. The hanging fabric is going to keep pet hair, dust and grime from getting under your bed. No matter the style you go with for the bed skirt, use it for protecting the mattress a lot better. wash it once a year for removing the hair and dust.
- No more pets sleeping underneath the bed
We know that you love your pet and leaving him/her sleep underneath the bed is quite tempting. However, try to resist as their pet fur is only going to build up along the bottom of the mattress. Besides, your pet may also rip through the thin fabric on the bottom of the mattress.
- No more jumping on the bed either
Your kids jumping on the bed or you standing on it for whatever the reason put too much pressure on the bedsprings. This is even more problematic if you have a platform bed as the wooden supports may break.
- Provide support for the mattress
When you’re using a platform bed, it’s best that you look for the slats, weakness or sags regularly. It’s the same rule for the foundation bed. It’s only a matter of time until a mattress sags and bends under your body weight when you’re not using the right support for it.
- Keep it away from the dark
Take your mattress out for some fresh air and sunlight any now and then. Pull off the bedding and let it air out for a couple of hours.
- Never leave the spills to dry out
Having a glass of red wine in bed is great, but we all know that accidents happen. It’s only a matter of time until you stain the mattress. Anytime moisture is spilt onto the bed, it’s best that you remove the sheets asap. You should also use the towel to blot up the liquids as much as you can. Use some baking soda for removing the stains or the residual smell. Let the mattress air dry or use the blow dryer for speeding out the process. use the low setting for drying the mattress.
- Always clean the mattress
You should make a habit out of cleaning your mattress just like you’re cleaning the rest of your house. ideally, you should clean it every season, but twice a year is going to do it too. strip the bed of all the coverings and vacuum both the top and the sides of the mattress. Use the upholstery tool of the vacuum for the cleaning.
Take your time and vacuum the seams of the mattress- that’s where the dust mites love to hide! Sprinkle some baking soda on the bed before starting to vacuum. This is going to help with removing the bad smells.
What’s the best way to clean your mattress?
Everything that is related to the mattress is going to play a big part in its lifespan. Here’s what you need to do:
- Use a removable cover that you wash on a regular basis. Some are made to lower the risk for dust mite allergies
- Wash the bedding (pillowcases, sheets, comforter, comforter cover) weekly. Clean bedding is going to protect the mattress for a longer time. use the upholstery attachment on the vacuum cleaner for vacuuming the mattress. You may need to vacuum more often if anyone in the house is dealing with allergies.
- Vacuum the mattress once a month. Dander, dust mites and dust do like to build up in the mattress.
- Remove and wash all bedding the moment a spill/stain happens. Use an upholstery shampoo for cleaning.
Do you need to flip the mattress every 6 months?
Back in the days, flipping the mattress every 6 months used to be a popular practice. This way, you would provide even wear for the mattress. This was fundamental especially if the size difference between the two people sharing the bed was really important.
Nowadays, the best way is to read the manufacturer’s instructions. For instance, some mattresses come with a pillow-top that is specifically designed for head and foot. In this case, flipping the mattress isn’t a good idea.
Nevertheless, most manufacturers are still recommending rotating the bed for even wear. You should do it every 6 months, especially in the beginning.
How long is a mattress supposed to last?
Truth be told, it’s pretty difficult to know for sure how long is your mattress going to last. There are many different types and construction methods used these days. However, most mattresses should last 8-10 years. Want to spend the extra buck? the high-end mattresses come with 25-year warranties which is always a wise investment to make.
RESOURCES
How to Make a Mattress Last Longer
How To Clean A Mattress: Steps to Remove Mattress Stains and Smells
