Did you know that by the time we’re 60, we’ll have spent over 20 years curled up in bed? That’s a huge percentage of our lives! Therefore having a supportive mattress is essential. However, many of us forget the importance of our mattresses to our comfort and health, and don’t replace them when needed.

How often should I replace my mattress?

It’s recommended that you change your mattress every 7-10 years for a number of reasons:

• The support lessens over time due to tossing and turning.
• The foam or filling becomes more compact, absorbing less shock and stops responding to your movements.
• The springs also become worn, and don’t adjust to your body weight as quickly (or as quietly). As this happens gradually, many of us don’t even notice the decreased comfort and its negative effects on our bodies.

Will I ever need to replace my mattress before this?

You may find you need to replace your mattress before the average lifespan is up. Signs that your mattress isn’t providing enough support include experiencing unexplained back or neck pain and waking up with stiffness, aches and pains. Another easy way to tell it’s time for a replacement is if you get a better night’s sleep outside of your home, perhaps in a hotel or while visiting a friend’s house. After all, your own bed should be the comfiest!

Why should I change my mattress? It’s still so comfortable!

Even if you feel your mattress is still comfortable after 10 years and you are not experiencing any of the key warning signs, you may not be so attached to it if you could see inside. A typical used mattress contains 100,000 to 10 million dust mites. Plus, they aren’t alone in there… They’re accompanied by dead skin cells! While choosing a mattress with a dust mite barrier and using a protector can help, over time dust mites can still burrow their way inside.

This can exasperate breathing disorders such as asthma as well as several allergies. Symptoms to look out for are similar to those of the common cold: red, itchy and watery eyes, sneezing, a cough and a runny, itchy or stuffy nose.

If you’d like more information on replacing your mattress, and what to look for in new bedding, browse our previous posts or follow us on Facebook (where we also regularly share tips on how to
achieve your best night’s sleep yet!)