Nightly Wear and Tear: Knowing When the Time is Right to Buy a New Mattress

Most people completely underestimate how important sleep actually is. Because of this, many don’t take their sleeping environment seriously enough and often end up having a mattress for much longer than they should.

No matter how comfortable and perfect your mattress was when you first bought it, it’s inevitable that, over time, your mattress will likely deteriorate in many areas. It’s estimated that the average mattress should last between 7-10 years, with some potentially serious health consequences if it’s not replaced.

But knowing exactly the right time to replace your mattress is much easier said than done. Every mattress is different, and it’s important you’re able to recognize the specific signs when it’s time for an upgrade. So, if your mattress isn’t feeling like it used to but you’re unsure whether it’s really time for a replacement, here are some key indicators to look out for!

Waking up in pain

It’s no secret that a good night’s sleep is meant to relieve your body of any aches and pains you’ve experienced throughout the day. But, if you’re waking up feeling even more uncomfortable and in pain than the night before, that’s a sure-fire sign that your mattress may be losing its comfort factor and needs to be replaced.

One of the primary jobs of a mattress is to support your body throughout the night so, if you wake up still aching and not feeling well-rested, it makes sense to assume that your mattress may have lost its original ability to support your body. Or, if you don’t feel your mattress has ever supported you properly, you could have simply chosen the wrong type of mattress!

If you’ve only just started waking up in pain, it’s likely the fault is with the mattress simply getting old. But, if you cast your mind back and feel like you’ve always woken up feeling uncomfortable, try doing some research and purchasing a different type of mattress as opposed to the same one – otherwise, you’ll keep experiencing the same problem no matter how new the mattress is.

Sneezing

As a mattress is hands-down one of the most used items throughout your home, it’s inevitable it will accumulate allergens like dust and dust mites over a long period of time. It’s extremely common for people to be allergic or simply irritated by these allergens so, if you find yourself sneezing soon after you get into bed, it’s definitely time for a mattress upgrade.

When browsing for your replacement, going for a hypoallergenic option such as a latex or wool mattress is likely to be better in the long-run, as they don’t accumulate anywhere near the number of irritable allergens as standard mattresses.

Better night’s sleep away from home?

One of the most common problems people face when sleeping in a bed that is not their own is, simply, not getting a good night’s sleep! The feeling of comfort and warmth from your own bed is often second to none, leaving strange beds unable to provide the sleep quality you get when you’re at home.

But, if you find you do get a better night’s sleep when you’re away, that’s a sure-fire sign that there could potentially be something uncomfortable about your mattress. Mattresses generally deteriorate very slowly over time, with any changes often likely to go unnoticed unless they become overly obvious.

So, next time you spend a night away from your own bed, take a second to evaluate how your sleep compares to at home. And, if it’s better, perhaps it’s time to re-think your current mattress situation.

Body impression

Most applicable to memory foam mattresses, if you find it has a constant impression of your body that lingers long after you get up in the morning, it’s a sure sign that it’s beginning to break down.

One of the main advantages of memory foam is its ability to perfectly mold to the contours of your body then when you get up, it bounces back to its original position. But if you find your mattress doesn’t seem to be doing this, it’s definitely time for a replacement.

Mattresses are one of the most used items in virtually any home but, because we use them so much without even thinking about it, we often forget they need to be replaced every few years. So, if you’ve had your mattress for a long time and are wondering whether it needs to go, look out for any of the above signs and if you experience any, you have your answer!

Tina Brown is a physical therapist who encourages people to get better sleep in order to heal. She also loves to write about her experiences to post on family and lifestyle websites.