4 simple ways to extend the life of a worn-out mattress

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Science is clear: The quality of your sleep directly influences the quality of your waking hours. From noisy neighbors to everyday stressors, many culprits can cause tossing and turning during the night, but a thoroughly restful snooze starts with a proper foundation — the mattress. 

Most mattresses will need replacing after 10 years of use, and when you’re in the market for a new one, you should be prepared to spend at least $500 for a queen-size mattress (and that’s for the most basic bargain options). Upcoming Memorial Day mattress sales are a great time to splurge on this bedroom furniture, but in today’s economy, even discounted prices can throw off your budget. A much more affordable choice is upgrading your existing mattress with plush toppers and cooling memory foam pads, which are a fraction of the cost. 

When does a mattress need to be replaced?

Your average mattress should last from 7 to 10 years, but different types of mattresses will have different lifespans. Innerspring mattresses have the shortest shelf life, lasting as little as 5 years, while a natural latex mattress could retain its quality for 20 years. Visible sagging, feeling lumps and bumps while lying in bed, and squeaking springs are obvious warning signs that it’s time for a new mattress. However, there are also less conspicuous signs, like waking up with worse allergies or an achy body in the mornings. 

Try out a mattress topper

If the only problem you’re facing with your current mattress is the comfort level, a mattress topper can transform the firmness, softness, and overall coziness of your bed for $75 or less. Toppers slide over the mattress just like a standard mattress protector, and they’re machine washable, so you can keep them fresh and fluffed without too much hassle.

There are all kinds of mattress toppers, catering to a variety of sleeping preferences. If you want to feel like you’re sleeping on top of a cloud, a fluffy topper stuffed with down feathers or down alternative is a go-to choice. Memory foam toppers infused with cooling gel are a great solution for hot sleepers on sweltering summer nights, or they may prefer padded options crafted from naturally cooling bamboo to better regulate the body’s internal temperatures. Also, think about any aches and pains that appear overnight. If you wake up each morning with lower back pain, something firmer, like latex or dense memory foam, provides superior support for your joints.

Another factor to consider when shopping for a new mattress topper is how much you toss and turn at night. Those who move around a lot as they sleep may find mattress toppers shift around on the bed. Memory foam toppers are typically anchored at the four corners, and the material isn’t as slippery against a mattress, so it better stays in place. Padded toppers usually slip over the entire mattress like a traditional mattress cover, but they tend to slide and shift around more easily.

There’s also an essential piece of bedding that should go under your mattress topper — the mattress protector. Every mattress should have a mattress protector. You can even find queen-size mattress protectors for under $20, like the Emonia Premium Waterproof Mattress Protector at Walmart. These basic covers can keep your bed cleaner while also protecting against spills, stains, bedbugs, and allergens that might otherwise get inside. 

Becky Cameron Ultra-Soft Overfilled Mattress Topper

Niagara Sleep Solution Ultra-Soft Mattress Topper

Emonia Premium Waterproof Mattress Protector

Mattress cleaning tools

One truly disturbing fact about mattresses — skip over this paragraph if you squimish — is that mattresses get heavier with age. Sweat and dead skin cells can get soaked into the mattress each night, making it heavier over time. The population of dust mites, which feed off our cells and are found in nearly every household, will also increase in the mattress over time. These pests are also considered allergens and can trigger allergies and asthma in those susceptible. The simplest way to stop this build-up from ever starting is with a mattress protector, as mentioned above.

You can also remove some of this accumulated debris with a mattress vacuum, which costs around $50 on average. You can even find options, like the Byhume Mattress Vacuum Cleaner, that combine powerful suction and heating technology to reach the temperatures needed to kill dust mites. Hot air will also help dry out a mattress, reducing the potential for mold and fungus to grow. If you don’t want to buy a vacuum specifically for your mattress, an upholstery vacuum, like the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Cordless Hand Vacuum, can help remove dust and skin cells, but it won’t have the upgraded heating aspect.

Byhume Mattress Vacuum Cleaner

Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Cordless Hand Vacuum

Keep your bed balanced

You don’t want to create a body-shaped groove in your mattress. If your mattress has a double-sided design, meaning you sleep comfortably on either side, you should be flipping it over every 3 to 6 months. Pillow-top mattresses and other styles that can’t be flipped over can still be rotated around, switching the head of the bed to where your feet were previously. You can find the exact guidelines for your mattress from the manufacturer’s website, but following this protocol helps keep a mattress from wearing out in the specific spots you lie each night. 

A proper bed frame also makes a big difference in the longevity of your mattress. If your mattress isn’t supported evenly, this can also increase the nightly wear and tear. While you can find bed frames with a trendy upholstered headboard or a classic solid wood design, it doesn’t have to be anything fancy. A basic frame, like the Auroral Zone 12-inch Metal Platform Bed Frame, would suffice, and it costs just $55 at Walmart for the full-size version.

Auroral Zone 12-inch Metal Platform Bed Frame

How can I extend the lifespan of my mattress?

There are four main ways to extend the lifespan of your old mattress. 

1. Ensure your mattress is properly supported with a bed frame, so its weight is distributed evenly. 
2. Keep your mattress fresh with a mattress protector that prevents bodily fluids, dust, and dander from seeping in each night.
3. Every few months, set a reminder on your cell phone calendar to rotate and flip your mattress to reduce spot-specific wear and tear. 
4. When a mattress doesn’t feel as cozy as it once did, try adding a mattress topper to your sleep setup to upgrade the comfort levels. 

By using these easy-to-follow tips, you should be able to extend the life of your mattress for a few years, so you’ll have plenty of time to save up for a new one.

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