Happy Valentine’s Day!! On this day celebrating love, do you find yourself wondering if you’ve lost that loving feeling? Wondering if it’s time to break up with your mattress?

 

After years of regular use, there comes a time when a mattress needs to be retired and replaced with something new. Here’s what you need to know about the lifespan of your mattress.

How Long Do Mattresses Typically Last?

When you hear about people having mattresses for 20 years, it is worth asking what exactly is going on there. Unless the mattress sits in a guest bedroom and slept on only a couple of weeks a year, you probably will not get that many year’s use out of it. Some mattress warranties will last as long as 15 years, but expecting more than 8-10 great years from your mattress may be pushing it. The longevity and durability of the mattress mostly depends on the type of mattress you buy, its quality and its use.

Why Do I Need to Replace My Mattress?

Unlike your car, your mattress will change very slowly over time. You will not suddenly come home from work to see that it has broken in half and you have to replace it. Instead, the quality of the mattress (as well as your sleep) will gradually decrease. You may not notice it until you sleep much better at a friend’s, or go on a business trip find yourself loving the hotel bed before you realize that your mattress is in very bad shape, indeed.

Mattresses also accumulate dust, allergens and other debris such as skin cells. If you suffer from allergies and notice that you wake up with a stuffy nose, it may be your mattress trying to tell you something.

Are There Ways to Extend Mattress Longevity?

Proper maintenance can increase the lifespan of your mattress. The best thing you can do is to limit your mattress’s contact with contaminants. Keep the following mattress regimen:

• Purchase a proper foundation for the mattress
• Rotate or flip the mattress (if the mattress style permits this)
• Use a mattress protector
• Minimize prolonged periods without a sheet
• Do not eat or drink on your mattress
• Change and wash your sheets regularly
• Discourage pets from sleeping on the mattress

These tasks are neither difficult nor time-consuming. For a piece of equipment where you spend one-third of your time, it is a small price to pay to keep your sleeping surface in better condition for longer.

When Should I Replace My Mattress?

Since there are so many factors determining the average lifespan of your mattress, you need to know the typical warning signs. Your back is probably the best indicator. A bad mattress is actually a very common cause of lower back pain, because a weak or damaged mattress cannot provide the necessary support for your spine.

You might be due for an upgrade if you also notice that you seem perpetually tired when you wake up. Otherwise, if your mattress is seven years old or older, smells bad or has obvious damage from stains or tearing, you know you need to chuck it out for a new one.

Mattresses certainly require an outlay of money, but you should look at them as an investment in your health. After approximately nine years, start budgeting to replace your mattress with a new model.