Mattress ·

How to Tell if You Need a New Mattress

How to Tell if You Need a New Mattress

At the end of the day, the job of a good mattress is to support your body properly while giving you a good night’s sleep. 

Even if you’ve been taking proper care of your mattress by using a protective mattress cover, rotating your mattress, and dusting it regularly - you’ve come to realise that, just like everything else in this world, it has a shelf life, too. We actually answered exactly how long foam mattresses last in another article.

This is why today's topic is a comprehensive guide on how to tell if you need a new mattress. Read on to understand all the signs telling you to replace your old mattress. 

How to Tell if You Need a New Mattress?

Your spring mattress squeaks, your memory foam mattress doesn’t provide the support it used to, or you’re experiencing allergies from dust mites - these are all indicators that you need a new mattress.

Your Mattress Is Causing Asthma or Skin Reactions

Night after night, dead skin cells make their way into your mattress, attracting the growth of microbes and dust mites. And for people who struggle with allergy flare-ups and asthma, dust mites represent one of the most common triggers that lurk in your bedding. Even though you can get rid of these microscopic creatures by frequently dusting and cleaning your mattress, over time, this becomes increasingly difficult. 

So, if you are continuously experiencing asthma attacks or allergy flare ups, and cleaning your mattress doesn’t help anymore, it may be time for a new mattress.

The Age of Your Mattress  

The age of your mattress is yet another factor to consider when contemplating whether or not you should change your mattress. Your mattress’ lifespan, however, depends on its quality. Some mattresses will only last six years while others can retain their shape for up to fifteen years. 

Difficulties Sleeping Through the Night

There are a lot of reasons why you are struggling to fall asleep or are frequently waking up throughout the night. One of these reasons might be an old mattress that doesn’t offer proper support for your body. Due to uneven distribution of support and pressure, a sagging mattress may increase the pressure on some parts of your body. This pressure may result in intolerable back or neck pain.

Your Hybrid or Innerspring Mattress Is Causing Noisiness 

Noisiness is another obvious sign that your mattress needs to be replaced with a new one. This is usually a “symptom” exhibited by either innerspring or hybrid mattresses, as they feature spring coils that eventually yield to years of wear and tear. When these springs break, you might hear creaking from your box spring, which means that you are probably sleeping on a worn-out mattress.

Your Memory Foam Mattress Sags

You should consider getting a replacement when your mattress forms a dent on one of the sides or simply becomes weaker than usual. This is a clear sign that the springs or memory foam in  the mattress are breaking down and losing their supportive capacity, which can cause uncomfortable pressure points. You should know that although there are several ways to fix a sagging mattress, all the solutions are temporary, and you will need to replace your mattress sooner rather than later. 

Aches

Quality mattresses increase sleep quality, whereas overly soft ones may cause poor back alignment and result in headaches, joint pain, and back pain. So, if you constantly wake up feeling aches, the root problem might be your current mattress. 

When to Get a New Mattress?

Our recommendation is for you to get a new mattress during holiday or weekends. Even though there are exquisite deals throughout the whole year, holidays are known for offering the biggest discounts.

However, if your old mattress is influencing your sleep quality, there is no better time than now to switch to a new mattress. Make sure to do thorough research first, as you want to sleep on a quality mattress that provides proper support and plenty of comfort. 

Conclusion

We are spending a third of our lives sleeping, so why not sleep on the perfect mattress? 

If we are lucky, our mattresses may last for up to fifteen years, but if not taken proper care of, chances are there’s something wrong, even if you can’t feel it while sleeping. This is why you should determine whether your mattress needs replacement by reading our comprehensive guide instead of waiting for it to show obvious sagging signs that can cause body aches.

If you’re not yet sure what sort of budget you’ll need to prepare for the task, read our article to learn how much you should really pay for a new, high-quality mattress. 

FAQ

Can a worn-out mattress cause sleep apnea?

As a mattress is one of the most important factors in the sleep environment, it can indeed affect sleep quality. However, sleep apnea is caused by numerous other factors such as age, alcohol consumption, history of the condition, etc. It's not necessarily the mattress itself.

Does rotating my mattress regularly prolong its life?

Yes. It is recommended to rotate your mattress once every six months to prolong its lifespan.

How long do spring mattresses last?

The lifespan of spring mattresses is seven to ten years, but you can mostly tell that you need a new one if you hear squeaky sounds while sleeping. 

Is it time to replace my mattress if I am experiencing insomnia?

Not really. Even though a mattress may influence your sleep quality, there are other reasons that cause insomnia such as stress, eating a lot and late in the evening, or a disrupted sleep schedule.

Can old mattresses provide you with proper comfort?

Not really. As these are usually saggy or deformed, they can’t provide the right support.

Sources

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