While we might often neglect back pain because it can be caused by a variety of factors, waking up with back pain is a strong indicator that it has something to do with your mattress, particularly if the pain or stiffness subsides throughout the day. One of the most common problems with beds is sagging.
Sleeping on a sagging mattress can be harmful to your quality of sleep. And because it throws your spine out of position, a sagging mattress can cause or contribute to spinal pain and stiffness. Your mattress will sag eventually, regardless of its quality, and you should be aware of how to remedy a sagging mattress. Here's some tips to help a sagging mattress that will help you restore your mattress to better health.
Why Does a Mattress Sink?
The reason sagging in a mattress is common is due to several factors. Your mattress can sink because you placed it on an uneven and weak frame. Your mattress needs good support to stay in top shape, so don’t skimp on your foundations. Another reason sagging occurs is due to liquid penetration or high moisture content. Unless you have a waterbed, your mattress shouldn’t be exposed to excess moisture, as it can weaken and break down the materials. If you have a damaged box spring, that can also lead to sagging. And with foam mattresses, sagging occurs when the internal components start to disintegrate.
How our tips work to fix your sagging depends on a few things, primarily the age of the mattress and the degree of sagging. So, if these don’t work for you that means it’s time for a new mattress.
How to Fix a Sagging Mattress
Use a Mattress Topper
Mattress toppers are a great tool to help with sinking. They lay across your mattress and can not only give your mattress more support but can provide some extra comfort too. Mattress toppers can be anywhere between 2-5 inches thick. Mattress toppers help to prevent sagging by giving the person more space to sleep comfortably. They're wonderful choices for folks who don't want to buy a new mattress but want to make their current one more comfortable. Mattress toppers do not restore a sagging mattress, but they do help to decrease the effects of sagging by providing an even sleeping surface.
Assess the Foundation
Just like mattresses, foundations can wear out too. And if your foundation is weakened so is your mattress. Mattress sagging on one side can also be caused by foundations with fewer than six legs. Your mattress will not sag if you get the right foundation for it. If you need assistance with this, we have experts on hand in the store who can assist you.
If it is your foundation causing the sinking a trip to the hardware store can help with that. Plywood is a low-cost, easy-to-install choice for reinforcing your bed frame. Simply insert the plywood between your mattress and box spring in the region that needs to be repaired. Plywood provides greater stability and can also prevent your bed from squeaking if your box spring is under too much pressure. If you don't have a box spring and your bed is supported by your bed frame, you may need to double up on the plywood to keep it straight and stable.
Rotate the Mattress
Regularly turning the mattress and switching the foot and head of the bed can extend the life of the mattress and avoid premature sagging. Even if your mattress is sagging now, turning it can still assist. When the mattress is placed under great pressure from a sleeper's body in one location, it sags. Rotating the mattress lets most of the sleeper's body rest on parts that have not yet sagged.
Sagging Memory Foam
Sagging memory foam mattresses can be fixed by rotating the mattress 180 degrees or flipping it. It makes sure that your heaviest body parts apply pressure in various areas, thus dispersing the memory foam and making the bed even. Using a memory foam mattress topper is another option.
Sagging Pillow Top
Rotating a sagging pillow top mattress 180 degrees is the greatest approach to help it stop sagging. It evens out the bed by redistributing the weight of the sleeper. If that doesn't work, you can try the plywood method talked about earlier.
All in all, these tips are only meant as a temporary fix. When your chosen method proves futile or stops helping, that is the sign to look for new mattresses. You should also start looking for a new mattress if you have springs poking out or if the sag reaches 1.5” or deeper. And lucky for you, we have a great selection of mattresses and foundations for you to look through when it’s time. Until then give us a call if you have any questions or visit Crane's Mattress in-store to talk with one of our experts.