Pressing snooze might be an easy solution for getting some extra sleep in the morning, but pressing snooze on getting a new mattress could be costing you more sleep. While a mattress is a considerable investment you expect years of use out of, sleeping on an old mattress can be bad for your sleep health, affect your lifestyle, and can ultimately take the pleasure out of getting a good night’s rest.
Unfortunately, mattresses don’t come with their own expiration dates, but there are several ways to know if your current mattress has run its course. Here are six signs you should replace your mattress.
1. Your Mattress Has Matured
Some things, like wine, get better as they age. Others, like a mattress, will unfortunately degrade after years of daily use. In fact, the average lifetime of a mattress is seven to 10 years.
But while seven years is the general lifespan of a mattress, that doesn’t take into account the different aspects of some mattress types, such as coils in an innerspring mattress, or the open cell support of a memory foam mattress.
Typically:
- Innerspring mattresses are made to last six to eight years.
- Latex mattresses are made to last 10 to 20 years.
- Memory-foam mattresses are made to last eight to 10 years.
- Hybrid mattresses are made to last up to six years.
If you can’t remember when you purchased your current mattress, that alone may be a reason to upgrade to a new mattress.
2. Sleep with a Side of Allergies and Asthma
Unfortunately, that cozy mattress you bought years ago was also a hit with dust mites, fleas, and other critters who thrive off dead skin cells, saliva, sweat, and other natural bodily fluids that transfer onto your mattress. On top of being unsanitary and unsettling, the waste these pests leave imbedded in your mattress could be triggering allergy or asthma symptoms. Mix in other natural allergy and asthma irritants, like dust, mold, and pet dander, that have accumulated over the years, and your old mattress quickly starts to look like a dirty sponge.
While routinely washing your bedding and vacuuming your mattress can help reduce the number of unwanted guests, after a few years, it’s virtually impossible to get rid of all these particles, and until you do, you may continue to experience the side effects of allergies or asthma every time you go to sleep.
3. Your Mattress Has Irregularities
Some nights, you might be a side-sleeper. Others, you might prefer to sleep on your back. And then there are those not-so-fun nights where no matter how much you toss and turn, you just can’t seem to get comfortable.
If this sounds familiar, your body might be trying to tell you something: This mattress just isn’t comfortable anymore. While lifestyle, diet, and health play an important role in sleep quality, the conditions of your current mattress may also have an effect on the quality of your sleep.
Surefire signs that your mattress has run its course include:
- Coils popping out of the mattress.
- Large humps and bumps.
- Visible impressions or indentations.
- Sagging, especially in the middle or the edges.
- Tears in fabric.
4. Your Mattress Has a Funky Smell
Even if you do take showers before bed, your body naturally secretes oils, sweat, and other fluids that are easily absorbed by the soft surface of a mattress. All it takes is a small amount of liquid on a mattress to harbor a colony of bacteria, or act as camping grounds where mold and mildew can flourish, imparting a musty smell onto your mattress.
On top of making asthma and allergy symptoms worse, sleeping on a smelly mattress may also cause you to experience negative dreams. Since disruptive dreams are bad for sleep, the effects often linger into the next day, with symptoms of head fogginess, irritability, and overall lethargy. In short, smelly mattress, sour dreams.
5. You’re Experiencing Pain
Of course, the most obvious indication it’s time to upgrade your mattress is if you wake up with aches, pains, or discomfort. The biggest problem areas include the lower back (lumbar), spine, hips, and neck, but muscle discomfort, bad circulation, and even headaches may be signs that your current mattress is not delivering the comfort your body needs.
Ideally, you should always consider purchasing a mattress depending on your sleep position and comfort level. Here’s a general breakdown:
- Medium to firm mattresses offer the best support for neck, shoulder, and back pain.
- Plush mattresses offer the best support for hip pain.
- Medium-firm mattresses offer the best support for joint pain.
6. There’s Been a Lifestyle Change
Life is nothing short of a rollercoaster of experiences — your mattress should know, you dream about them at night! That’s to say, lifestyle changes can happen fast, and when they do, they might require reconsidering the current mattress you sleep on. The following are some common changes in lifestyle that could benefit from a new mattress:
New Partner
Several studies continue to examine the relationship between couples who sleep together versus couples who sleep separately. Generally, partners who sleep together experience better sleep, so having a mattress both of you can enjoy is a good way to ensure the happiness lasts night after night.
Considerable Change in Weight
The body naturally fluctuates in weight, but that doesn’t mean you should have to experience discomfort because of that. Depending on your individual weight, size, and lifestyle, you can purchase a new mattress that delivers the proper comfort-level your body needs.
Changes in Health
While spending a prolonged amount of time in bed is bad for anyone, medical reasons might make it a necessity. However, carrying out recovery on an old mattress can slow down recuperation and even make the process painful.
Discover New and Improved Sleep
Whether you’re looking to upgrade for yourself, as a couple, or as a family, finding the perfect new mattress is easy with our wide catalog of mattresses. Browse, compare, and shop online today to find a new mattress in the comfort level and mattress type that you deserve!
