How To Determine If Your Mattress Is Too Old
When you spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a new mattress, its reasonable to expect that it will last for many years. However, even the most expensive, high-quality mattresses dont last forever, and will eventually need to be replaced.
The question is, how do you determine when a mattress is too old? The answer can depend on the type of mattress you have. For instance, traditional innerspring mattresses typically need to be replaced every eight to 10 years, while latex mattresses can potentially last closer to two decades. Sometimes, its obvious that its time for a new sleeping surface, such as when a spring pops through the fabric.
You dont need to wait until your mattress causes you bodily harm to head to the mattress store, though. There are usually other clear signs that your mattress is too old if you ignore them, you could be putting your sleep and your health at risk.
How To Buy A New Mattress
Buying a new mattress can be challenging. Its almost impossible to tell what it will really feel like simply by lying on it in the store for a few minutes, and making sense of all of your options can be overwhelming. Understanding a few key points about mattresses and how they are made can make the decision easier, though.
These days, traditional innerspring mattresses remain the most popular option, but memory foam mattresses, especially the bed in a box type compressed and shipped directly to your door, are gaining in popularity. Some mattresses are hybrids, combining springs topped with memory foam. Regardless of the type of mattress, though, manufacturers use a standard scale for determining the firmness: soft, medium-firm, and firm. Most use a score to describe the firmness: The lower the number, the softer the mattress.
The majority of mattresses fall into the medium or medium-firm category, with a firmness rating of five to seven. However, that is only part of the equation. You also need to consider other factors, such as your sleeping position, whether you sleep hot , and whether the mattress transfers motion if you sleep with a partner. Ideally, you should test a mattress in a store for at least 20 minutes .
Here Are The Signs Your Mattress Is Too Old
Many people make the mistake of treating mattresses like fine china or family heirlooms. Here’s the thing: this is perfectly normal. The bed is a happy place that most people visit every day, and it’s easy to mix up feelings of comfort with familiarity. Plus, the average person is unlikely to fix something that isn’t broken. There are a number of negative side effects that come with sleeping on a passed-its-shelf life mattress, including health issues.
But how old is too old, you might wonder. Well, the Sleep Foundation Organization states that most mattresses might need to be changed when they hit the 7 to 10-year mark, but lower-quality options could wear out even sooner. If your mattress is more familiar than comfortable, you might just need a new one. Do you think you fall into this category? Here are some signs that indicate that your mattress is too old.
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Your Mattress Is Dirty
Even if you wash your linens, use a mattress protector, and clean the mattress and pillows regularly, you wont be able to get everything. And by everything, we mean a buildup of dead skin cells, body oils and fluids, dust mites, mildew, fungal spores, pollen, and a list of other allergens.
Mattresses have been shown to carry one of the highest concentrations of dust mites. If you or anyone in your house is experiencing allergic reactions, or you just want to be sure youre resting on a sanitary surface, consider getting a new mattress.
You Wake Up Feeling Stiff Or Sore
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This is the most important criteria in deciding when to change your mattress. The manufacturer may claim that your mattress will last 10 years, but if you’re in year 5 and you wake up with tightness or soreness, it’s time to look at a new mattress. The most common areas where people feel tightness or soreness after waking are in the back, hips, and shoulders.
Understand that this is usually a gradual process. Your mattress won’t wear out overnight and the tightness and soreness that you have in the morning will slowly and gradually get worse over time. Be sure to take other factors into consideration, such as your exercise routine. If you just started CrossFit and you’re waking up sore, it may not be your mattress.
Most people who need to change their mattress find that it takes a few hours after they wake up to start feeling loose again. If you’re not sure if your mattress is the culprit, notice how you feel when you wake up after sleeping in a hotel or in a different bed, and not if that mattress is softer or firmer. Or you could take it a step further and do your research and then order a mattress online that offers a risk-free in-home trial.
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The Cost Of Poor Sleep
If you need a new mattress and you don’t want to spend the money, you should look at what sleeping poorly could be costing you. Poor sleep affects so many systems in the body that there can be a serious toll:
- lower productivity at work
- more irritability and moodiness that can negatively affect relationships
- higher risk of anxiety and depression
- lowered self-control resulting in poorer diet and lifestyle
- higher risk of obesity
- higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease
- poorer immune function
- higher rate of inflammation
You could always look at the cost of a mattress broken down over the expected life of the mattress. A memory foam mattress lasts an average of 8-10 years. If you spend $500 on a mattress that will last you 8 years, this breaks down to an average of $62.50/year or $5.20/month. If you committed to buying one less Starbucks coffee every month, you could afford a new mattress.
Myth 6 Buy A Mattress With The Longest Warranty Possible
Mattress warranties do not refer to the life expectation of your purchase. The warranty covers defects in workmanship and materials. Just like many products used with extreme regularity, youll notice wear and tear before you reach the end of the warranty.
When buying a new mattress, read the warranty carefully even though theres very little difference in the terms and conditions of warranties from manufacturer to manufacturer. Its good to note that transportations costs are usually not covered in the case of repair or replacement. As well, a new warranty is normally not issued when the mattress is replaced.
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Signs You Need A New Mattress
Before you look for evidence that your mattress is finished, you should think about how long youve owned it. The average mattress lasts between seven and 10 years, so f it has been over 10 years since you purchased your current mattress, its probably time for an upgrade.
Even if that number is closer to the seven-year mark, it may still be time to purchase a new one. To know if its time to replace your mattress, look for the following signs.
Your Mattress Has A Bad Smell
This may not be the most pleasant thing to consider, but your mattress may just start to smell. This can happen over time as mildew, mold, and fungi build up in the mattress it can happen even more quickly if you live in a humid climate.
If you take a whiff of your mattress and smell some serious must, it might be time to get rid of it.
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You Dont Sleep Comfortably
Mattresses serve one specific purpose for you to sleep. If you cant seem to do this comfortably and only end up with neck aches and back pains, then its not really fulfilling its purpose. No matter how old your mattress is or how nice it still looks, if you cant remember the last time you slept well, you should get a new one.
When To Replace Your Mattress: Here Are 9 Signs
Have you checked your mattress lately? If not, now may be a good time to do so.
Many people use the warranty of their mattress as a guide to determine when its time to replace it. However, what people should know is that the comfort ingredients, on top of your spring core, wear out much sooner than the springs and that sagging or softening of the top layers is considered normal wear by the mattress industry. It doesnt have to be that way.
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Your Sleeping Situation Has Changed
Even if your mattress is still in tip-top shape, it still might be time to get a new mattress. Life can change in an instant, and a mattress just might not fit your new needs.
Pregnancy, weight loss, weight gain, and/or gaining a new sleeping partner could all warrant the purchase of a new mattress. If you discover you have a health condition like arthritis, sciatica, or fibromyalgia, that may also be a cause to find a new mattress with better pressure relief.
How Long Should A Mattress Last
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The life of a mattress depends on how often you use it and how well you take care of it.
If you sleep on your mattress every night, the best case is that it will last seven to 10 years. It could last longer if you dont use it as much or if you use it less frequently.
If youre using one over 10 years old mattress, its time for a replacement. But even if youre within the recommended range, there are good reasons to replace your mattress every seven to 10 years:
- Youll get better support from a new bed. Mattresses can wear out and sag or become lumpy or uneven, and you may notice these changes in the middle or end of your bed, where most people sleep. A new mattress will provide better support for sleeping in any position.
- The new model will be safer for you and your family. Mattress materials have improved dramatically over the last few decades, making them safer and more comfortable. Newer models provide better support for larger people who weigh up to 450 pounds and those who suffer from back pain or sleep apnea.
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How Often Should You Replace A Quality Mattress
How long you can reasonably expect to keep your bed varies depending on who you ask. Mattress manufacturers will tell you once every eight years, but Consumer Reports says a quality bed should last for ten years. Call it paranoia, but it seems like the manufacturers are trying to steer us into replacing our beds more quickly than needed.
How long does a good memory foam mattress last?
As we mentioned above, a quality mattress should last roughly 8-10 years. This rule of thumb generally applies to hybrid mattresses, which can last for ten years . But for a standard memory foam mattress, you should expect it to last about 5-8 years.
Why do some mattresses degrade faster than others?
Larger bed frames without a sufficient frame may insufficiently distribute weight and offer increased strain to springs, as well as other internal materials. When a couple sleeps on a bed, or even if an individual that is heavier occupies a mattress, the added weight will degrade the mattress at a faster rate.
Best Mattress For Back Pain
When it comes to the best mattress for back pain, theres no one-size-fits-all solution. Ultimately, the best mattress for back pain is one that provides you with the perfect mix of softness and support. It relieves pressure points and keeps your spine neutrally aligned.
But heres a reason to justify mattress shopping: Research shows that upgrading to a new mattress is likely to improve your sleep quality no matter what. The same study also showed that people sleeping on the cheapest mattresses saw less pain reduction than those who slept on mid- to higher-priced ones. Quality counts!
When in doubt, upgrading to a high-quality medium-firm mattress could be the best option for easing back pain so youll wake energized and restored.
The Casper Wave Hybrid Mattress with Zoned Support Max provides continuous ergonomic zones with gel pods designed to help give you perfect spinal alignment.
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Why Is My Tempurpedic Mattress Hurting My Back
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Tempurpedic mattresses are some of the most popular and highly rated mattresses on the market. However, many people would ask that Why my tempurpedic mattress hurting my back.
If you are one of those people, this post is for you.
We will explore some of the reasons why your tempurpedic mattress might be hurting your back and offer some tips for solving the issue.
The Average Life Expectancy Of Different Mattress Types
The industry standard for the life expectancy of a mattress is 8 to 10 years. However, this is just an average for all beds, and the actual lifespan of a mattress depends on what type it is.
The construction and materials used in a mattress will be the main determinants of how long it will last, and 8 to 10 years should not be considered a hard and fast rule.
Other external factors will affect how long a mattress lasts, too. In this section, well look at how long you should expect a mattress to last based on its type, and give you the warning signs to look out for that will tell you its probably time to start looking for a new mattress to sleep on.
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If You’re Not Quite Ready For A New Mattress
If you have a few more years left in your mattress, but you could use a little more support, there are a few things you can do, depending on what type of mattress you have.
If your mattress isn’t in too bad condition, there are several things you may be able to do that will give you more time with your current mattress.
Myth 2 A Firm Mattress Is The Best Mattress For Your Back
To minimize pain and discomfort and help your body relax into healing, regenerative sleep, you need a mattress that conforms to your favorite sleeping positions while supporting all areas of your body. Conformability and support are equally important.
In general, mattresses fall into three categories.
- Soft mattresses conform to your shape but fail to deliver uniform support across your entire body.
- Medium firm mattresses deliver equally on conformability and support and alleviate pressure point pain in most people.
- Very firm mattresses offer solid support but little conformability, which can lead to pressure point pain.
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Why Does My Back Hurt On Tempur
There are a few reasons why your back might hurt on Tempur-Pedic. It could be because the mattress is too hard, the mattress is too soft, you have poor posture, or the mattress is too old. To solve the problem, you can try using a mattress topper, sleeping on your side or stomach, improving your posture, or replacing your old mattress.
When A Mattress Topper Can Help
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If your mattress is showing signs of wear but youre not ready or able to replace it just yet, there are some cases when adding a mattress topper can extend the life of your mattress a bit longer, however there are many other cases when this is not a good investment.
In particular, you should consider a topper if your mattress problems are rooted primarily in the loss of pressure relief. Once the upper comfort layers of a mattress have compressed over time, they will no longer provide as much cushioning or pressure relief, which you might experience as pain or tingling in your hips or shoulders. If the underlying support core is still holding up well, then adding a topper can be an effective solution to this problem. Just be mindful that the rest of the mattress will eventually give way too, and factor that into your calculation of whether to invest in extending the life of this mattress or put that money toward a new mattress.
Likewise, loss of comfort due to body impressions is another problem that can not be remedied by a new mattress topper. Though it may seem to have a smoothing effect at first, a topper will soon conform to the shape of the mattress underneath it, leaving you with the same body impressions that you had before.
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Your Mattress Has Indentations
Take all the covers off your mattress and look at where you sleep to see if it’s uneven anywhere. It’s a good idea to rotate your mattress occasionally to even out the wear and tear . If you’re like most people and you don’t rotate your mattress, you may have parts of your mattress that sag.
When you lie in bed do you notice that you seem to fall into a certain spot, or that it’s hard to get out of that spot? The problem with a sagging mattress is that your spine is out of alignment, and it keeps your muscles from relaxing, which will make you sleep poorly.
Mattress warranties usually cover having an indentation of more than 1″ in the mattress.