For some mattresses, it’s pretty clear when their time on this earth has wound down to a dingy, lump-ridden end. The valley forming in the middle, the busted spring poking out from the side (How many pairs of pajamas will you sacrifice to that spring?), it only takes a few painful nights to be sure.
But for less, we’ll say “experienced” mattresses, how do you know when the time to replace has come?
Let’s start with the easiest tell—how long have you had your mattress? Some chains will preach that you must replace your mattress every 8 years, others will say 10, some will claim their mattresses last for 25 years. With so much conflicting information, it can be tricky to determine what the lifespan of your mattress really is.
We’ve found that a mattress should probably be rotated out every decade or so. You spend a lot of time with your mattress and 10 years is probably a good standard for purchasing a new one, despite that lifetime warranty. Between dust mites and dead skin cells, your mattress puts up with a lot from you and could use a refresh. Of course, utilizing protective covers will help extend the life of your mattress, as will regularly spot-treating any spills or accidents over time. Rotating your mattress may also help grant it a few more years, depending on the type of mattress you sleep on. Click here to learn more about when to flip your mattress.
Another painfully obvious tell is how you feel in the morning. If you’re waking up stiff and sore or climbing out of a valley that rivals the Grand Canyon, it’s time. An unsupportive mattress can lead to all kinds of pains and trouble, so you don’t want to push your mattress, or your body, beyond its limits. That lower back pain you're ignoring? That burning in your neck when you stretch your self awake? All good reasons to get something new.
If you find yourself opting for the couch in the living room over your bed, you're definitely ready to move on.
The last warning sign is perhaps so subtle you may not even be aware that you’re doing it. If you find yourself doctoring up your sleep situation, it’s time to lay your old mattress to rest. Ordering expensive toppers and a new pillow every other month simply isn’t a sustainable way to get the rest you need. It’s a lot like asking your friend to hold up the back window on your first car when you go over a speed bump—it keeps the glass from falling but are either of you really comfortable with where you’ve found yourselves?
If any of these things are starting to creep into your bedtime ritual, it’s likely time to find a better setup.
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