Conventional wisdom says that you should buy a new mattress every 5-10 years. However, it’s not quite as simple as that. There are plenty of mattresses out there that are over 10 years old and still sleep perfectly well. By the same token, there are mattresses that aren’t yet 5 years old and have already degraded to such a level that they no longer provide the support and comfort needed for restful sleep.
Instead of simply using a benchmark of 5-10 years to replace your mattress, Sleepopolis recommends asking yourself the following questions.
Analyze your Sleep
Are you waking up sore? Stiff? Or with back pain? These are all signs that it could be time to change your mattress. Over time the structural integrity of the support and comfort materials can degrade, resulting in a gradual decline in how the mattress sleeps. If you’re waking up with pain (especially if you don’t go to sleep with it) then it’s time to consider changing your mattress.
All that said, even if your mattress is newer and not degraded. If you’re not sleeping well on it then it may be time to make a change. You spend too much of your life on a mattress to spend it in pain. There are many affordable mattresses (especially online) that you can order without breaking the bank. Take a tour of our most popular mattress reviews here.
Mattress Wear & Tear
Remove your sheets, mattress pad, protector, and any other layers between you and the mattress. Spend a few minutes really looking at the mattress. Is it showing signs of wear and tear? Is it lumpy? Is it sagging in the middle or where you and your partner sleep? Does it look damaged or degraded? All of these are definite signs it’s time to change your mattress. The degrading materials will almost certainly impact how the mattress sleeps.
Your Partner’s Sleep
If you sleep with a partner, how are they sleeping? If your partner is sleeping poorly chances are high that their constant tossing and turning is effecting your sleep, perhaps more than you even realize. If one person in a couple is sleeping poorly, it is almost guaranteed to effect the other partner as well. Do you and your partner a favor and change your mattress.
You Sleep Better Away
Do you find that your sleep in a hotel bed or other bed outside of your own home is significantly better? This could indicate that your mattress at home just isn’t getting the job done. If you sleep better out then you do at home this is a sure sign that you may want to change your mattress.
Your Mattress is 5 or More Years Old
While this isn’t the only criteria to use when deciding how often you should change your mattress, it’s still an important one. If you’ve had your mattress for at least 5 years it’s recommended you start monitoring its health more regularly. You should ask yourself all of the above questions at least once every 6-12 months. If your mattress isn’t allowing you to rest, it’s degrading, or it’s effecting your partner’s sleep it could be time change your mattress.
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Moreover, you can also look for signs like the mattress getting saggy. You start to suffer from body stiffness, or you experience sudden gain in weight. Old mattress might also includes substances such as dust mite feces that can cause allergies and asthma.