Your mattress is the single most used item in your home. Over the course of its life, it’s responsible for accommodating thousands of nights of sleep, and will likely be one of your favourite things to come home to. But no matter how much you love your mattress, it does has a finite lifespan, and will need to be replaced at some point.
So how do you know when it’s time to get rid of your old mattress?
To help you sleep easier, we’ve put together this expert guide on:
- When to replace your mattress
- How to dispose of your old mattress
- How to choose a new mattress
- How to care for your new mattress.
How often do I need to buy a new mattress?
According to The Better Sleep Council, a mattress will generally have a lifespan of 7-10 years. Many of our mattresses at Amart Furniture, including our Orthokinetic range, even have a 10-year warranty - but how long a mattress lasts will vary, and how often it needs to be replaced can be influenced by factors such as:
- The quality of the mattress
- How often it’s used
- Changes in the user’s body.
Outside this general life expectancy, it can be tough to know when to say goodbye to your mattress, as it may not be showing any obvious signs that it has outlived its lifespan.
Signs It’s Time to Change Your Mattress
A few warning signs it’s time to retire your mattress might include:
- Waking up in pain – If you’re waking up to aches and pains in your neck, shoulders, and back, it might be time to find a more supportive mattress. Mattresses can lose support over time. This can also be a sign it’s time to look at which level of firmness best supports your body.
- Lumps and sags – If your mattress is showing signs of wear through lumps, sags, and deep body impressions, you should consider replacing it.
- Allergy symptoms – Many mattresses can accumulate household allergens. Over time, these can build up and trigger allergy and asthma symptoms.
- Age – Your body changes as you age, and a mattress that provided support and comfort 7 years ago may not be suitable to your sleeping needs now. If your mattress is over 7 years old, you should think about replacing it.
How to Get Rid of Your Old Mattress
Once you’ve decided to upgrade your old mattress, you’ll likely want it out of your house as soon as possible. A great way to dispose of your mattress responsibly is to recycle it.
How to Recycle Your Old Mattress
Recycling your mattress is the perfect way to get it off your hands without contributing to wasteful landfill. When you recycle your mattress, it can either be:
- Cleaned and donated to charity for reuse
- Stripped for its materials (timber, spring, foam) to create other products.
There are a few options for recycling your mattress, including:
- Place your mattress on the kerb for kerbside collection
- Take your mattress to a mattress recycling centre
- Have your mattress collected by a mattress removal service.
Kerbside Collection
If you’d like to check your local kerbside collection dates or book your own date for collection, check out the relevant link below:
Mattress Recycling Centre
Mattress recycling centres are dedicated to reusing mattresses and/or their parts to reduce landfill. If you have a ute or trailer, you can take your old mattress to a recycling centre and have it off your hands (and off your lawn) sooner.
Find your nearest mattress recycling centre here.
How to Choose a New Mattress
Everyone’s sleep needs are different, and choosing a mattress should take careful consideration. If you choose a mattress that doesn’t offer the right support, you could be paying for it with aches and pains each morning. This won’t just affect your sleep – it could also lead to bigger issues like long-term back pain, joint soreness, and poor posture.
A few important things to consider when choosing a new mattress include:
- Your sleeping position (back, stomach, side, or a combination)
- Whether you prefer a soft, medium, or firm mattress
- The kind of material you prefer.
Sleeping Position and Mattress Firmness
Your sleeping position should play a large role in choosing which mattress best supports your body.
Side sleepers will often find a softer mattress the most comfortable, as this extra softness cushions the shoulders and hips to reduce the risk of pain to these pressure points.
Stomach sleepers need more support to prevent the spine from curving incorrectly. This can cause the most tension on the back and neck, making this position the worst for back pain.
Back sleepers need a mattress that is firm enough to support them, but soft enough to contour the shape of the body, making a medium-firm mattress ideal.
Combination sleepers will be comfortable on a mattress that conforms to the shape of their body, no matter their position. A memory foam mattress may be best in this case.
Mattress Materials
Mattresses are available in a wide range of materials, and all these options can make things confusing. Here’s what you need to know about the most common mattress materials:
Memory foam – Relieves body aches and pains by conforming to the natural contours of the body. This temperature-sensitive material adjusts to the sleeper’s body heat for optimum comfort. Memory foam is also known to help relieve allergy symptoms, as the material prevents pesky dust mites.
Gel-infused memory foam – All the advantages of memory foam while providing a cooler sleeping surface. Gel-infused memory foam allows for better airflow, drawing heat away from the body more effectively.
Latex foam – Latex foam mattresses promote natural spine alignment and pressure point relief.
Bamboo latex foam – Natural latex is naturally resistant to dust mites, mould, and bacteria, making bamboo latex foam mattresses a great option for those prone to allergies and asthma.
You’ll also find mattresses that combine materials for the ultimate comfort technology. The most important thing when selecting a new mattress is to try before you buy.
How to Care for Your New Mattress
Once you’ve found your new mattress, you’ll want to ensure it stays in top condition to make it to that 7-10-year mark. Follow these tips to enjoy your new mattress for as long as you can:
Do:
- Rotate your mattress every few months to distribute weight evenly and avoid lumps and bumps. If your mattress is double-sided, flip it every few months, too.
- Clean your mattress every few months with your vacuum cleaner upholstery attachment. You can also try a dilution of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda in a spray bottle to remove stains and smells (test on a small area first as this can bleach colours). Annual steam-cleaning is also a great way to deep-clean your mattress and kill any nasty dust mites and bacteria.
- Use a mattress protector to prevent stains and dust mites from reaching your mattress in the first place.
Don’t:
- Sit on the edge of your mattress, as this can cause sagging.
- Allow your mattress to get wet, as this can lead to mould and bacteria.
- Jump on your mattress – for obvious reasons.
With a little TLC, your new mattress should provide 7-10 years of restful sleep.
Find your perfect new mattress in store or Mattresses with Amart Furniture today!
