Because you’d rather sleep on the couch than snuggle into a grimey mattress
A clean and cozy mattress is the key to a good night’s sleep, and knowing how to maintain a mattress is the best way to ensure that’s always possible. Many hours spent sleeping causes your bed to accumulate dust, stains, and damages, greatly reducing the lifespan of your mattress if left unchecked. Routine cleaning sessions and a few protective measures will guarantee it doesn’t fail you prematurely. A well-maintained mattress can last about ten years. Here are nine tips to protect and maintain a mattre
Placing your mattress on a solid foundation prevents sagging by ensuring that weight remains evenly distributed. When looking into your options, keep in mind the support system that you choose should be strong enough to handle the mass of your mattress and the people sleeping on it.
Slatted bed frames are often enough to reinforce the weight of smaller twin and full-size mattresses, but box springs will do a better job of protecting heavier queen and king sizes. Some very heavy options may even need additional support from a bed frame with additional legs in the center.
A mattress protector is a water-resistant layer of fabric that’s designed to serve as extra defense from bodily fluids and mildew. Most mattress manufacturers include a standard protector with every purchase, but you can also seek out specialty options depending on your needs. If you live in a place where bed bugs are common, like a city, airtight mattress encasements will do a better job of warding them off.
Even the best-built beds will start to sag if you sleep in the same spot every night. But occasionally flipping your mattress upside down is a great way to ensure that doesn’t happen so quickly.
How often you need to rotate your mattress will depend on how old it is, what it’s made from, and how it was made. Newer latex, foam, and innerspring mattresses need at most one or two flips a year, whereas older mattresses may need to be turned as much as every few months. When your bed is no longer as comfortable as it once was, that’s your sign to flip.
Of course, not all mattresses are designed to be flipped. Some feature specialized comfort and support zones that won’t function as intended if turned in the wrong direction. When in doubt, check the manufacturer’s website to find out what’s best for your bed.
Mattresses are much more delicate than they appear. Handle them with care whether you’re moving to a new home or simply switching your bedroom. Always use a mattress cover to prevent unwanted mishaps during transportation, and carry it as you would your most fragile belongings to keep the structure intact.
Sleeping on clean sheets is both one of life’s greatest pleasures and an easy way to maintain the integrity of your mattress for years to come. Changing your bed sheets just once a week is more than enough to reduce dead skin buildup and minimize the risk of dust mites. To completely eradicate dust mites, wash your sheets at 130 degrees or higher
Add a monthly mattress vacuuming session to your to-do list to keep dust mites at bay permanently. Eczema, allergies, and asthma attacks are all signs that this may be the reason why you can’t get a comfortable night of sleep.
Keeping your mattress dry is the secret to preventing mold and mildew development. Fight the urge to spray your mattress with a fabric freshener because this will only do more harm than good.
Instead, let your bed air out every morning after waking up, even if it doesn’t seem all that wet. Remove your comforter and top sheets and open a window to better allow air to circulate and evaporate any moisture from residual bodily fluids. By the time you’re finished getting ready for the day, your bed will be fresh and ready to be made.
As tempting as it is to have a midnight snack or curl up with your furry friend in bed, these are both big no-nos for maintaining the cleanliness of your mattress. Crumbs and fur have a tendency to slip past detection and into the crevices of our bed springs where they can’t easily be removed.
Because most mattress stains occur while we sleep, we often don’t have enough time to clean them while they’re still fresh and easy to clean. Fortunately, almost every type of stain can be eliminated with something you probably already have in your house.
For urine, blood, and sweat stains, start by blotting each spot to remove as much moisture as possible. Then, apply a small amount of hydrogen peroxide and let it soak for five minutes. Blot that dry, cover with baking soda, and allow it to dry off for several hours. You may need to repeat this process several times for tough stains.
Keep your warranty in a safe place. Many manufacturers provide mattress repairs free of charge with a valid warranty. If your warranty has expired or the damage incurred doesn’t meet the terms of your agreement, it might be time to part ways with your mattress and start looking for a new one.
Hire a professional mattress cleaner. Even if you never skip a cleaning session, there are parts of your mattress that trap dirt and are too difficult for non-professionals to reach. If it seems like no amount of additional chores is making your mattress any cleaner, it might be time to seek out a professional mattress cleaner in your area.
Replace the box spring when the foundation starts to sag. If flipping your mattress is no longer enough to restore the comfort of your mattress, it may be time to invest in a new box spring.
Reinforce your bed frame with plywood for extra support. Take this step as a last resort when neither a new box spring nor repairs has provided any relief.
Know when to buy a new mattress. If your mattress is still uncomfortable after all of these tricks, and it’s no longer eligible for repairs, it’s time to start looking into new options. Most mattresses will last for around 10 years with proper care and maintenance.
