The mattress we use in our bedroom is one of the most important purchases we’ll make. It’s also one of the more expensive household items. As a result, it pays to look for ways to make your mattress last as long as possible.
Proper care saves us money since we don’t have to replace the mattress as often. Plus, a product that stays in good condition will help us sleep more soundly and improve our productivity to boot. Here’s what you can do to extend the life of your bedroom mattress today and in the future.
Buy a Quality Product
You’ll end up with a mattress that lasts well if you buy a quality product to start with. Choose a mattress from a brand known for making durable goods. Check out reviews and testimonials for information about this. For example, read forums, magazines, and social media posts.
Often, a sustainable mattress made from less chemical-laden materials can do well longevity-wise, as can something manufactured in smaller batches or from generally higher-quality materials.
Support the Mattress Appropriately
Once you get your mattress home, you can help it to last well by supporting it appropriately. Mattresses need to stay in good shape by lying on a solid base. This base will prevent them from sagging, bending, collapsing, or wearing unevenly over the years. Plus, put your mattress on a suitable base so there’s enough air flowing underneath the product to keep it dry and less likely to attract dust mites and other bugs.
Always pick a decent base designed for the type of mattress you own. A slatted frame tends to be the most common option, but there are others. Check your bed frame each year to ensure the slats are in place and that there’s no visible breakage, weakness, sagging, or cracks happening with the base that could cause issues for your mattress.
Clean Your Mattress
It’s crucial to clean your mattress, too. You likely strip your bed and wash the bedding every week or fortnight, but do you also clean your mattress occasionally while you’re at it? If not, it’s time to get into this habit. You want to let the mattress breathe and air. Once a quarter, vacuum the top and sides of your mattress and clean it underneath. Focus on the seams of the product and any other spots where dust and mites are more likely to hide.
A related tip is to clean your mattress protector, sheets, comforter, blanket, and the like regularly too. Doing this will reduce the amount of “muck” that gets down through the layers and onto your mattress.
Keep Pets and Food Away
Another longevity tip for your mattress is to protect it from pets and food and drink. We love having our dogs or cats and other pets snuggle up with us in the bed or under it, but this situation isn’t doing our mattresses any good. Animals drop hair, dirt, saliva, bacteria, and so on, while their claws can rip through or weaken fabrics. Pets attract insects and dust mites, too. As such, try to keep your beloved pets out of the bedroom where possible.
Also, limit the number of times you eat or drink on or near your bed. Spills and crumbs, etc., can permeate down to the mattress and cause it to wear out sooner.
Use a Mattress Protector
Consider buying a mattress protector for your bed if you don’t currently use one. These products help to keep mattresses cleaner and newer looking for longer. They also help promote a longer life for your mattress by providing a barrier against hair, sweat, bacteria, dry skin, dirt, and much more. By keeping debris away, mattress protectors help our beds to stay fresher and drier. They develop less build-up of allergens, dust mites, mildew, and mold as a result.
Say No to Jumping
Lastly, if you have young kids who love nothing more than waking you up of a morning by jumping on the bed or who get a giggle out of playing and romping about on the mattress, it pays to train them to stop. It might
be fun (even for adults!), but this additional pressure and strain can damage bedsprings. Too much jumping can significantly reduce the longevity of your mattress.
As you can see, multiple elements affect how long we get to use our mattresses and how long they’re in decent condition. Take steps today to help extend the life of your bed, and your body and bank balance will thank you for it.
