How do I know when it is time to change my mattress?

Manufacturers will usually say that your mattress should last for between 6 and 8 years, which is a fair assessment, although you can prolong the life of your mattress by taking good care of it. Likewise, you can shorten the life of your mattress if you don’t. Here is my quick guide to things you need to beware of when considering if it is time to change your mattress.

1. First of all, be honest, how well have you looked after your mattress? If it is a sprung mattress have you been turning it periodically? Do you air it regularly? If it has a removable cover have you been taking this off and washing it? If you haven’t been taking these simple steps towards looking after your mattress then, unfortunately, you are going to need a new mattress sooner than you think! Signs to look out for are whether you can feel the springs, is there a groove where you sleep? If you haven’t been airing your mattress then it may start to smell a bit stale. All these are signs it is time to get a new mattress before it gets any worse.
2. You will probably know when it is time to change your mattress but what about your children’s mattresses? They might not necessarily tell you that their mattress isn’t as comfortable as it once was. It is so important for children to get a good night’s sleep that having a good mattress is imperative, so keep an eye on their mattress and make sure you check it for wear and tear.
3. Likewise with guest beds, although they may not get slept on anywhere near as often as your bed they will still not last indefinitely. Mattresses don’t need to be slept on to deteriorate. You still need to air them and you don’t want guests to stay and have an unpleasant night’s sleep! Make sure you check these mattresses regularly and consider how long they may have been sitting there unused.
4. Changing your sleeping habits will also affect your mattress. If you have gone from sleeping alone to sleeping with a partner recently, but are still using the same mattress you had when enjoying the single life then the mattress will be having stress applied to it that it is unused to. Where you may have been spreading out and enjoying the space it will now be having extra weight applied to it in places it didn’t before. So it may be time to consider changing your mattress so that you can both enjoy a more refreshing night’s sleep.
5. If you are getting to the point where you are naturally starting to feel more aches and pains then it is worth considering whether the mattress you are using is the best option for you. If you are starting to experience back pain and aren’t already using an ortho support mattress then you should definitely consider changing your mattress. Sleeping on the correct kind of mattress as you get older can have a massive effect on how much you enjoy your waking hours, with the right mattress you can be more mobile and enjoy your life to the full.

Generally you will know when it is time to change your mattress but the above points are worth considering if you are wondering whether you should change your mattress. The one main thing to realise is that as soon as you start to feel it is time to change, get on and do it. It isn’t going to get any better once you get to this stage so the sooner you change it the better.

If you aren’t sure which mattress to go for once you have decided it is time to change then have a look at this buyer's guide to mattress types.

If you are happy with your current mattress, here are advice for your mattress to last longer.