What can you do to make sure that your new (or old) mattress stays as comfortable as possible?
Yes, even latex mattresses eventually sag. And if you sleep on your mattress frequently, there will be the inevitable build up of dead skin cells and dust – which in turn attracts dust mites and other gross things.
So, pay attention to these tips and you’ll be able to use your mattress for many years!
How To Prolong The Life Of Your Mattress
With the price of mattresses and how hard it is to get rid of an old mattress, it’s worth the effort to maintain and care for your existing mattress.
Especially if you just bought the best mattress in Malaysia for a hefty sum!
1. Use A Mattress Protector
A mattress protector is an easy and inexpensive way to make sure you keep your new mattress free from stains and give it a little more protection against accidental spills!
There are waterproof mattress protectors for this reason.
But mattress protectors also protect the mattress from you and all your dead skin cells, oils, bodily fluids, etc as well as dust and dirt! Bed bugs too, to some extent.
Plus, mattress protectors are a whole lot easier to clean than a mattress. As many are machine-washable.
2. Address Spills Immediately
As you might already know, it’s not that easy to remove a blood stain from a mattress. And therefore, you should jump into action right away.
Even if the spillage is just water.
Because letting any liquids soak your mattress could spell the beginning of mildew.
3. Rotate Your Mattress
There is a reason why many sleep experts advise doing this. Especially if you only tend to sleep on one side of the bed! Or share your bed with a heavier sleeping partner!
Otherwise, you risk having the mattress sag in one area in the future. Rotating a mattress helps even out the eventual wear and tear of the mattress.
Make it a point to rotate your mattress 180 degrees every 2 to 6 months. And it is important to do for this new mattresses in the first few years even if the manufacturer claims otherwise.
Furthermore, this is particularly true for spring mattresses.
4. Vacuum Your Mattress
Don’t let the dead skin cells and dust accumulate as this will attract dust mites! Use a dust mite vacuum for this purpose – they are a lot more effective than a regular vacuum cleaner.
You can do this every time you change the sheets.
5. Sun Your Mattress
We have a separate post all about how to sun your mattress, how often you should do it and why you should do it in the first place.
6. Air Our Your Mattress
Keep the mattress in a well-ventilated room. Have the fan on or open the windows when it’s time to change the sheets (don’t put fresh ones on immediately).
Good ventilation will deter mould from growing on (and in) your mattress (yuck!).
7. Flip Your Mattress
This only applies to dual sided mattresses. They may also be called flippable mattresses.
And there are not many in the market but if your mattress is a dual sided mattress, then you should be flipping it over once in a while.
More so if it’s a spring mattress!
8. Change The Sheets Regularly
We almost didn’t include this but you really should be changing the sheets and washing them every 2 weeks if you can manage.
Dirty sweat-soaked sheets are a breeding ground for bacteria and you don’t want all that to seep into the mattress!
If you have dust allergies, eat in bed, or let your pets onto the bed, that’s all the more reason to wash the sheets on a regular basis!
PS: Time to get your pets their own bed and to stop eating in bed.
9. Deep Clean The Mattress
If your mattress is nearing its warranty end (8 to 10 years) but still feels comfortable, you owe it to yourself (and whoever else is sleeping on the mattress) to have the mattress properly cleaned at least once.
The recommended frequency to clean your mattress is actually twice a year.
That means it might be time to look up a trustworthy mattress cleaning service in Malaysia.
But if you rather clean the mattress yourself, read the care instructions carefully first. You might need a steam cleaner for this job.
10. No Jumping
It might be a bummer for the kids but beds are not in fact, trampolines for releasing excess energy.
Jumping will wear out the mattress quickly. It weakens the edge support and might even break springs (or bed frame) and in an uneven manner too.
11. Prevent Bed Bugs
Be careful where you choose to stay when on vacations. You do not want to bring bed bugs home. Not only will they bite you and cause you restless sleep, but they are extremely difficult to eliminate entirely.
One way to make sure they never get to your mattress is to use a bed bug-proof mattress cover (with zips) that fully encases the whole of the mattress.
12. Use The Right Bed Frame
Bed frames make it more comfortable to get on your bed. But there is another purpose to them. Having a bedframe ensures that the underside of the mattress gets ventilation.
And you’ll be further away from dust on the floor while you’re sleeping if your mattress is on top of a bed frame.
Do make sure that the bed frame is rated for the weight of your mattress! King-sized beds should have extra legs in the center for additional support!
13. Layer On A Mattress Topper
When all else fails, you can put a mattress topper of substantial thickness on top of your mattress. A mattress topper can make an old mattress more comfortable – at least until you manage to replace it.
Note: This won’t work for mattresses that have heavy sagging in the middle.
Let’s get it straight though – a mattress topper is not the same as a mattress protector although their functions can overlap.
Conclusion
And there you have it! These are the golden rules on how to prolong the life of a mattress for as long as possible!
This will save your back, your money and the pain of having to choose a mattress. But if your mattress is nearing the 10-year mark, be extra alert for when it is time to change your mattress.
