5 Signs When You Should Get A New Mattress

5 Signs Showing That You Should Get A New Mattress

Beds are often one of the largest pieces of furniture in the house, and we spend a good amount of time on them as well – sometimes even preferring to watch entertainment there instead of the couch. However, we tend to forget that there are two components to the bed, and neglect the condition of the mattress until we realise – we’re having trouble sleeping.

The Sleep Foundation recommends six to eight years as a guide on how often to change mattresses, but the actual lifespan of a mattress can differ greatly based on the make and usage.

For example, innerspring mattresses (especially those with heat-treated coils) can last up to 10 years, but only if you are diligent and flip it over enough times during their lifespan. Low-quality foam can deteriorate much faster, which is why certain mattress-in-a-box models are showing wear earlier in the game than a regular hybrid model. And as mentioned, if you binge on Netflix from your bed, the extended use accelerates its wear.

An old mattress can affect our health in many ways: From body sores and headaches to chronic lack of sleep that has been linked to medical conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and shortened life expectancy – so why take that risk?

Rather than trying to determine how often to change your mattress or wait until you are having trouble sleeping, here are some clear signs that it’s time to buy a new mattress.

 

1. There’s obvious sag

Sometimes the signs are obvious. If you discover portions of the mattress dipping even when there’s no weight placed on it, it’s time to change out.

The key role of the mattress is to support the body and keep your spine aligned during your sleep. To do this, mattress manufacturers have traditionally used coils, foam or latex to offer that support. In most premium models, a combination of these materials is used to create a more intelligent system of support, tapping on each of their strengths.

With the stress of use from our body weight, these systems start to lose their original structure, and their functions start to deteriorate. Foams condense and springs weaken, and if you use the bed for other purposes, your extended pressure (say at the head area when you prop yourself up to watch a movie) can impact key support areas.

Check for this every quarter or half a year by running your hands over the surface to feel for sagging, and any depression more than 2cm is a sign that it’s time.

 

2. You wake up feeling tired and/or with aches

The body knows. If you’re waking up with these symptoms, especially if you’ve clocked eight hours of sleep, it’s likely that your mattress support is broken internally without visual surface indications.

Similar to the previous sign, a mattress can lose that support over time but not manifest it visually when there’s no weight on it. Only when you sleep will the lack of support show itself, either by dipping further than it should or not providing the level of resistance needed to support the areas.

Side sleepers will be particularly susceptible to this and feel it more due to the larger difference in physical contours in areas such as the waist and hips or shoulder area. But regardless of the position, if you’re waking groggy, it is also best to consider a change.

 

3. You notice a change in your sleeping habits

Perhaps you find it difficult to get to sleep, or maybe you’re waking up more in the middle of the night? Sometimes the beginnings of a deteriorating old mattress are more subtle but can be felt nonetheless from the discomfort it causes. The tenuous shift can be the core materials losing their support capabilities, but it could also be about material deterioration losing their benefits.

For example, foam mattresses often compact themselves over time, reducing airflow within the mattress and causing the sleeper to feel warmer. This can also happen to speciality lining or toppers with a cooling feature that has degraded over time.   

While it is important to take note that personal life changes, such as one pregnancy, weight change, and even environmental changes (like an old bed in a new home) might be reasons for this, if all things being equal, it is time to shop for a new mattress.

 

4. You’re sniffling a lot when you spend time on the bed

Are you waking up to the sniffles? Or do they also happen after you’ve been lying in bed for a while? Then, you might have a problem with accumulated allergens in an old mattress.

The American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology estimates that between 10% to 30% of the world population is affected by allergic rhinitis, and the mattress is, unfortunately, a hotbed for collecting dust mite allergens, mould spores and even pet dander. Though one can vacuum and even have a regularly-cleaned mattress topper, really old mattresses hold the allergens deep inside the core, and for creatures like dust mites, are the perfect habitat. For those with dust mite allergies, this will be a longstanding problem.

Even slight movement can disturb the particles and toss them up in the air, so if your nose is acting up often when in bed, it’s a sure sign to replace your old mattress.

 

5. Squeaky beds and loose threads

Audible signals matter as well. If your bed is squeaking or creaking when you turn in bed, it is a sign that the mattress is getting old. This happens with innerspring mattresses because the internal coils lose their bounce, and other than a sign that you’re losing support, noise can also disturb and make for interrupted sleep. 

If you notice tears, rips or items poking out from the mattress, it’s also time to swap out. Quality mattresses often feature a complex network of support systems within, and any breakage may unbuckle the entire structure and you wouldn’t want to be sleeping on it when that happens.

Bonus tip: If you ever go for a staycation and find yourself sleeping much better there, it’s likely your mattress is no longer serving you well. Consider it an upgrade and head to your sleep professionals to find your ideal mattress. Your body will thank you for it.

With a broad portfolio of mattresses with high-quality makes, LMG will replace your old mattress with a new and ideal one to elevate your sleep experience.

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