Given that we spend around a third of our lives asleep, it makes sense to want the time spent in bed to be as comfortable and relaxing an experience as possible. The key to achieving that wonderful night’s sleep is a high quality, hand made mattress.

If you’re wondering how often you should change your mattress, we’re afraid there is no definitive answer. The regularity at which a mattress will need to be replaced will depend on a number of factors. Whilst no mattress will last forever, a high quality bespoke pocket sprung mattress will certainly provide far more years of restful, quality sleep, than a cheaper foam or sprung alternative. 

Typically we would recommend, due to reasons of hygiene, you consider replacing your mattresses every eight to ten years – by this time it will have received close to 29,000 hours of use. For certain models in our range, the high quality spring unit used means that even after this period of time has elapsed, although the fillings will need replacing, the core of the mattress will continue to provide an excellent level of support. On request we can strip the mattress down, replace the fillings and upholstery, and return the mattress to you for many more restful years of slumber. 

Given that outside of hygiene there is no prescribed period of time at which you should replace your mattress, are there any tell tale signs which can help guide you? 

Knowing when it’s time to change your mattress

The best way of establishing whether or not it is time to change your mattress is by asking yourself how you feel when you wake up every morning. 

If you wake up with unexplainable aches and pains, or get a better night’s sleep when you stay at a relatives or a hotel, there is a good chance that your mattress is no longer providing the necessary level of support. A pocket sprung mattress in excellent condition will hold your body in its natural position, ensuring the lumbar curve of your spine is maintained, and that your body takes a shape similar to that of a good standing posture. This is achieved whilst sleeping on our pocket sprung mattresses because each individual spring can move independently when pressure is exerted upon it, enabling the mattress to conform to the shape of your body.

When a mattress can no longer provide this level of intricate support (or perhaps it never did) your body has to work so much harder throughout the night to keep you comfortable. Your muscles are constantly being pulled by your rib cage and spine and so are never truly able to relax and instead stay taut. It is this action which results in those mysterious morning aches and pains. 

Over time, a mattress becomes less supportive as the springs which make up the mattresses core begin to loose their tension. This makes the springs less responsive to subtle changes in pressure and so less effective at supporting effectively each and every contour of your body.    

If you’re struggling to get to sleep because you can’t get comfortable, you toss or turn constantly, or find yourself waking up several times during the night, this could be an indication that your mattress is sagging and no longer able to support you correctly. 

Looking after your mattress

You can help your mattress last for longer by rotating and turning it on a regular basis. This process is essential in a high quality pocket sprung mattress with natural fillings such as ours. Regular turning helps the mattress fillings to settle evenly across the bed, and ensures that all the pocketed springs get similar levels of use, helping prevent certain areas of the mattress wearing out prematurely leading to a ‘sagging effect’. Our advice is to rotate and flip your mattress every month for the first six months and then once a season thereafter. This will help your mattress springs get even use and ensure maximum mattress life.

Finally be wary of mattresses being advertised as ‘one sided’ or ‘no turn’. Although the prospect of not having the turn a mattress may be appealing, describing a mattress as such is a marketing ploy which in the long run will see you have to replace your mattress more regularly. All quality mattresses should be turned and the reality of a “no turn” mattress is that you are in fact only purchasing half a mattress. Being non turn will mean the springs, fillings and other components within the mattress on the side you sleep on will get twice as much use as those received by a double sided mattress. It will sag quickly and wear out prematurely.

With all these factors to consider, it can sometimes help to speak to an expert. Get in touch with The Odd Mattress Company today to see how we can help you find your perfect new mattress.