Want better sleep? Don’t ignore these 9 signs you need a new mattress.
Your Mattress is Saggy, Lumpy, Stained, or Torn
Clear signs of wear and tear on your mattress is a pretty good sign that you need to replace your mattress soon. Whether it’s a saggy indentation in the shape of your body, a lumpy spot you notice when your roll over, a large stain that’s growing in the bottom corner, a spring you feel when you toss and turn, rips, tears, or holes, any obvious damage to your bed indicates that it’s time to start mattress shopping.
Your Memory Foam Mattress Doesn’t Spring Back When You Stand Up
While memory foam should “remember” your general shape and sleeping position, the foam shouldn’t still be showing your indentation hours after you’ve gotten out of bed. Once you stand up, it should only take a minute or so for it to pop back out. If you’re still seeing the indentation when you get back into bed at night, that means the cellular structure of the memory foam has broken down and you’re no longer getting the support you need for a good night’s sleep.
You’re Not Getting a Good Night’s Sleep
Not all sleep problems are directly related to your mattress, but if you used to sleep well and now find yourself tossing, turning, or waking up feeling exhausted, your mattress could be to blame. If you’re not sure if your sleeping problems are related to your mattress, you might try sleeping on a different bed for a night.
You Sleep Better Elsewhere
Because we tend to sleep in our beds almost every night, it can be hard to track the changes that happen to your mattress over time. But if you sleep better on work trips or when you’re staying with family or friends, that could be one of the signs you need a new mattress. While there are plenty of external factors that could be influencing your sleep—it’s certainly easier to sleep when your toddler isn’t kicking you or crying out in the middle of the night—sleeping better elsewhere could point to the need for a new mattress.
You Wake Up Sore
As we get older, aches and pains become a regular part of our life. But if you’re waking up every day with pain in your neck, shoulders, lower back, or hips, your mattress might not be providing the support you need. Because there are many other things that could be contributing to your aches and pain, you may want to look for other signs of mattress wear and tear to see if support might be the culprit. If you have a memory foam mattress, for example, check to see if it’s expanding back to its normal shape after you stand up. If you have an innerspring or hybrid mattress, check for lumps, bumps, or the “hammocking effect” which makes it feel like you roll to the center of your mattress when you lay down.
Your Innerspring Mattress Squeaks and Creaks
Does your mattress squeak or creak when you or your spouse roll over? This is one of the signs you may need a new mattress. A noisy mattress suggests that the springs are starting to break down. As they continue to break down, they’ll become less springy, less supportive, and less comfortable in general, which means it might be best to upgrade. Just make sure that the noise is coming from your mattress and not the box spring, as mattress foundations are also subject to deterioration and tend to be more affordable to replace.
Your Health or Sleep Habits Have Changed
Whether you’ve started snoring or you’ve developed arthritis, acid reflux, sleep apnea, back pain, or poor circulation, a new mattress could help alleviate some of your unpleasant symptoms. A compatible mattress on an adjustable base bed, for example, allows you to adjust the angle of your head and feet for pressure relief, snoring prevention, acid reflux reduction, and improved blood circulation. Some adjustable base beds even have heat and massage capabilities for pain relief.
Your Allergies are Acting Up
Did you know that mattresses tend to have the highest concentration of dust mites of any item in your house? If your allergies have been acting up more than usual, your mattress could be the culprit. While good sleep hygiene and mattress maintenance can help prevent this from happening, it’s not unusual for mattresses to contain dust mites, dust mite feces, mold, bacteria, and other allergens that can upset your allergies or asthma. So, if cleaning your mattress and utilizing a hypoallergenic mattress cover doesn’t help, it might be time for a new mattress.
Your Mattress is Over 8 Years Old
Like cars, mattresses aren’t designed to last a lifetime. While different types of mattresses have different lifespan, having a mattress over 8 years old could mean it’s time to start considering a new mattress. Not only do the materials start to deteriorate over time, but your lifestyle changes a lot in eight years. You’ll likely have different needs and desires motivating your mattress choices than you did the last time you bought a mattress. If your bed is displaying any of these signs you need a new mattress, you’ll want to start mattress shopping as soon as possible. At Star Furniture, not only have we revolutionized the mattress buying experience, but we have a huge selection of high-quality mattresses for you to choose from. In the meantime, check out our mattress blog where we answer all your mattress questions: from what size mattress do I need to how to break in a new mattress.