Important Tips for Mattress Maintenance

Sleeping peacefully requires more effort than simply purchasing the perfect mattress. You need to take good care of your mattress so it can last for years to come. If you care for it properly, you will be sure to get the most out of your investment.

Here are a few important maintenance tips you should follow to extend the life of your mattress!

Use Proper Support

Mattresses need to be paired with a solid foundation to prevent uneven weight distribution, leading to improper spinal alignment and potentially damaging the mattress. When you buy a new mattress, you usually have the option to purchase a box spring to go with the mattress. If you are thinking about skipping the box spring, consider what type of bed you have first. Certain types of beds, such as platform beds and beds with wooden slats, can often be used with no box spring. Newer luxury mattresses like those from Stearns and Foster & Tempur-Pedic can often be quite heavy and require a more substantial box spring than an older mattress. Remember that you will need some platform or support to prevent your mattress from sagging. A mattress without a proper support system won’t be comfortable and won’t last.

Practice Regular Rotation

It’s normal for a mattress to start sagging or develop permanent indentations in the places where sleepers usually lie. To evenly break in the mattress and avoid having one part of the bed grow softer than the rest, regularly rotate the mattress from head to foot. Foam, latex, and newer innerspring mattresses should be rotated every 6 to 12 months, while an older innerspring mattress should be rotated every 2 to 6 months. Mattresses with a zoned design should not be rotated because rotation may cause the mattress to be less comfortable and supportive.

Most older innerspring mattresses featured minimal comfort layers, meaning both sides of the bed had a similar feel—this symmetrical design allowed sleepers to flip the mattress and rotate it. However, modern mattresses tend to be designed with a softer comfort section on top and a firmer support core on the bottom. These mattresses should be used right-side-up, and they should not be flipped. Be sure to check your manufacturer’s recommendations for rotation and flipping.

Keep Your Mattress Clean

You wash your sheets and blankets, but do you ever clean your mattress? Use a hand-held vacuum to clean your mattress whenever you change your sheets. Vacuuming your mattress will remove dust and other irritants, serving as preventative maintenance.

Investing in a mattress protector will also help keep your mattress clean. Mattress protectors are designed as a barrier to keep dirt, sweat, dust mites, moisture, and other contaminants from entering the mattress, and most are machine washable. By keeping the mattress dry, a waterproof mattress protector can help prevent the growth of mould and mildew.

Note that mattress protectors are different from mattress pads or mattress toppers. A mattress protector’s main purpose is to keep the mattress clean, whereas mattress pads add a layer of cushioning and mattress toppers adjust the mattress’s firmness. While pads and toppers are not meant for protection, they can still help reduce some wear.

Replace Your Mattress

If your mattress has more than the usual wear and tear, or you wake up with aches and pains you didn’t go to bed with, it might be time to replace your mattress. At Conway Furniture, we offer a large selection of high-quality mattresses ranging from ultra-plush to super firm. We have the perfect mattress for every unique sleeper and even offer a selection of adjustable beds.

Call us today at (519)291-3820 for more information or stop by in-store so we can assist you with finding the best mattress for your needs!