A restful night’s sleep is one of the most critical aspects of human health. Without quality sleep, our bodies simply cannot heal and rejuvenate themselves, and our brains struggle to process emotions and store memories.

One of the most significant reasons for getting a good night’s sleep is the comfort of our mattress. Few other products can have such a substantial effect on our health, happiness and wellbeing.

With the average person spending around 33 years of their life in bed, you should be as comfortable as possible during this time.

But when should you replace your mattress?

Generally, the lifespan of a mattress is roughly between 6 to 8 years. But, as you can imagine, this is a guideline that varies from person to person and should not be considered a one-size-fits-all solution.

Various factors influence when you should replace your mattress, and generally speaking, you should replace your mattress if one or more of the following applies:

• It’s negatively affecting your sleep, and you fail to wake up refreshed or relaxed
• It shows signs of being damaged or there’s noticeable wear and tear
• It’s making more noise than usual (noisy springs are common in old-style innerspring mattresses)
• You find that you sleep better at hotels, friends’ houses, etc.
• There is an increase in your allergies or asthma
• You continually wake up with muscle aches or joint stiffness

Factors Influencing Mattress Lifespan

There are a whole variety of reasons that impact on the longevity of a mattress, and some of the key factors that suggest when it’s time to replace your mattress may well include:

Mattress Material

The materials used to manufacture your bed significantly influence its durability. The lower-quality innerspring and all-foam mattresses often have the shortest lifespans, as they are typically inclined to sagging and body impressions.

Hybrid mattresses are also known to suffer from these issues, but since they are often sold as higher-end options made with higher-quality materials, they tend to be far more durable.

Today, Viscoelastic Polyurethane foam – or as it’s more commonly known ‘memory foam’ – is one of the most popular mattress materials. Initially developed by NASA engineers, one of memory foam’s defining traits is slow response. The material becomes softer and more adaptive when exposed to body heat, allowing it to mould around the unique contours of your body and then as it cools, the foam returns to its original shape.

Another thing people love about memory foam is the way it offers even contouring and weight distribution, pressure relief along the spine, and superior motion isolation.

One of the best examples of how memory foam is perfect for all sleepers is demonstrated by the Options mattress from the Andy Mattress Company. The unique double-sided mattress design offers the very best of both worlds for sleepers of all shapes and sizes.

Because one side of the mattress is firm and the other is softer, it allows you to choose the side that helps you sleep the best. So whichever way, you’ll wake refreshed and ready for the day ahead. Andy’s Options mattress means you’ll never have to settle for just one type of sleeping comfort.

Mattress Maintenance & Care

Like any other product, a mattress will last longer if you take good care of it, which means rotating your mattress every three months or so (unless the manufacturer recommends otherwise) and utilising a quality mattress protector.

The Andy mattress cover is the perfect item to keep your mattress as fresh and clean as the first night you slept on it. It is entirely waterproof, so protecting your Andy mattress from any accidental spills or stains.

Breathable, cool, and soft to the touch, it can be hand or machine washed for easy, quick cleaning. The cover is produced using woven polyester, lined with TPU fabric, and fits snugly around your Andy mattress, preventing any shifting throughout the night.

Sleeper Size & Weight

Your weight and the weight of your sleep partner also influences the rate at which the mattress will degrade. Those heavier sleepers typically find that mattresses may sag quicker, while lightweight sleepers will have less impact. Similarly, a mattress accommodating more than one person will likely wear out sooner than a mattress for a single person.

Children & Pets

Children and pets can play a role in when you should replace your mattress. If you share your bed with small children or animals, you will likely need to replace your mattress more frequently. Plus, the extra weight of both pets and children is likely to cause stains or damage to the mattress or pillow.

Is a New Mattress Worth the Cost?

Purchasing a new mattress can be a costly expense, and you might be thinking is it really worth it? Well, in almost every case, the answer has to be a resounding YES. Investing in a new mattress can go a long way to improve your overall quality of sleep, which influences everything from your energy levels to your mood and well being. Some of the potential benefits of buying a new mattress include:

Improved Sleep

There have been extensive research findings that suggest that not only will a new mattress significantly improve the quality of sleep and dramatically reduce back pain and stress, but it could also give you as much as an extra 42 minutes of sleep a night.

Finding the right mattress and pillows together with the perfect bed linen can all add up to a great night’s sleep.

Less Aches & Pains

If you’re constantly waking up with pain or stiffness in your back, shoulders, hip or neck, then there’s every chance that your mattress may be part of the problem. Unfortunately, many older mattresses have a tendency to sag in places, reducing support and making it less likely to align your spine correctly and so causing you to have a poor night’s sleep.

Less Moving When You’re Sleeping

Older mattresses tend to transfer more motion from one side of the bed to the other, meaning that if your partner or anyone else in the bed changes position during the night, it can disrupt your sleep. A new mattress – particularly an all-foam or hybrid bed – will transfer less motion, helping everyone get a better night’s rest.

Reduction In Allergies & Asthma

Older mattresses and pillows tend to accumulate dust mites, mould, bacteria and other allergens at an alarming rate. So if you’ve found that your allergies or asthma symptoms have worsened, your mattress and pillow may be partially to blame.

The Last Word

Today, 40% of adults and children suffer from sleep issues. So while it can seem pretty tempting to stick with your existing mattress and save some money, as you can see for many people, it can be a worthwhile investment. As one of the leading mattress manufacturers we would ask you to think about it, and to think of the damage a poor mattress can do to your posture – not to mention the sleepless nights it can cause.

Remember that you spend roughly 1/3rd of your life in bed – and there’s no better way to invest in your own well being than to do all you can to give yourself a good night’s sleep, right?