How to Keep Your Mattress in Good Shape

Investing in a mattress is no easy decision, but once you finally do, you want it to last. The average mattress is designed to last roughly ten years. However, how you take care of your mattress can depend on whether it has a shorter or longer lifespan. Knowing how to take care of your mattress can keep it clean, healthy and leave it providing comfortable sleep. Here are some tips on mattress maintenance.

1. Make sure your mattress is properly supported. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to have the matching box spring – you can also have a base for the mattress. Typically, a box spring is used for spring mattresses and memory foam mattresses require a firm, solid base. The best way to know what you need for your mattress is to check with the manufacturer or ask for recommendations.
2. Wash bed sheets regularly. When you sleep, your body sweats, sheds oils, hair, and skin cells. Not to mention the additional hair and any other things your furry friend might track into your bed. All of this can slip into the mattress layers, creating bacteria and encouraging dust mites. The best practice it to wash your bed sheets every 1 to 2 weeks.
3. Don’t let your pets sleep in your bed. Getting your four-legged friend a separate bed to sleep in will keep drool, hair, and anything else from your pet out of your sheets.
4. Rotate your mattress. Some manufacturers say it’s not necessary but rotating your mattress will give you more even wear and tear. Not rotating your mattress can make it more likely for your mattress to end up with depressions or indents in it. It is recommended to rotate your mattress every six months, 180 degrees – from head to toe.
5. Don’t jump on the bed! We all know the nursery rhyme of the five little monkeys jumping on the bed. Well turns out, there’s some truth to it. You can wear on the foundations, frames and most importantly, the mattress!
6. Follow cleaning directions. Every manufacturer provides cleaning directions. Mattresses should be cleaned regularly to keep your sleep environment clean. It also keeps you and your mattress healthier.