If you’ve been having weeks of sleepless nights, but haven’t found the source of trouble, look at what’s under you—it may be your ancient mattress. Over time, the materials in your mattress degrade. This makes it hard to wake up feeling refreshed and could trigger allergies and asthma flare-ups. Read to learn how often you should replace your mattress. Different mattress materials have different lifespans. Here’s when to replace your mattress based on what material your mattress is made from.
Innerspring
Innerspring mattresses contain inner coils that distribute your body weight evenly. On average, these mattresses are usually paired with a pillow-top or memory foam topper to keep things cushy and comfortable for about seven to ten years. Innerspring mattresses can last longer if they’re made from high-quality materials. Since they are double-sided, you can flip them periodically to prevent wear on one side.
Latex
Latex mattresses have lifespans of about fifteen years, whether natural or synthetic foam. To get the most time out of your latex mattress, you should rotate it yearly to prevent dents and sag.
Memory Foam
Made from polyurethane foam, memory foam mattresses last between ten to fifteen years. The most significant factor influencing your mattress’s longevity is its foam and other mixed materials. Higher-quality foams last even longer. Rotate these mattresses every six months to extend their longevity.
Gel Memory
Gel memory mattresses have memory foam inside them that is embedded with gel beads. This helps to keep the mattress cool. Like regular memory foam mattresses, you can expect gel memory mattresses to last ten to fifteen years with regular rotation.
Hybrid
Hybrid mattresses are blended with innerspring construction and foam on top. On average, these types of mattresses will last seven to ten years. Most warranties for hybrid mattresses cover ten years of regular use.
Waterbed
Waterbed mattresses come in either hard-side or soft-side. Soft-side ones are covered by a foam shell and look like other mattresses. Hard-side varieties are regular waterbed mattresses made from vinyl. Typically, waterbed mattresses last five to ten years.
What to Do with Your Old Mattress
If you’ve decided to throw out your old mattress, dispose of it properly. You could recycle it yourself by contacting local recycling centers that accept those materials or by using a mattress recycling service, which may often come to collect the mattress.
Contact your local junk removal service to have your mattress hauled away as trash. You can also check if your new mattress company can have your old one removed.
