Ending the day on a mattress that cradles your body in comfort is a privilege, not a luxury, but even quality mattresses need to be replaced eventually. For many buyers, the cost of purchasing a new mattress is the only thing preventing them from getting back to great sleep, but there’s something worth even more that should be considered: your health.
In this article, you’ll find answers to common questions like how often should you replace your mattress, how long a mattress lasts, the different types of mattresses, and what are the benefits of upgrading to a new mattress. Follow along for five reasons why searching “mattress stores near me” might be the best decision you’ve made in a while.
At a Glance:
Reason 4: Trouble Falling Asleep
How Long Does a Mattress Last?
1. Replace Mattress When Sagging or Bumpy
Several things may go bump in the night, but your mattress shouldn’t be one of them. Compared to other signs it’s time to get a new mattress, this is one of the most obvious, but reading the between the lines varies depending on different types of mattresses.
Innerspring and pocketed coil mattresses are notorious for mattress sags and dips because the coils at their bases can warp and bend with time. Once bent, mattress coils can poke through the fabric or a comfort layer, causing irregularities on the surface. That matters because the number one job for a bed is to keep your body in complete alignment.
But even the surfaces on memory foam and hybrid mattresses are vulnerable to becoming compressed and misshapen over time. Often, sleepers describe this as a “swallowing” or “sinking” feeling. Quick solutions, such as fitting a mattress with a pad or adding support beneath the mattress, are decent temporary fixes, but in order to get back to healthy, satisfying sleep, a new mattress is a must.
2. You Feel Pain When You Sleep
When done on a proper mattress, sleep should feel rejuvenating, relaxing, and enjoyable. So, if you wake up feeling new aches and pains, an old mattress might be the culprit. A big part of the problem is when a mattress becomes too soft after years of regular use. Unless you’re smaller in stature (130 pounds or less), a mattress that is too soft will not be able to support the areas where your body bears the most weight, including the shoulders, neck, lower back, hips, and spine.
Without the proper support, the weight of your body cannot be distributed evenly, and that leads to unhealthy sleep positions. Common symptoms of bad mattress support include pins and needles, numbness, pinched nerves, and loss of circulation.
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3. A Noisy Mattress
This one is for all the traditionalists who sleep on innerspring or pocketed coil mattresses. You might be familiar with a certain squeak to your mattress that wasn’t there when you first purchased the bed. This can either be due to friction between two coils, a coil rubbing against a bed frame, or a combination of both, while in some cases, it might just be your boxspring.
You may have to do some spot-checks to determine whether the noise is coming from the actual mattress or just its base. If it turns out to be the coils, that’s a tell-tale sign your mattress has either started to degrade or has passed the point of no return. It may only be a nuisance now, but squeaking is a sign of compromised springs, which can lead to less support overall, dipping on the surface, and discomfort while sleeping.
4. It’s Harder for You to Fall Asleep
Is your mattress keeping you awake? Sleeping on surfaces that are outdated, damaged, or that are simply not the right comfort level or support for your body will leave you struggling to get comfortable during bedtime. The clues are easy to spot, ranging from tossing and turning to insomnia and even bad dreams once you finally fall asleep.
Start by identifying your sleep routine. Sleepers who habitually scroll through their phones before bed have been known to have a harder time falling asleep after being exposed to blue light. Your lifestyle can also affect sleep, too, specifically if you work out or eat right before going to bed. This kicks your body into “awake mode,” making it harder to fall asleep.
Next, determine whether you suffer from any health conditions that might be ruining your sleep. Common sleep disorders include apnea, snoring, and restless leg syndrome, which might be better solved with an adjustable mattress base. Still, if your current mattress is old, damaged, or uncomfortable, you may only be solving part of the problem.
5. Experiencing Allergy Symptoms During Sleep
It’s frustrating enough having to deal with allergies during the day, but suffering from sniffling and sneezing throughout the night is another nightmare. The scary reality is your mattress is a haven for dust mites and other pests. The older it is, the more likely it is to have these unwanted guests.
The best ways to avoid bed mites are with a mattress protector and with regular cleaning. If you’re guilty of skipping a few months of mattress upkeep, it’s not unlikely your nocturnal allergies are being offset by these critters. The bad news is once dust mites make their way into your mattress, they’re nearly impossible to get out. What’s worse, once they’ve died, their carcasses continue to irritate allergy symptoms as they turn into dust.
A thorough steaming can help reduce irritation, but the healthiest solution is to purchase a new mattress and adopt a regular cleaning routine and the right protection for your new bed.
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How Long Does a Mattress Last?
In general, the average life of a mattress is seven to eight years, but that will also depend on factors such as your weight, whether you sleep alone, and if you take proper care of your mattress. However, how long should you keep a mattress is another story. If you suffer from any of the symptoms above, you’re putting your health and sleep at risk every night you continue to sleep on the mattress.
Here’s a general guide to help you understand how often to replace a mattress, depending on the type.
Innerspring Mattresses
Innerspring mattresses are the most popular type of mattress on the market, and while they’re known for being durable, quality depends on the materials used. Cheaper spring mattresses generally last the least out of all the mattress types, but in general, you can expect anywhere from 7–10 years out of a coil mattress of good quality.
Pocketed Coil Mattresses
Reinforced coils encased in individual sleeves of fabric give pocketed coil mattresses extra durability and better motion response than standard innerspring mattresses. With good care, you can easily get 8–10 years out of one.
Hybrid Mattresses
Not all hybrid mattresses are made the same, and that makes it tricky to determine the exact lifespan of one of these mattresses. Those with better quality foams and gels usually last up to 10 years, while it’s recommended to replace lower-quality hybrid mattresses around six years.
Memory Foam Mattresses
This category is one of the most durable, averaging a 10-year lifespan or more, depending on the quality of the foam and maintenance.
Latex Mattresses
The longest-lasting mattress goes to latex varieties, which easily last 10 years and are known to last up to 20.
Why Trust Us?
At Bob Mills Furniture, we believe that everyone is family. Since 1971, we have delivered beautiful furniture for 50 years (and counting), with 10 sprawling locations in the U.S. — from our flagship store in Oklahoma City to San Antonio in Texas to Wichita in Kansas. Our friendly staff aims to offer the greatest comfort and value, with elegant styles to match your taste, décor, and design. In addition to coziness and style, we also stock furniture and mattress brands with strong reputations and track records of durability so that you can enjoy your investment for years to come.
Shop Mattresses at Bob Mill’s Furniture
Start reveling in endless comfort and shop mattresses online for unbeatable prices at Bob Mills. Our friendly experts are always happy to help you discover a new mattress — whether you call the Bob Mills Furniture store nearest you or use our online chat feature. Better yet, stop by one our showrooms throughout Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas to discover why we are everyone’s favorite local furniture store. Visit us today!
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