How Long Does a Mattress Last? Pillow Top, Latex & Foam
Sleep is an essential activity for your body as it facilitates body repair and rejuvenation. Without sleep, you will carry on with your day’s activities feeling tired and lacking energy. If ignored, this undermines your productivity and may affect you for much longer.
Your mattress’s design and feel affect the quality and length of the sleep you get. Have you ever found your muscles ache after sleeping? That, along with other factors, should inform your decision to buy a new mattress.
But, how long does a mattress last?
As you sleep on your mattress each day, it gets more susceptible to wear and tear. Generally, mattresses last 5 to 10 years, but that may not always be the case. The durability of your mattress depends on many variables, including the following.
Factors To Consider When Determining How Long a Mattress Will Last
1. Material Used
We have found out that the material used in constructing the mattress affects its durability. The common types are memory foam, innerspring, latex, air bed, and water beds based on the material used. For example, a latex mattress is dust mite and microbial-resistant.
As we understand, dust mites can disrupt your sleep. Such vital features play a role in extending their durability. Adjustable air mattresses last long due to the precision given in their manufacturing.
These mattresses are mainly made of durable material such as rubber, polyvinyl chloride, or textile-reinforced urethane plastic. Memory foam is very durable; all you have to do is get a high density. They come in different types and sizes, however, memory foam mattresses are known to be good for your back and is hypoallergenic.
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2. Length of Sleep
Multiple studies indicate that children and young adults sleep for longer than older adults. This difference can be explained by their extended working hours. Given that their wear and tear comes with the frequency of use, the less you sleep on them, the more they last.
Buyers should understand that the various types of mattresses, based on materials used, get affected differently by the length of your sleep. Some may wear out if you frequently sleep for long hours more than others.
3. Your Weight
By design and irrespective of the type of mattress, your weight determines the lifespan of your mattress. The more you weigh, the more pressure you put on the mattress. There’s usually a limit in most mattresses of how much weight they can comfortably handle.
Even for the innerspring mattress, its springs may dwindle and sag if you exceed its weight support limit. It is therefore essential for you to test mattresses in the store before you commit to buy any. Such a simple guide may reduce the chances of you calling your retailer to replace your mattress.
4. The Density of Your Mattress
The issue of density is more prevalent in foam mattresses than in any other type of mattress. Density simply implies that more mass of the memory foam is packed per fixed volume. The more the density of the mattress, the longer it takes to return to its original shape.
Tied to this is the weight aspect of the mattress user. More massive people should find higher density mattresses as they sink more deeply in them. Taking a lower density one would not last, necessitating replacement much sooner.
If your preference is a latex mattress, go for the natural one and not the synthetic one. This is because they have a higher resistance to degradation over time.
However, do not compromise your comfort for a higher density mattress that is more durable. Remember, the quality and length of your sleep is the most important thing for you to consider.
5. How You Take Care of It
Yes, you play a part in the durability of your mattress. The first key to making your mattress last longer is choosing the right one based on the above factors, coupled with your preferences. Maintaining proper hygiene in your bedroom and the home by extension is another factor.
Bad habits like eating on the bed and not cleaning afterward expose your mattress to pest infestation. Damages caused include torn mattress covers and holes in the mattress. Pests can cause discomfort to you as you try to take your much-needed rest.
Proper hygiene practices create an uninhabitable environment for the pests, where they cannot thrive. Also, keep fluids off the mattress. Staining your mattress could void your warranty. It is not worth it after the hefty expenditure.
Regularly wash your pillowcases and sheets. It’s also important to vacuum clean them once in a while. Staying wary of your responsibility in making your mattress last will pay off.
It would also help to inform others of their responsibilities too.
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Approximating The Lifespan Of Your Mattress
Buyers need to be equipped with vital knowledge that will aid their decision making when it comes to purchasing a mattress. Given the importance of sleep and how much time you spend on your bed, this decision should not be rushed. More often you’ll find that the costly the mattress, the more durable it’ll be. Either way, find out its lifespan from its manufacturers as well.
However, to ensure that your mattress does not become a hotbed for dust mites and bed bugs, replace it after five years, if not less.