How to take care of your mattress 

A mattress is a big investment. You put a lot of effort and research into finding and selecting the right mattress that is healthy, non-toxic, and accommodates your sleeping position. Of course, you want to make sure that your investment pays off and your mattress will last as long as possible. With this guide, we would like to show you how to take care of your mattress and what simple steps you need to take to protect it.

How to take care of your mattress?

Before going into more details, there are some basic rules one should follow in order not to cut the lifetime of the mattress in half.

Your mattress is an expensive item, so you need to treat it accordingly. To keep your mattress neat, you need to clean it regularly. Remove all the bedding, sheets, blanket, pillowcases, and mattress protector. Wash everything and let your mattress air out for a couple of hours.

Though some random bounces will not ruin your mattress, make sure that you avoid constant jumping on it.

Wash your bed linen every 1-2 weeks

Washing your sheets and bedding is very important. They can accumulate a lot of dirt, including dead skin cells, body oil, sweat, or dust mites. Apart from hygienic reasons, clean sheets protect your mattress too. If your bedding is not changed regularly, all this dirt will end up in your mattress.

As a rule of thumb, you should wash your bedding at least once a week. If you suffer from allergies or live in a warmer climate, it’s probably better to do it more often.

Clean your mattress as soon as possible after any kind of spills

Any spills should be cleaned as soon as possible with warm, soapy water and a cloth. There is one important rule here: you need to be careful with water – you can’t make your mattress too wet, especially if it’s made of memory foam. Apart from avoiding soaking your mattress, it’s important to note you can’t apply the cleaning solution directly to the material.

A stain remover is probably the best idea to remove unwanted spills or stains out of your mattress. Spray the cleaner onto a clean cloth and then clean the stained area. After this, use a different cloth to apply lukewarm water to your mattress. Dampen it and gently scrub the area until the stain lifts.

Remember that cleaning your mattress as soon as possible will prevent the dirt and stains from setting into the mattress fibres.

If there is any noticeable debris on your mattress, you may vacuum the surface. Again, you need to be really careful in order not to damage the top of your mattress. Before vacuuming your mattress, remember to use the appropriate upholstery attachment.

Use a mattress protector to prevent stains

A good-quality mattress protector will save you some money in the long term. If you keep your mattress neat and clean, you won’t have to invest in a new mattress too early.

Mattress protectors are placed under the fitted sheet, and they cover your mattress directly. They are used to protect your mattress from moisture, stains, and other contaminants that can infiltrate the foam of your mattress and disintegrate it much quicker.

By keeping your mattress dry, a mattress protector is also a barrier to mould and mildew.

Since they extend the lifespan of your mattress, mattress protectors need to be cared for as well. Most mattress protectors are machine washable, and it’s recommended to wash them at least every two months. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations when washing your mattress protector.

Rotate your mattress or turn it over regularly

It’s just natural for a mattress to start sagging. Most people sleep on one side of the bed, and if you do not use other parts of the surface regularly, that place is going to become softer over time. In order to avoid this, you should flip or rotate your mattress.

Mattresses are either one-sided or double-sided. If your mattress is double-sided, which means that it is built from the centre out, flip it frequently. If it’s one-sided, which means that it’s built from the bottom up, rotate your mattress from head to toe regularly.

If you have a latex, memory foam, or newer type of innerspring mattress, you should rotate it every 6-12 months. Older types of innerspring mattresses need to be rotated a bit more often – every 2 to 6 months.

The first few months are critical considering the overall lifespan of the mattress. When your foam is brand new, it will break in more quickly. As a result, it should be rotated more often in the beginning. 

If you have a single-sided mattress, it might be a good idea to rotate your mattress more often in the first 3 months – you can rotate it from head to toe once a month. If you have a double-sided mattress, you should turn it over twice a month. Again, remember that it only applies to the first three months. After that, you can follow the above instructions.

Rotating and turning your mattress over will prolong its lifespan, so it’s highly recommended. However, please note that once your mattress has become too old, rotating, or flipping it is unlikely to solve the problem. When it becomes uncomfortable, it is an indication that the time has come to buy a new mattress.

Pets need to have their separate beds

We all love our pets. Sleeping with your furry friends has many benefits – people usually feel safer, warmer, and cosier.

However, sharing your bed with your dog or cat can leave fur and dirt on the mattress. Of course, there are many steps you can take to avoid the early deterioration of your mattress.

It may be a good idea to use pet-hair-friendly bedding. For instance, tightly woven cotton sheets are known to resist pet hair. You need to buy a material that is thick enough to resist not only fur, but tears and damages caused by your pet’s claws.

Waterproof bedding materials are also a must. You may buy waterproof sheets, a pillow, and duvet covers. It’s also important to wash your bedding more often if you sleep with your cat or dog.

The above steps are useful if you want to protect your mattress as much as possible. However, in order to preserve the health of your mattress, it’s best if pets sleep in their own beds.

Your mattress has to be properly supported

Whatever type of mattress you choose, make sure that it has the right kind of support. This helps prevent premature wear and tear. You can always check with the manufacturer what support is recommended.

It’s a good idea to check your bed’s support at least once a year. If there are any broken springs, it needs to be fixed as soon as possible, as it can adversely affect the lifespan and overall health of your mattress.

How to clean a natural, non-toxic mattress?

A natural latex mattress is probably the best type of natural mattress available on the market now. It is widely praised for its breathability, comfort, and pressure point relieving qualities. With a natural latex mattress, a restful night’s sleep is guaranteed. However, keeping it clean is just as important.

It’s important to note that when it comes to natural latex mattresses, the number one is enemy is harsh chemicals. In order to avoid any kind of damages, always use natural solutions to clean the mattress.

We also suggest keeping your natural latex mattress out of direct sunlight to avoid too much exposure to UV rays and changes in colour.

We have talked about providing appropriate support for your bed. This is especially important in the case of latex mattresses. Natural latex is a highly breathable structure. Due to the material’s open-cell construction, air can circulate through the mattress. In order to allow it to breathe properly, avoid using a flat base. It’s better to use a slatted bed base that improves air circulation.

Is it time to change your mattress?

Even if you take really good care of your mattress, eventually, it will need to be replaced. After 7-10 years, an average mattress will lose its supportive ability.

The older your mattress gets, the less it is able to support your pressure points. In some exceptional cases, mattresses can last as long as 20 years. But this is very rare, only top-quality, natural mattresses, such as natural latex mattresses have such a long lifespan.

Conventional mattresses tend to absorb moisture, sweat, and provide a home for dust mites. So for health reasons, one should buy a new mattress every 7-10 years.

Many factors can indicate that the time has come to buy a new mattress. You may wake up with aches and pains repeatedly. This might be caused by the sagging of your mattress.

Before shopping for a new mattress, remember to do your research.

When you start shopping for a new mattress, there are many details you have to take into consideration. To begin with, there are many mattress materials you can choose from: from natural latex mattresses to memory foam you have many options. It’s important to give thought to your weight, preferred sleeping position, and current health conditions – for example, whether you suffer from allergies.

Don’t be afraid of going online and finding the right mattress there. Many online stores offer the option of free returns. So if you don’t like the experience your new mattress provides, you have a certain amount of time (usually 30 days) to give back your mattress.

Buying your mattress online has many advantages, including the time to do your research and the avoidance of pushy salesmen in mattress stores.

All in all, if you are not feeling rested or keep on tossing and turning during the night, it might be a sign for you to start looking for a new mattress.