Allergies/Asthma
The accumulation of dust mites in old mattresses and pillows can cause allergic reactions such as a runny nose, sneezing, and itching. You will also not breathe well while you’re asleep, resulting in poorer sleep quality. If you find that you are waking up with a stuffy nose outside of hay fever season or your asthma symptoms are getting worse and more frequent, think about freshening up your mattress. Learn more about dust mite allergies here.
Funky Smells
If you wash your bedding every week and something still smells a little off, you might need a new mattress and/or pillows. While a “new smell” is normal, it should dissipate after a few weeks and you should not be able to smell anything. Considering how much time we spend in bed (approx. 30,000 hours over a 10-year period), the number of dead skin cells we shed combined with perspiration and oils that might get through our sheets over time, there is quite an accumulation of organic matter that is welcome food for bacteria and mold. Time to freshen up and look for breathable, natural materials when you choose your new mattress and bedding.
Noisy Mattress
NOISY MATTRESS
Noise
Your bed should never make noise when you’re changing position or your partner moves. If you hear creaking, clicking, or crunching, this means that either your foundation is not strong or level enough or that the springs in your mattress might have had their day. Noise can be a serious sleep disruptor. Time to choose a quiet mattress.
Age (of the mattress - not yours)
Mattresses do wear with use and they should. If the weight of your body doesn't cause the mattress to yield, your body will experience increased pressure in the shoulders and hips. This yielding leads to the mattress' gradual breakdown. Put another way, either the mattress wears out or you do. A well-built mattress with durable, flexible components will generally last about ten years. Wear will occur gradually without dramatically affecting comfort or function. Ten years is also a good time to consider if your needs have changed. After all, we need the best comfort and support for the body we live in today.
Age (yours - not the mattress)
As we get older our bodies change – we experience weight changes and our bodies distribute weight differently. We tend to lose muscle mass while our joints and skin get more pressure sensitive. People 40+ start preferring mattresses with more pressure relief, especially if they are side sleepers. Now it’s time to look for a mattress with premium components where you don’t have to sacrifice durability for a sumptuous soft feel and effective pressure relief.
Motion
You feel motion every time your sleep partner moves. This is a common sleep disruptor with mattresses with conventional coils and/or bad foundations. Choose a new mattress with independent pocketed coils and/or latex. You will wake up refreshed, be more relaxed, and your sleep partner will be relieved that you don’t grumble about his/her nightly flip-flops any longer.
Dips and Sags
This is the most obvious clue. If your mattress shows clear dips and sags independent of the foundation, it is no longer able to support your body properly. You will not be able to rest comfortably and it’s time for a change.
Remember – sleep is important and life is too short to sleep on a bad mattress!
