Your mattress takes a lot of abuse. There aren’t many things in your house that have to take your whole body weight for eight hours, not to mention your sweat, crumbs if you eat in bed and extra time if you sit on your mattress. Thankfully, caring for your mattress is fairly easy, and you can incorporate it into your normal routine.
Use a Mattress Cover/Protector
Mattress protectors are affordable, easy to use and they prolong the life of your mattress. The best ones are both waterproof to resist sweat, and breathable to keep you cool throughout the night. Sweat is one of the worst things for your mattress because it rapidly wears away at the materials and causes it to smell. Yet, most people don’t consider getting a shield against it.
The protector just slips over your mattress and acts as a barrier against particles and liquid. Another great thing is that when it comes time to clean the mattress, you can take off the cover and wash it, making the maintenance so much easier.
Rotate the Mattress
If you have a newer bed, then you should be rotating the mattress from head to toe every other month. This ensures that it wears properly, and the other side is typically a little firmer due to the lack of wear, so it allows one side to rest while the other takes your weight. Older mattresses have to be flipped every four to six months.
Check what type of mattress you have to see what you have to do. Most newer beds are no-flip, but older ones (usually those from 10 years ago) will get the most benefit from being flipped.
Avoid Sitting on the Edge
This one is hard, and it just seems natural to do. You just get out of bed, so you sit on the edge as you stretch. Or, you’re putting on your shoes, so you sit on the edge to balance yourself. Most people do this and it seems harmless, but it actually wears away at your mattress. The edges are typically reinforced with foam, but they aren’t meant to take your whole weight.
While you don’t have to completely abstain from sitting on the edge, just do it as little as possible to improve your bed’s longevity.
Clean and Air Out
Even if you have a mattress protector, it’s best to clean the mattress every now and then to get out any particles or smells. Cleaning a bed is very easy. Just vacuum the surface with the hose attachment, use a deodorizing agent to remove smells (baking soda works fine), and let it air out for a couple of hours. Try doing this at least a few times a year.
Conclusion
Caring for a mattress is very easy. While the mattress takes a lot of abuse, they are built to be sturdy and don’t require your constant attention. Just be mindful to turn them and clean them a few times a year and you should be just fine.