How to Know When It Is Time for a New Mattress

Let’s face it: That mattress is almost as old as you. It is time to let it go. Some people hang onto mattresses because they don’t want to spend the money on a new one, or they don’t like shopping for mattresses, or they have some emotional attachment to the one they have, or it just never crossed their mind to do anything different.

Whatever the reason, many people are hanging onto mattresses long past the time when they should be shopping for a new one. The problem is that mattresses last for a long time. And we eventually just forget about them. Even when they are causing us problems, we often don’t think of the mattress as the culprit because the problem happened so gradually.

But you should know that mattresses don’t last forever, at least, they shouldn’t. Even if you tend to be the more miserly sort, it may well be past time for your mattress to go. Here’s how you can know for certain:

If You Want Something New

It doesn’t matter what the warranty says. It doesn’t matter if it is still in great condition. If your mattress is no longer making you happy, or you just have the hankering for something new, then it is time for your old one to go. There is no need to feel guilty about it. You can recycle it responsibly, or gift it to a charity. What you should never do is keep it out of some sense of obligation. You are not obligated to keep what you no longer like.

Look around the web and get inspired. A site like https://www.visionbedding.com/is a good place to start. It helps to look at different styles of bed frames to give you an idea of what is possible. There are more mattresses than the three or four name brands you’ve heard of.

Beds come in all shapes and sizes. The three you are most familiar with do not complete the set. So before you pick out the perfect new bedding, explore all of your bed and mattress options. Don’t just get something new. Get something different.

When the Bedbugs Bite

To be clear, you don’t have to get rid of a mattress just because you have discovered bedbugs. But what you need to know is that by the time you see them it is already too late to stop the infestation. The infestation is already upon you. At that point, all your options are about eradicating them from your bed.

It is not going to be easy. You are going to likely need a professional to do it right. But if you didn’t pay that much for your mattress in the first place, those bedbugs might be an indicator that it is time for a new mattress.

Of course, you have to make a few other changes. Those bugs came from somewhere. Your pet might be the culprit. And they might be in the carpet and bedding. Just tossing out the bed does not automatically resolve the problem. Get rid of the bed, and the underlying problem, and get a fresh start on a good night’s sleep.

If You Wake Up Achy

Here’s the bad news: No one can say whether a hard bed or a soft bed is better for back pain sufferers. We all have different bodies that respond to surfaces in different ways. If no bed gives you a good night’s sleep, you might want to try an adjustable air mattress. That way, you can try it as firm or as soft as you like. You will eventually find the firmness that is right for you.

Some online mattress companies allow you to try their beds for 100 nights with a 100% return policy. That is going to give you a better sense of whether it is right for you than 10 awkward minutes in a mattress store.

None of this has to do with the calendar. It doesn’t matter how much you paid for it or how long you have had it. If you want something new, or your mattress is infected, or it is hurting you, then it is time for a new one.