5 Signs You Need a New Mattress: How Do I know if I Need a New Mattress?

With the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it is quite easy to forget about your mattress as you go about your daily routine. However, for the sake of your general health, wellbeing, as well your day-to-day productivity, it is vital to always ensure that the mattress you lie on at the end of each day performs as well as it should - regardless of how busy your life schedules might be.

Usually, it’s pretty evident when it is time to get a new bedroom product, especially if the item no longer works as it should, or it has started to display signs of wear and tear that affects its functionality. However, when it comes to mattresses, it is not always obvious when a replacement is needed.

The decline in the quality of a mattress is in most cases a gradual process which often goes unnoticed as the body adjusts to it, making it difficult for one to easily note when their mattress has outlived its usefulness. In fact, like your old favourite chair, your mattress may still feel comfortable, long after it has lost its capacity to give you the proper support and comfort that your body needs as you sleep. What’s more, some mattresses will probably look much the same after several years of service, which many people tend to mistakenly assume it’s a sign that the product can still do the job when in actual fact it is negatively affecting their health and sleep.

5 Signs you Need a New Mattress

So, how does one determine that their mattress is no longer serving its purpose? Here are 5 things you need to be aware of to help you decide whether it’s time to go shopping for a new mattress.

1. Is it over 5 years old?
Although 5 years is not by any means a set-in-stone expiry date for mattresses, chances are, if yours is older than five years, then it's been far too long and you should carefully consider whether its quality is as good as it was when new. This is because, despite their longer lifespans, many mattresses begin to lose their performance qualities after about five to seven years of everyday use. And besides that, our bodies also experience significant changes over the years, and the mattresses we sleep on absorb everything from weight gain to uneven pressures (as well all manner of miscellaneous issues such as kids using your bed as a trampoline), thereby accelerating its wear and tear.

However, ultimately, how long your mattress lasts largely depends on the quality of the original set and the frequency of use. It is also important to note that, contrary to some people’s belief, the warranty that comes with your new mattress is not an indicator of how long the product should be used before replacing it. Rather, these warranties are meant to protect you as a customer against any product defects; and not against the gradual loss of support and comfort. Additionally, different manufacturers offer different warranties for their mattresses; and therefore, it would be best to consult the manufacturer of your particular mattress brand for product specific information.

2. Does it look past its best?
To answer this question, simply take a closer look at the state of your mattress to gauge its current condition. If it shows visible signs of wear and tear such as sagging, bulges, bumps, ripping, staining, tearing or damage, then you may want to start looking for a replacement. Generally, once a mattress begins to sag and show such noticeable signs of overuse, there is no going back; and flipping the mattress at this point may not be of much help either. The uneven support that is brought about by sagging areas, bulges, lumps and bumps on an aging mattress can cause great discomfort and pains throughout the body, which in turn interferes with your sleep and overall health. Moreover, if sagging occurs in the middle of the mattress, this brings about the annoying habit of you and your partner rolling together while sleeping. In this case, you should certainly consider getting a new mattress, not only for proper support and comfort which your bodies need, but also for marital harmony.

3. Does it feel inconsistent?
Another tell-tale sign that you need a new mattress is the level of resistance and support given by your mattress. If it feels inconsistent when you press down on it - specifically when comparing the area where you normally sleep on with spots that do not get any use - this is an important indicator that the mattress is no longer providing you with the best support and comfort, and should therefore be replaced.

4. Do you feel regularly tired?
Are you always tired and sleep deprived on a regular basis? If so, then there is a huge chance that your mattress may be preventing you from getting the restful goodnight sleep that you need, in order to keep you alert the next day. When a mattress is uncomfortable and does not give you the right support through the night, you will have a difficult time being able to stay asleep. This could mean waking up several times at nighttime as well as constantly tossing and turning in your sleep; and as a result, you find yourself feeling just as worn out in the morning as you were when you got into bed the night before. Therefore, if you can’t recall your last really great night’s slumber, then your mattress has probably seen better days and its time you got yourself a new one.

5. Do you sleep better elsewhere?
If you find yourself sleeping more soundly on other beds other than your own, you may want to take a good look at what you have at home. Normally, when sleeping elsewhere (such as, in a hotel, at a friend’s or relative’s place, the couch, etc.) leaves you feeling properly rested in the morning more than your own bed, then you pretty much know that a mattress upgrade is required.

6. Have your allergies been playing up at night?
Your mattress is a huge allergen attractant over the years. Over the years, dust mites, mold, mildew and pet dander all accumulate on your mattress. The older your mattress is, the more time all of these have time to collect on your mattress. If you suffer from allergies and have been feeling the onset of these from when you sleep, then it could be your mattress triggering your allergies, especially if you have not replaced it or even vacuumed it for a while.

If you suffer from allergies, when purchasing a new mattress we highly recommend a memory foam mattress. The material memory foam mattresses are hypo-allergenic and antimicrobial for dust mite and allergen resistance, ensuring you get a great night’s sleep.

Having answered these questions, you can now determine the fate of your mattress with much ease.

If the majority of your answers are ‘no, this is generally a good sign that the mattress you have is doing fine and does not require to be replaced just yet. Furthermore, if you enjoy goodnight sleep on a regular basis, then you are doing just fine as well.
On the other hand, if most of your answers are ‘yes, then it is certainly time to bid farewell to your old mattress, in favour of a clean, fresh, comfortable new one so as to get you back in dreamland as soon as possible. Consider buying yourself a high quality mattress such as the Ergoflex memory foam mattress, which is guaranteed to provide you with better sleep, and along with it a potentially happier and much healthier lifestyle.

How do you dispose of your old mattress?

When you finally make that crucial decision to get a replacement for your current mattress, do not toss away the old one.

All too often, old beds tend to appear in odd places such as by the roadside, at the bottom of a lake, or even on newspaper adverts, since many people do not know what to do with their old mattresses. Some even hand them down as inheritance to their family members or their own kids, which is quite harmful especially to the latter, because the developing bodies of children require the strong support of a quality mattress. And, besides, if your old mattress is not good enough for you to sleep on, it may not be good enough for anyone else to use.

Therefore, once you’ve decided to get a new mattress you can contact your local council for mattress disposal options or have your old or unwanted mattresses picked up by businesses which specialise in mass-mattress recycling, refurbishment and safe eco-friendly disposal.

To help we have put together a guide on how to dispose of your mattress in some cities:

How to recycle your mattress in Adelaide
How to recycle your mattress in Brisbane
How to recycle your mattress in Canberra
How to recycle your mattress in Darwin
How to recycle your mattress in Hobart and Tasmania
How to recycle your mattress in Melbourne
How to recycle your mattress in Newcastle
How to recycle your mattress in Perth
How to recycle your mattress in Sydney

Update your mattress and experience the difference of a good night's sleep

All in all, always bear in mind that good sleep is critical for your ability to function and feel your best at all times; and anything that interferes with your sleep should be dealt with accordingly. Ideally, the bed you have at home should allow you to relax fully and drift off into a restful rejuvenating slumber every single night. It is, therefore, recommended to regularly evaluate the sleep set in your home; and replace anything that could be compromising the quality of your sleep including the mattress. By doing this, you’ll be ensuring that you and your family have access to quality sleep and optimal health.

Looking to buy a new mattress?

If you have decided that it is time for you to get a new mattress, take a look at our Ergoflex 5G Memory Foam Mattress. With outstanding pressure-relief and comfort with a tried-and-trusted warranty period, giving you the best sleep of your life.

Further Reading
If you enjoyed this article you will find the below of interest:
How a bad night's sleep can ruin your working day
How sleeping with your phone is harming your life
How does stress affect how you sleep and work?

5 Signs You Need a New Mattress: How Do I know if I Need a New Mattress?