A new and a clean mattress is one of the main factors of a better night’s sleep. It’s important to protect your mattress by following some simple tips, so you can experience optimal sleep comfort for years. Although different types and brands of mattresses can differ somewhat in care and maintenance, the basics are the same. Essentially, keep the bed clean, protect it from accidents and damage, ensure it’s supported, and rotate occasionally. Mattress lifespan depends on many factors, but following these easy and major practices can help you enjoy years of healthy sleep and that your investment lasts as long as possible.
Here are some helpful mattress care tips that are also easy to follow.
From cleaning to prevention, a little care and maintenance can go a long way in keeping your mattress in good shape for years to come.
Once you’ve invested in a good mattress, chances are you expect it to provide comfortable sleep on it for many years. The average mattress is designed to last anywhere from five to ten years or more, though how it is maintained can shorten or lengthen your bed’s lifespan.
Being aware of environmental factors and knowing the best ways to care for a bed can help you keep your mattress clean, healthy and providing comfortable sleep as long as possible.
DO THESE
Make sure your mattress is properly supported
A new mattress needs the support of a proper foundation to resist sagging over time. You can choose from the matching box spring, an adjustable foundation or a bed frame that has the proper number of slats.
While you may not always need to purchase the matching box spring or foundation with a new mattress, it is essential to make sure your mattress does have the right kind of support. This helps preserve the integrity of materials and prevent early wear.
Check with the manufacturer or look at the warranty policy for recommendations. Box springs are generally used only with spring mattresses, while memory foam and other specialty mattresses usually require firm, solid support.
Use a mattress protector from the beginning
Spills and stains can impact the integrity of the mattress fabric and foams. Severe spills can also cause the foams to collapse, making them prone to impressions which can cause discomfort. A liquid resistant mattress protector will help keep your mattress clean and healthy over time. Look for one made from breathable materials.
A good, quality mattress protector offers waterproof protection to guard against spills and accidents, and they also reduce the amount of dust, debris and dirt that make it into your bed.
This helps protect the materials inside your bed from damage, keeps skin oils and sweat off the bed and reduces build up of allergens like mold and dust mites.
Clean the mattress
Knowing how to clean a mattress can help you reduce dust and allergen build up. Regular vacuuming of the mattress using a handheld attachment during your regular cleaning cycles at home is an easy way to clean your mattress.
Take caution when considering how to wash the mattress in the event of accidental spills or stains. Saturating the foams and fibers with liquid cleaners and water can damage the foam. When needed, you can spot clean stains using warm water and a mild detergent. Then, let the surface dry completely before putting your sheets back on.
Wash bed linens regularly
Bed sheets and blankets should ideally be washed often depending on the conditions such as sweating, using clean or not. Even when using a mattress protector, it’s still important to keep linens clean. The mattress protector should also be washed occasionally according to a manufacturer’s directions.
Turn your mattress
Turn your mattress four times or more a year to distribute the wear evenly. It should be turned side-to-side and also top to toe.
Every type of mattress benefits from being rotated regularly, no matter the material or the size. Some manufacturers say it is not necessary, but rotating helps promote more even wear, while not rotating makes depressions and softening more likely.
Take care when moving your mattress
If you need to move your mattress to a new room, or a new house, be sure to measure the entryways to insure that your mattress can fit through without bending. Bending the mattress can cause damage and void the warranty. When possible, work with professional movers to insure that your mattress is transported without any damage.
When you move, you should protect your mattress from damage by encasing it in plastic and avoiding bending or folding. Moving and box stores often carry heavy-duty mattress bags that can be secured with tape to keep dirt and water off the bed, and these also prevent scuffs and scratches.
Generally when moving a mattress, it’s also best to keep them upright on their sides so they don’t crease or sag in transit. For covers with handles, manufacturers typically suggest not using them to move or drag the mattress.
Strip your bed whenever you go on vacation to air it out
This will help the mattress air and refresh and clean off the smells and other effects caused by stocked.
Let the light in
Occasionally when you have a sunny and dry day, strip your mattress and let the sunlight in to air out the bed for several hours.
Follow manufacturer cleaning directions
Every type of mattress should be cleaned regularly to keep your sleep environment clean and keep your mattress healthy.
Many manufacturers will include directions for stain removal and general cleaning, but most beds should be vacuumed with a hose attachment to remove surface dust.
Stains can be spot treated with a mild water and soap solution, but allow them to completely dry before making the bed. Avoid using harsh chemical cleaners on foams as they can break down foam integrity.
Depending on dust levels, allergies, or personal preference, vacuuming should be done every 1 to 3 months and stains spot-treated as necessary.
DON’T DO THESE
No jumping on the bed!
Your mother always told you not to jump on the bed, and she wasn’t wrong. Spring, water and airbeds may be most prone to damage with rough wear, but foundations, frames and even foams can all wear down more quickly if you are hard on the mattress.
Don’t sit on the edge of your mattress.
Don’t allow your mattress to get wet to stay wet.
Don’t use dry-cleaning fluid of any type to clean your mattress.
Don’t place a board between your mattress and your box spring – it can interfere with the supporting function of the box spring.
Don’t bring home unwanted hitchhikers.
Bedbugs are one of the fastest ways to ruin a mattress, as they can be difficult to get rid of once they infiltrate.
In apartments or areas of the country where these critters are common, consider using a bedbug-proof mattress encasement. These differ from mattress protectors as they have impenetrable zippers and cover the bed on all sides to prevent bugs from making their home in your mattress.
#Maintenance, #mattress, #supported
