Your mattress is a substantial financial investment you have made for better comfort and sleep that improves physical and mental health. Of course, you would like it to last for as long as possible. Depending on the type of mattress you own at the moment, the traditional rules for caring for it may have changed dramatically. Here are some tips to maximize the life of your mattress:

1.    Rotate and Flip

While flipping and rotating a mattress on a regular basis was the number one recommendation by manufacturers to prolong its life and help it wear more evenly, the latest innovations in beds have only one right side up.  For brand new beds that don’t require flipping you can avoid lumps and bumps from forming by rotating the mattress on a new set end-to-end every two weeks during the first four months and after that once every three months. If there is a box spring, this should also be rotated every six months. It is a good idea to check the instructions and ask advice on whether to do this at the store where you buy it from. Different mattresses will require different things and this is why you should read reviews of mattresses like this one on the Warehouse Mattress.

2.    Spread the Load

We all have a favorite seat at the table and a spot on the couch. With a bed, we tend to have a designated side that we always sleep on.  However, simple habits like sitting on the edge of the bed at the same spot every day to tie your shoes or get dressed can cause the structure of the mattress to prematurely lose its firmness. Rotating the mattress will help to spread the load and reduce repetitive stress on the same spots.

3.    No Monkeying Around

Jumping on the bed may be fun, especially for children, but whatever your age, mattresses were not made to take the stress of jumping on them. Apart from the fact that it is extremely dangerous, it can also damage the fibers and the coils of the mattress, causing it to age prematurely.

4.    Extra Protection

While a fitted sheet can help to protect your mattress from stains, you can go one step further by covering it with a washable, waterproof mattress cover that will keep it even safer. Some mattress protectors even go beyond that by providing extra padding for additional comfort as well as special treatments for protection from bed allergens and bed mites.

5.    Keeping it Clean and Dry

Regularly vacuuming your mattress will keep it free from dust which harbors dust mites that can cause all types of allergies. Avoid eating and drinking in bed, but when something has been spilled on the mattress, mop it up immediately, strip the bedclothes, and if necessary sponge the stain with warm soapy suds. Avoid getting the surface too wet and allow it to dry completely before remaking the bed as a damp mattress can quickly become a breeding ground for mold.

6.    Eliminate Smells

For a fresher night’s rest, use a regular sprinkling of baking soda to absorb odors and eliminate bad smells. Leave the soda on the mattress for about 20 minutes before using a vacuum cleaner to remove it.

7.   Exercise Caution when Transporting

Although most mattresses come with side straps, they are not actually meant for carrying the mattress but only to help position and rotating it. If you need to lift the mattress completely to move it, it should be supported from underneath by several strong people working together. When transporting your mattress make sure it is fully supported on a flat surface and particularly avoid strapping it to the top of a car or truck as it could damage the interior structure.

8.    Regular Check-Ups

Your mattress is only as good as the support the foundation gives it which is often a good-quality frame or set with base and mattress that were purchased together. To maximize the life of your mattress regularly check the integrity of the base frame as well as the castors and legs every six months to see if anything needs to be tightened.