Here are our tips for determining the lifespan of your mattress.
After a long day, we all want the same thing: to get back into bed! But to enjoy restful nights, our mattress needs to be in good condition. So, the question we’ll address in this article is: What is the actual lifespan of a mattress? All sleep experts agree on this point: the average lifespan of a mattress is ten years. That’s 29,600 hours of sleep—or 1,216 full days spent in bed! But this lifespan can vary depending on the type of mattress, its quality, and other factors. If you don’t replace it at the right time, you may start to feel less comfortable, which can make it take longer to fall asleep. As a result, you’ll lose precious minutes of sleep every night, which, when added up, will lead to increased fatigue. We’ll provide you with all the details you need to understand the lifespan of different mattresses.
BY MATERIAL
Not all mattresses have the same lifespan. In fact, certain materials and compositions last longer.
A. Synthetic Foam Mattresses
There are two main types of foam: polyurethane foam (often called high-resilience foam) and memory foam (also known as viscoelastic foam). These foams are widely available on the market and are derived from petrochemicals. Due to their composition and characteristics in terms of strength and durability, these foams do not allow the mattress to have a long lifespan. They tend to start sagging after a few years. As a result, the lifespan of a polyurethane and/or memory foam mattress is generally estimated at 7 years.
B. Spring Mattresses
As for spring or pocket-spring mattresses, they are healthy and well-ventilated, which prevents the proliferation of dust mites. Unfortunately, they are often combined with synthetic foams that are not very breathable and therefore promote the growth of dust mites. The lifespan of a spring mattress can be up to 10 years, or 12 years for the highest-quality models.
C. Synthetic Latex Mattresses
Synthetic latex is a material designed to mimic the characteristics of natural latex, which provide a mattress with a balance of comfort and support. Unfortunately, like memory foam mattresses, this type of mattress is made of synthetic foams that are not very breathable. This tends to promote bacterial growth over time. In addition, synthetic latex is less durable than natural latex, partly because it loses its elasticity over time. The average lifespan of synthetic latex mattresses is 10 years.
D. Natural Latex Mattresses
Natural latex is an elastic and breathable material. Thanks to its elasticity and durability, natural latex mattresses sag very little over time. For example, according to CATAS certification, the Kipli natural latex mattress loses only 1% of its height after 10 years of use. The breathability of latex prevents the mattress from deteriorating despite humidity or heat in the bedroom. Furthermore, thanks to the properties of this material, the mattress is naturally dust-mite-resistant and antibacterial, helping to prevent bacterial growth over time. All of these characteristics combine to provide a lifespan of up to 15 years. Another plus is that it is biodegradable at the end of its life thanks to its natural composition.
HOW CAN YOU MAXIMIZE THE LIFE OF YOUR MATTRESS?
A. Choose a suitable bed frame
While the material has a direct impact on a mattress’s lifespan, you shouldn’t overlook the other components of your bedding—especially the box spring. In fact, a bed base can either help your mattress last a long time or, conversely, if it’s not suitable, cause wear and tear and shorten its lifespan. First and foremost, keep in mind that box springs are designed to support only innerspring mattresses. If you place a foam or latex mattress on top of one, you risk damaging it and accelerating the wear and tear of your mattress. Other types of bed bases, such as slatted, block-style, or relaxation bed bases, can be used with different types of mattresses. You can find more details in our article on choosing a bed base.
B. Take care of it
A mattress is a valuable item that requires proper care to maximize its lifespan. To do this, we recommend against placing your mattress directly on the floor; instead, place it on a box spring. This way, the elevated mattress is protected from pet hair, insects, dust mites, and allergens that may be on the floor. In addition, a box spring allows the mattress to breathe and prevents it from becoming a breeding ground for mold and moisture, which can quickly shorten the life of your mattress. To air it out further, feel free to leave your mattress uncovered in the open air. You can also place it in direct sunlight to drive out moisture and eliminate dust mites. To keep your bedding in good condition with minimal effort, we recommend airing out your bedroom daily.
A simple way to care for your mattress is to flip it from time to time to prevent it from sagging. Flipping the mattress regularly helps extend its lifespan. This also ensures guest comfort by preventing uneven sagging. For new mattresses, we recommend flipping them at least once or twice a month for the first two months. After that, you can space out this task and flip it each season—about every 3 months. There are two ways to flip your mattress. For mattresses with a soft side and a firm side, you can alternate which side faces up. If your mattress has only one side, or if you prefer the comfort of only one side, or if it’s too heavy to move, you can flip it to switch the head and foot ends.These recommendations should be followed more frequently if you sleep on a mattress with a shorter lifespan, such as memory foam mattresses, for example.
C. Clean your mattress
To maximize the lifespan of your mattress, you can clean it. To do so, you can either air out the room as mentioned earlier, but this method is less effective. For the best results, be sure to vacuum it regularly. Even though it may take a little time, it’s a simple and, above all, effective way to clean your mattress. If you need to remove stains from your mattress, we recommend using a mild cleaner and lukewarm water. For blood stains, simply replace the lukewarm water with cold water. A clean mattress lasts longer. Some mattresses come with a removable, machine-washable cover, making maintenance easier. This is especially convenient for children’s and baby mattresses.
D. Protect it
To maximize the lifespan of your mattress, you can protect it by using a mattress protector. A mattress protector absorbs moisture from the room as well as sweat produced while you sleep. As a result, using a mattress protector prevents mold and the growth of dust mites. In addition, it traps stains, preventing them from seeping into your mattress and thereby extending its lifespan. Choose natural materials for your mattress protector (without synthetic waterproof treatments). Thanks to the benefits of organic cotton, the Kipli mattress protector helps regulate body temperature, prevents night sweats, and promotes restful sleep.
SIGNS THAT IT'S TIME TO REPLACE YOUR MATTRESS
Do you feel like your mattress isn’t as comfortable as it used to be? To find out if it has reached the end of its useful life, there are some simple tests you can perform. You can determine how much life your mattress has left based on visible signs or how it feels. Your mattress has reached the end of its useful life if:
- Your mattress sags more than usual when you sit on it. This is one of the most common signs that your mattress is worn out and has reached the end of its useful life.
- You can feel the slats of your box spring or the springs in your mattress.
- You notice that your mattress has retained the indentation left by your body after you got up.
- You wake up feeling stiff and sore, with back pain. If you wake up with pain in your back, neck, lower back, or buttocks, it’s a sign that your mattress no longer suits your body type or that it has sagged. In either case, you should consider getting a new mattress.
- Your mattress (if it has springs) creaks as soon as you move. When it starts making noises—creaking, squeaking, or grinding—it means it's worn out.
- You spent a night away from home and slept much better than you do in your own bed. That’s a clear sign it’s time to replace your mattress.
- The appearance of an unpleasant odor—which may be caused by excess moisture—indicates that your mattress no longer provides the quality needed for restful, healthy sleep. It has therefore reached the end of its useful life.
- You may experience allergic reactions when you are in your bedroom. It is possible that the chemical treatments in your mattress are no longer effective and that dust mites and/or dust have accumulated in your mattress.
- All of these signs can occur independently of one another. However, as soon as one of them appears, replacing your bedding can help you get the restful sleep you need to start your day off right. You can find our tips on how to choose the right mattress here
THE IMPACT OF MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
A. Weight
Your body can change over the years. This is something to keep in mind when deciding when to replace your mattress. Here are some factors to consider to help guide you.Replacing your mattress may be necessary if you’ve gained weight. In that case, your current mattress may no longer be suitable for your new weight. The same applies if, conversely, you’ve lost a significant amount of weight. Find out more in our article, “How to Choose a Mattress Based on Your Weight.”
B. Age
In fact, as a child grows, their bedding needs will also change. Even if their mattress isn’t worn out, it may be necessary to replace it to accommodate their changing body type by choosing a firmer and/or wider model that will provide better support.
C. You sleep with someone: your partner’s weight, body density, etc.
You won’t sleep the same way when you’re with a partner as when you’re alone. In fact, to avoid being disturbed by your partner’s movements, your mattress needs to provide optimal sleep independence. If it’s worn out, you won’t have the comfort you need to sleep well. Additionally, you should take your partner’s weight into account when choosing a mattress with the right density. If there’s a significant weight difference between you and your partner, you can also choose to sleep on two single mattresses with different densities. Buying a mattress is a significant financial investment, but it’s also essential for getting restful sleep. To get the most out of your mattress, it’s important to understand everything about a mattress’s lifespan, and we hope this article has helped clarify things for you.
Of course,
The Kipli Team