Preventive Mattress Maintenance

Buying a new mattress to replace an old one that had served its time (10 years or so) and battle-scarred (lumpy, saggy, uneven) with the daily wear and tear is one of the best decisions one can make.

A follow-up big decision would be how to make the new mattress maintain its good looks and retain its special qualities, the reasons why you bought it in the first place.

Like any appliance or equipment, a mattress is man-made and therefore has limited service life expectancy. From the userÆs point, however, there is also the natural desire to extend and prolong the enjoyment and the usage.

Some people call it preventive mattress maintenance, an obvious take-off from that of cars, but thankfully with the same intentions. Here are some of them.

Cleanliness and looks

First, the mattress would need a protective cover. Best would be covers made of water-resistant materials since mattresses simply cannot be made wet. A washable mattress pad or protector with good quality keeps your mattress set fresh and free from stains.

The cover would also take care of the aesthetics (beauty of design) aside from its protective use.

Avoiding sags and depressions

For innerspring mattress types, rotating and flipping the mattress will extend its life expectancy. Here is one formula.

- Make sure to rotate and flip your mattress on a weekly basis for the first three months.

- For the next three months, rotate and flip the mattress every two weeks.

- After that, rotate and flip your mattress every month.

It is also a good idea to rotate your box spring head to toe every six months or so. However, you may NOT flip your box spring, ever.

(Some mattresses are billed as ônever rotateö beds. Unless these mattresses only have padding on one side, this is not true. Mattresses need to be rotated to reduce the wear patterns that develop through daily use.)

Some mattresses are sold with only one sleep surface area. They cannot be flipped. Nevertheless, it is still a good idea to rotate them.

Avoid placing your new mattress on a saggy, broken down base. It defeats the purpose of buying the new set.

Also, if you have the habit of sitting on the edge of your bed, try to avoid doing it on the same spot every time.

Discolorations

Memory foam mattresses (or any fabric for that matter) will have some form of discoloration when expose to direct sunlight.

To avoid discoloration, simply keep the memory foam mattress or any mattress topper or pad away from direct natural light. It will not affect its performance, however.

These are just some tips on how to prolong the fresh new look and feel of your mattress even after years of service. Following them can save you a lot in money terms. One other satisfaction is that your mattress still has that quality you had wanted the first time you saw it. Sometimes, that kind of feeling is priceless.