Know When Your Bed Needs to be Replaced

Because we spend so much time in our beds, month after month, year after year, it’s hard to recognize when it has deteriorated to the point that it should be replaced. Quite frequently, an old mattress may just seem comfortable because your body has adapted to its slow decline. But if it were to be compared side-by-side to a new bed, it would feel broken down and awful. Unfortunately, conducting that kind of comparison isn’t feasible in most cases. Instead, here are a few tips for identifying when it’s time to replace your bed:

• Your bed is uncomfortable. This is by far the biggest and most obvious signal that your bed needs to be replaced. Unfortunately, once you get to this point, it’s also too late. Waking up sore or stiff and feeling tired at work all day is your body telling you that your mattress is lacking the comfort and structural support a soft mattress pad can’t fix. Sleep should be refreshing and rejuvenating, and if you wake up not feeling this way, it may be your bed’s fault.
• Your bed is old. Like most consumer products, mattresses don’t last forever. Whether it’s a foam rubber mattress, air mattress, or a traditional bed, it will eventually wear out. Additionally, at a certain point, it’s smart to replace a bed because of the potential allergens it may have collected over the years as well. One general rule of thumb is to replace your mattress about every seven years. Some may last longer and some may wear out sooner, but around seven years is a good time to take a hard look at your mattress and see if it’s about to enter its golden years or is ready for a funeral.
• You’re Allergic. As previously stated, mattresses can contain a litany of potential allergens and irritants, from mold and mildew to dust mites. These can keep you from falling asleep or cause restlessness while sleeping. That reduced quality of sleep means reduced energy during the day and can even manifest itself in an overall decline in your health. Some bedding types, like a polyurethane foam mattress made to order or even a custom boat mattress, are better at preventing the infiltration of irritants, but it’s also important to make sure you aren’t allergic to the materials used to make the mattress, whether it’s fabrics or stuffing materials.