How Often Should You Replace Your Bed?
It’ll hardly surprising to hear that we all like to spend a lot of time in bed, but did you know that throughout out lifetimes, we spend an average of around 26 years in our beds?
When you look at it like that, it becomes clear that our beds are extra important to our health and well-being, and they need looking after.
For this reason, you need to be on the lookout for the following signs that your bed could be coming toward the end of its life.
Are You Still Getting A Good Night’s Sleep?
The most obvious sign that your mattress isn’t up to scratch is obviously if you’re waking up feeling achy or stiff.
This suggests that your mattress isn’t offering the support that it used to and could lead to more serious problems further down the line.
And while this could be down to other factors, if you wake up feeling tired every morning, this could also be a sign that something is wrong.
If you find that you get a much better night’s sleep while you’re away on holiday, then it’s definitely time to take action!
Signs Of Wear And Tear
There are also a couple of physical signs that you can look out for in your bed. For example, is there a dip in the middle of the mattress? Or can you perhaps feel the springs pushing into your back?
Mattresses are obviously usually hidden away under a comfy heap of sheets and covers, but it’s worth having a check next time you’re changing the bed.
And it’s not just your eyes you should be using! If your mattress is excessively squeaking and creaking, it’s not just going to keep you awake at night, but it’s a sign that it needs changing.
The Seven-Year Hitch
If you’ve been paying attention to all of the above and your mattress is still going strong after seven years, it’s probably about time to begin thinking about a change anyway.
That’s according to the Sleep Council, who say that even though your bed may look ok after this period of time, it might not be giving you the level of support that it should be.
While every bed is different, some might last longer and some not as long, this is a good time to start to at least consider replacing it.
Do I Need To Replace The Base Too?
We recommend that you do replace your base at the same time as your mattress because it means that the two will fit perfectly together.
For example, a King sized mattress and King size base from two different manufacturers might actually be slightly different.
The base of your bed will have undergone just the same amount of stress and strain that your mattress has, even if it isn’t immediately apparent, so it makes sense to refresh that as well.
Pillows
As a side note, we’d recommend that pillows are changed roughly once a year. This is because over the year they accumulate a pretty disgusting amount of hair and body oils, which makes them a breeding ground for all kinds of bacteria and dust mites which can cause allergic reactions.
You could also choose to use a pillow protector, which could double their lifespan.
For all the latest sleep-related tips and news, keep checking out our blog here at SleepyPeople.com!