When it comes to keeping our beds in tip-top condition, we often think about our bed sheets. Changing our sheets and quilt cover regularly is an important way to keep our space clean, but what about the mattress itself?
Your mattress can help provide you with the comfort and support your body needs throughout the night. Keeping it in good condition can prolong its life, and also help you get a better night’s sleep. From cleaning it to ensuring it has the right support and investing in a mattress protector, here are a few tips that can help you take care of your mattress for years to come.
Support the mattress
Before we get to the maintenance, it’s important to ensure your sleep surface has the right foundation. While a mattress helps to support our body, mattresses also need support to do their job. A base or bed frame is designed to help support your weight, as well as the weight of your mattress, and can help sleepers avoid the feeling of rolling inward or rolling outward. Here are a few key things to keep in mind when it comes to your mattress:
- Ensure your timber slats are spaced evenly. This can help avoid the feeling of lumps and ensure the mattress can get an even level of support.
- Make sure the base or frame is assembled correctly. Ensure that all the base legs are attached properly, and that all joints are screwed in correctly.
Rotate your mattress
Most people tend to sleep in the same spot night after night. Over time, that can start to wear on your mattress – especially if you don’t rotate it. Some mattresses cannot be rotated – especially if they have custom sides. However, if you can rotate your mattress, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Rotating your mattress involves moving the mattress 180 degrees, so the head area becomes the foot area and vice versa. Although there may be different recommendations for different types of mattresses, a good rule of thumb is to rotate it at least every three months and/or as per the manufacturer’s instructions.
You can rotate your mattress in a few easy steps:
- First, make sure you have someone help you. Rotating a mattress, especially a queen and king size, isn’t easy, having someone help you do it will not only be safer but you can get it done faster.
- Remove all bedding and move any breakable nearby decor, like bedside lamps, out of the way.
- Decide whether you will rotate it clockwise or anti-clockwise before you lift it.
- Have the other person stand at the other end of the mattress, lift (if you have a bed frame with both a headboard and footboard) or glide (if you have a headboard but not a footboard) and rotate it 180 degrees.
- Centre the mattress in place, aligning with the bed frame/base.
Make sure you read the care instructions specific to your mattress, as some manufacturers will suggest turning your mattress in different ways. You’ll also need to make sure your mattress can be rotated. If you’ve invested in a custom mattress then rotating it can cause your customised side to not align with you anymore. If you have a dual or custom mattress, then you’ll have to skip this step!
Hygiene tips
Like your sheets and quilt covers, your mattress will also need to be kept fresh and clear of nasties like bacteria and odour. Here are a few tips for helping with your mattress hygiene:
- Protect from future stains and dust. If you don’t have one already, then a mattress protector is a great investment. A mattress protector goes ontop of your mattress, designed to protect your mattress from stains and spills. There are a range of types available like waterproof and quilted mattress protectors and are machine washable – so you can just pop them in the wash if a spill does happen!
- Remove and wash all bedding. Regularly washing your bedding like sheets, pillow cases and quilt covers can all help keep your sleep surface feeling more fresh.
- Vacuum. Vacuuming your mattress is the easiest way to remove dust or other build up. Vacuum the top and sides of the mattress and underneath the bed.
- Spot clean. Stains on mattresses can sometimes be inevitable. Spot cleaning as soon as a spill appears can help remove the stain, and can help prevent long-term damage.
- Ensure your mattress breathes. Sufficient airflow in your bedroom will help keep your mattress free of mould.
Now that you know how to rotate, support, and maintain your mattress, you’ll be able to keep it fresher for years to come. Remember to always read the manufacturer’s instruction manual for specific advice regarding your mattress.
Once you’re done rotating, checking the support for, and maintaining your mattress hygiene, you can remake your bed with clean and crisp sheets, and enjoy a better night’s sleep on your new, improved mattress.