Investment in your mattress is a big decision, both financially and for your health and well-being. When you do find a mattress that’s perfect for you, it’s important to keep it in the best shape possible, helping it help you enjoy it. To assist with that effort, these are a few tips that can help you extend your mattress’ comfort, longevity, and functionality:
- Mattress pads. If you’ve had a mattress for a couple of years, it’s very possible that your comfort preferences have changed since it was first purchased. If that mattress isn’t comfortable but remains supportive and structurally sound, there’s no reason to throw the baby out with the bathwater. To get the comfort you want with the support you need, adding a foam bed topper can increase cushioning without affecting support, tacking on years of life to a mattress you would have otherwise replaced.
- Be gentle. Because of a mattress’ soft, springy nature, it may be hard to remember it’s not invincible, nor a play area for the kids or pets. Even if you’ve added a thick mattress pad, it’s important to remember that the only thing a bed should provide is a great night’s sleep. Using it any differently may cause it to wear prematurely. Rough-housing or excessive abuse can cause foam to tear, springs to snap, and air or water cavities to spring leaks.
- Keep it dry. Nobody in a sound state of mind would ever purposefully pour water onto their mattress, or intentionally leave a window open during a rain storm, but that doesn’t mean accidents don’t happen. When a mattress gets wet, it’s quite difficult to be sure that it fully dries. If it doesn’t, that moisture can lead to mold or mildew. Because of this, adding water resistant bed covers is often a good idea, as is instituting a no food or drink rule in the bedroom. Warranties are often voided by stains on a mattress caused by an accident, even if the stain is only on the surface, and there is a genuine flaw with the build or structure of the product.