11 signs it may be time for a new mattress

In this article we will cover a few important questions, how often should you change your mattress. How to tell that you need a new mattress. What is the best way to dispose of your old mattress. Everything that we cover are only recommendations, remember to always consult your mattress retailer.

How often should you get a new mattress?

The building blocks of a good night's sleep start with your bed and your mattress. While a mattress

can look to be in great condition for years and years, if you've had yours for 8 years or longer, it may be time to start looking for a new one.

Keep reading to learn some of the tell-tale signs it's time for a new mattress...

11 signs it may be time for a new mattress:

1. You are tossing and turning through the night

It is normal to shift positions as you sleep, but constant tossing and turning through the night is a sign that you are not able to find a comfortable position. If the mattress is either too firm or too soft for you, your spine will not be correctly aligned and supported, resulting in the build-up of pressure points around your joints. This can make it difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position.

2. You don't feel refreshed when you wake up

A good quality night's sleep will leave you feeling rested, rejuvenated, and ready to start the day. If you aren't sleeping properly through the night, you will wake up feeling groggy and as tired as the night before. Although there are a number of other factors that can keep you awake at night such as stress, or loud noises from the street outside, your mattress may also be preventing you from getting a restful night's sleep. If you aren't comfortable and fully supported by your mattress, you will struggle to achieve a night of deep sleep.

3. You wake up with aches and pains

Do you often wake up in the morning with aching in your lower back? Does this stiffness gradually lessen within a couple of hours of waking? This is a classic sign that your mattress no longer provides you with the support that it should. Good sleeping posture is essential and selecting a mattress that ensures your spine is in a neutral position will help to keep those aches and pains at bay.

4. You sleep better away from your own bedroom

Having a better night's sleep when you are on holiday isn't unusual; you can switch off from all the stresses and worries of everyday life for a week or two. However, if you notice you sleep better, feel more rested and wake up with less aches and pains whenever you sleep in a bed that isn't your own, even if it is a night away on your last business trip, you should look to invest in a new mattress. And be sure to think about why this mattress made you sleep better. Was it softer than your mattress at home? Did you have more room to spread out? All these factors will be important when it comes to choosing your next mattress.

5. Your mattress is beginning to dip

If you and your partner keep rolling into each other and end up meeting in the middle of your mattress, it is likely your mattress has begun to sag. Not only is this hugely annoying and will mean you are regularly disturbed through the night, but a sagging mattress will not provide you with adequate support.

6. Your mattress has become noisy

If you find yourself being woken by the noises of your mattress throughout the night, it could be that the springs or fillings have reached their lifespan, and it is time to look for a new, quieter one. Once a mattress becomes old the fillings can move which can make the metal coils rub against one another making a noise when you move. However, the best way to avoid this happening is by purchasing a pocketed spring mattress, therefore the coils will never be able to rub against one another.

7. You wake your partner up, or they wake you up, moving throughout the night

Being disturbed by your partner moving around in bed can be extremely frustrating - when they move to feel comfortable it can wake you up. This can be because the mattress fillings have displaced or because the tension of the mattress is uncomfortable for one or both of you. If you find you are arguing in bed more than usual or waking up much more in the nights - consider finding a mattress that is comfortable for you both. You could consider a dual tension mattress which allows a different tension on each side of the mattress, allowing both people to be comfortable at night.

8. Your mattress has collected allergens

Some mattresses can accumulate allergens like mold, mildew, and dust mites over time. If you're allergic to these irritants, you're likely to experience an allergic reaction. Consider changing your mattress to one made of hypoallergenic materials such as wool. You should also keep your room well-ventilated by keeping your bedroom window slightly open at night. Make sure to not make your bed first thing in the morning, fold down the covers and allow the moisture from the evening to evaporate for around 20 minutes.

9. You've experienced a physical change

Your physicality and personal preferences can change over time. Those who develop arthritis or osteoporosis may find their usual mattress becoming uncomfortable over time, which could be a good opportunity to invest in one designed to take the pressure off your joints. Tell-tale signs that your mattress is causing you issues are that your mornings start with pain, you're tossing and turning all night and you keep waking up in the night. We have our Optimum Support collection which offers a collection of extra firm mattresses, which may support you with a better night's sleep.

10. Your mattress has lumps

If you've had your mattress for a while, you may find the fillings begin to separate and form lumps. Not only can this be uncomfortable and lead to a bad night's sleep - but it means that the mattress is not supporting your body as well as it should be and can leave you with aches and pain throughout the day.

11. Your mattress has lost its memory

If you have a memory foam mattress, keep an eye out for it becoming either too hard or too soft. The type of material used to create memory foam mattresses is especially sensitive to temperature, meaning its firmness can alter over time.

How to dispose of your old mattress

Disposing of your mattress correctly is very important, all of the contents of a Harrison Spinks mattress can be fully recycled so it is important that you ensure it is recycled appropriately and not taken to landfill.

It is always best to check with your local council when you’re planning to dispose of your old mattress. Most councils offer a recycling service, they will come to collect the mattress and dispose of it appropriately. Check your local council’s gov.uk website and it should list your nearest recycling centre.

Some retailers will even come and collect your old mattress when you buy a new one, so make sure to enquire with your retailer when buying a new mattress.

We strive to be as sustainable as possible as a company using recyclable and home-grown materials. Our Synergy Collection is a contemporary mattress collection which has a breathable design with sustainable fillings and is 100% recyclable.

To summarise...

It is time to pay attention to your body. Aches, pains, disturbed sleep and sagging are all signs that your mattress is no longer providing you with the support it should. However, this doesn’t mean that you should buy a firm mattress thinking it will give you the most support. This is a common misconception, but the mattress which supports you the most will keep your spine in a neutral position.

If a mattress is too firm, your spine will arc upwards and cause pressure points to build up around your lower back, knees, and shoulders. Alternatively, your mattress may be too soft for you, meaning that your spine bows downwards, creating pressure points around the lower back and hips. When your spine is neutral, the heavier parts of the body such as the knees, hips and shoulders will be properly supported. This relieves the build up of pressure points, and it is essential for a good quality night’s sleep.

To find a new mattress, you can use our Find a Retailer search to find a retailer close to you. It is always recommended that you try your new mattress before you buy.