Bed and mattress care guide

Found your perfect bed? Make sure it stays comfortable for longer by following our bed care and mattress care guidelines. You’ll find plenty of useful advice on prolonging the life of your bed and mattress and how to clean a mattress, plus the top ten signs that you might be due to replace your bed or mattress.

Prolonging the life of your bed or mattress

Beds and mattresses can be expensive but there are several things you can do to ensure they last as long as possible and give you many years of use.

How to make your bed last longer

As well as providing support to your mattress, a bed frame can bring designer style to your bedroom. Here’s our advice for making sure your bed frame looks good for as long as possible.

Keep your bed away from heat

Whether your bed frame is upholstered in leather, covered in fabric or made out of wood, it’s a good idea to keep it away from radiators or out of direct sunlight – just as you would do with any treasured piece of furniture. Heat can damage wood surfaces and sunlight can cause upholstered and wooden furniture to fade.

Check the spacing between the slats

Be sure to regularly lift your mattress and check the spacing of your bed frames slats. To ensure that the mattress’s weight is evenly distributed over your bed frame’s base, they should be no more than 7 cm apart. Body weight and movement can cause even connected slats to become misaligned, so be sure to keep an eye on this.

Tighten bed frame connections

Make a point of checking your bed frame’s fixtures and fittings every few months. It’s important that all screws and connections for castors, feet, linking bars and the headboard are completely secure and fully tightened. Loose connections can put undue strain on a bed base and cause unnecessary damage.

Avoid overloading divan drawers

Divan base storage drawers and ottoman bed compartments are designed to accommodate only lightweight items like pillows, bedding and clothing. Using them for heavier items like books and shoes can damage drawer runners, cause drawers to jam and compromise bed bases. Need more storage space in your bedroom? Take a look at our bedroom furniture collection.

How to make your mattress last longer

As well as treating your mattress with care and keeping it clean, being mindful of mattress maintenance will help to extend its life and make sure it stays comfortable for as long as possible.

Turn your mattress regularly

Turning your mattress – flipping it over – allows the fillings to resettle and stay supportive. This should be done every two weeks for the first three months and then every two to three months. Some mattresses, like seasonal mattresses which have a warmer side and a cooler side, are designed to be turned. Non-turn and memory foam mattresses shouldn't be turned.

Rotate your mattress regularly

Rotating your mattress 180 degrees so the head end becomes the foot end and vice versa ensures you avoid permanent compressions in certain spots. As with turning your mattress, this should be done every couple weeks for the first three months and then every two to three months thereafter. Mattress care tip: all mattresses, whatever the type or filling, can and should be rotated.

Use a mattress topper

A mattress protector can help keep your mattress clean and stain-free, but a mattress topper, which is usually thickly padded, can make your mattress even more comfortable. If your mattress is too firm, a luxuriously padded mattress topper can make it feel softer. And if your mattress is too soft, a good-quality mattress topper can even add extra support.

Opt for a good-quality mattress base

You may have chosen a fantastic pocket sprung or memory foam mattress but without the right support you won't necessarily enjoy all the benefits. If you have a bed frame, make sure it’s sturdy enough to support the weight of the sleepers, and remember that broken slats can damage a mattress. Consider a pocket sprung divan base for extra support.