The average mattress lasts anywhere between 5 - 10 years, which can depend on the brand, quality and fabric that it is made from. However, various user-specific variables can also effect the lifespan of the mattress including the users weight, how often it is slept in and also how well it is maintained. 

In order to get the longest and most hygienic life out of your mattress, we have listed below the 5 most important maintenance tips that we advise you to follow as soon as your new mattress arrives at your home.

1. Use a mattress protector

A mattress protector is a layer of fabric, which fits on top of your mattress in order to keep it safe and protected against spills, stains and body odour. Mattress protectors come in a range of thicknesses and are made of various materials including cotton, polyester or vinyl, depending on your preference.

By providing this extra layer in between you and your mattress, you are preventing direct exposure to the mattress, which could collect nasty smells, mould or damp patches over a number of years. You are also reducing the likelihood of bed bugs or other nasty mites from breeding inside your bed, which nobody wants!

2. Don’t eat or drink in bed

Even if you do have a mattress protector on your bed, it is still advisable to save your eating and drinking for the kitchen, and well away from your mattress. Food and drink can seep into the layers of your mattress, causing long-term odours or damp, and crumbs can find their way into the smallest of cracks, attracting bugs and other nasties into your sleeping place.

3. Change your bedding regularly

As sickly as it sounds, regularly used bedding soon becomes dirty, collecting with it a selection of sweat, skin cells and hairs - none of which you particularly want to share a night’s sleep with. Therefore, we recommend that you wash your sheets on a high wash either weekly, or fortnightly at the very least in order to keep things clean and allergen free. Plus, clean and fresh bedding is great to slip into after a long day, helping ensure a great night’s sleep.

4. Rotate regularly

The best way to reduce structural wear and tear of a mattress is to rotate it regularly - every 3 months at the very minimum. Most people tend to sleep in the same, or similar position ever night, therefore body impressions start to form on the mattress, which can eventually lead to permanent disfiguration. The first couple of years of a mattresses life are especially important, so try to rotate every 2 months if possible, even if it is not advised by the manufacturer. Mattresses can often be extremely heavy, so this is usually best as a two-man job to ensure optimum health and safety.

5. Beware of kids and pets

As cute as it may seem, welcoming kids and pets into your bed can have a damaging effect on the life of your mattress. Pets tend to sweat, urinate and shed hair at a much higher rate than humans, therefore it’s always better that they get their own beds, in a different room of the house to where you sleep. Similarly, children are prone to wetting the bed, as well as often using mattresses as a bouncy castle, which could permanently damage the springs on a pocket-spring or combination mattress, so avoid this by tucking them up in their own little beds each night and protecting your own mattress as best as you can!