How You Know It’s Time to Replace Your Mattress

Mattresses don't last forever, and there are a number of telltale signs that your sleeping surface needs to be replaced.

Telltale Signs Your Mattress Is Failing

It can be hard to tell what causes a poor night’s sleep. Sometimes you simply have too much on your mind. But there’s also a chance your old mattress is to blame. Mattresses typically last seven to 10 years. Toward the end of their useful life, they do break down and need to be replaced.

You Wake Up In Pain

A good mattress keeps your spine in proper alignment and cushions your pressure points while you sleep. If it doesn’t, you may wake up with lower back pain and/or other joint pain. If you’re consistently waking with aches and pains that have no other logical cause, your mattress probably needs to be replaced.

It’s Sagging or Lumpy

Sometimes your mattress visibly shows its age. If it sags in the middle, body impressions don’t bounce back or you notice other lumps, it’s time to visit the mattress store.

You Toss and Turn at Night

If you can’t pinpoint a cause for your sleep woes, your mattress might be to blame. If it isn’t supporting your body and providing adequate cushioning, you may find yourself tossing and turning or waking up frequently throughout the night. Sometimes this can be fixed by investing in a mattress topper, but it’s a temporary solution at best.

Your Allergies Are Worse Than Usual

Do you get stuffed up or start sneezing as soon as you lay down at night? If you’ve ruled out common culprits such as your bedding and pillows, it could be your mattress causing allergy issues. After years of use, dust mites, mold, mildew and other allergens can work their way into your mattress. Unfortunately, there’s no way to get them out.

Giving your mattress a thorough cleaning may help for a while, but you’ll definitely want to start budgeting for a new sleep surface.

It Smells or Has Stains

Mattresses often develop an unpleasant odor over the years thanks to sweat, mildew and fungi. You can try using baking soda to minimize these smells. But if your mattress is stinky and stained, it needs to be replaced.

It’s Noisier Than Usual

If your mattress has inner springs, you may notice more squeaking and creaking as it ages. This often means its springs are losing their integrity. You can try tightening any bolts in the mattress or box spring to see if that helps.

You Sleep Better in Other Places

Do you look forward to staying in hotels or other people’s homes because you sleep infinitely better? If it seems like any bed is more comfortable than yours, that’s a major sign your mattress just isn’t cutting it anymore! Your bedroom should be comfortable for sleeping.

You’ve Had It for Seven or More Years

The average lifespan of a mattress will vary depending on the quality of the product, as well as how it’s used. However, once you reach that seven-year mark, you may want to start saving for a new mattress. It will likely begin losing its effectiveness sooner rather than later.

Camryn Rabideau
Camryn Rabideau is freelance writer specializing in fashion, beauty, home, smart technology and general lifestyle content. She holds a degree in fashion merchandising from the University of Rhode Island and jumps at any opportunity to combine her love for fashion and writing.

Camryn is a regular contributor to popular media sites such as Martha Stewart, Food52, InStyle, Taste of Home, USA Today, Reviewed.com, The Spruce, Elite Daily and The Everygirl. She has also worked with several Fortune 500 companies to create engaging articles for their content marketing initiatives. Despite pressure from her peers, she remains on team #NoOxfordComma.