Are you heading for a breakup with your mattress?


It’s February, a leap year and the month of love. But instead of going all hearts and plushies on you or putting on the proposal pressure, we’re taking a look at the mattress breakup – and how to call it a day when the pillow talk stops.
5 minute read
Its time. You can feel it – the tossing all night; the sunken (Bed)muda Triangle that swallows you up every time you roll left; the eye squash into the pillow that leaves you blinking all day relentlessly; the back pain you’ve been blaming on your age but, really, you know exactly the true cause. Your Bed. You’ve tried to put it off, keep it chill, make room for the positives – but each night, oh, the dread! You know it, and your bed knows it – it’s time to have the talk.
Much like a solid, healthy relationship, the primary purpose of a mattress is to provide support and comfort for the long haul. A good night's sleep is no exception. Over time, the materials in a mattress will break down, affecting the quality of sleep gradually and leading to decreased support. Changing your mattress every 8 years is a general rule of thumb, according to the Chiropractic Journal of 2009, which established that while ‘8’ is the magic number, one also needs to consider the quality of the bed components. The weaker the components inside a mattress, the lesser the longevity.
Since we spend around 3 years in our beds, accumulatively, during an 8-year period, we begin to appreciate that a long-term, healthy relationship with your mattress needs a lot more attention and thought when it comes to partnership. Signs of discomfort are normal after a while, but these are not always easy to pinpoint – and should never (like, ever) be ignored.
Here are Bed King’s Top 4 break-up signs to look out for:
1. No Springs Attached
Just like any long-term relationship, your mattress goes through a few rough patches - i.e wear and tear. It's natural for a mattress to show signs of ageing, but when these signs show up as tattiness to the naked eye, it's an obvs indication the end might be near. Keep an eye on the edges of the mattress. If they lack the firmness they once had, or are visibly compressed, it’s a bed giveaway that your mattress is no longer holding up well. Check for lumps or sagging in the surface as these can compromise its ability to provide equal support for the body. At the very worst, you’ll know it is passed its prime when you notice so much as one spring jutting out (abort mission - do not proceed!).
2. Losing Sleep
Restless nights and sleep discomfort can mean a whole lot more than the spicy Lamb Vindaloo you treated yourself to at midnight. A persistent series of tosses and turns, restlessness and rolls are the biggest signs of a bad relationship with your bed. Considering that 95% of adults in the U.S.A alone complain about losing at least an hour’s sleep per night due to pain, the cost to your mental wellness and physical wellness is called to question. It should be a worry if you find yourself tossing and turning, not able to settle into a comfortable position for days or weeks on end; and if you’re waking up with stiffness, aches, or pains that weren't present before, this is a sign that a drastic ghosting is in order, at the very least.
3. Things have Changed
Life changes us, age affects us, and our emotional and physical needs may change alongside it. If you've experienced significant lifestyle changes, such as weight loss, or gain, or changes in health, your current mattress may no longer be right for you. Do a sense check on yourself with a sleep diary: record your sleep quality for 7 consecutive nights. Then, reflect on any physical, emotional or biological changes you have experienced over a period of three to six months. If you have experienced life changes in correlation to your sleep patterns, you may very well discover a Comfort Solution is just what you need. Our weight, for example, plays a role in mattress partnership. Whether the scale goes up or down, fluctuations in weight can affect the way a mattress supports the body, and a mattress that was once spot on, might become less so as your body changes.
In addition, if you've made any changes to your sleep environment, such as using a different type of pillow, your mattress should complement these shifts too. Speaking to a certified Sleep Lab® consultant can assist you in making the right moves.
4. It’s just not Healthy anymore
As a mattress ages, it can attract allergens from bacteria and dust mites to mould. Gross, we know. A mattress can be the cause of increased allergy symptoms, such as itchy eyes, congestion, or sneezing. Old mattresses can also have allergens that add to poor indoor air quality, affecting your overall health. A smelly mattress is another warning sign of the time to make a change. If musty or mouldy smells arrive and linger in the room, it could be an indication of moisture build up, potentially leading to health issues.
Dear Matty, are you the One?
Breakups can be messy and finding the ‘one’ after many years of habit and hope, can feel overwhelming at first. It doesn’t have to be. When you remember that a mattress is like a friend with benefits (for roughly 8 wonderful years!) - a temporary partner that will serve you well for a season of life - then changing things up every 8 years or so isn’t so bad. It’s normal. A mattress should enhance your sleep, never compromise it.
So how do we make the right choice?
Some of the most common mistakes we can make when choosing a new mattress is to opt for the wrong firmness. One of the more innovative moves you can make in choosing a new mattress can be made with Bed King’s free Pressure Mapping service, which identifies your unique pressure points. This is available through the Comfort Solutions Lab where your body is swiftly assessed for comfort levels and sleep support; making it that much simpler to make the switch, and even, to upgrade sleep quality. Investing in a mattress that treats you right and aligns with your needs is a step toward nurturing a healthier and happier you. It’s for the best, trust us.
Check back soon for more insider insights from the Bed King team. In the meantime, keep an eye on our Facebook page and Instagram profile to stay up to date with great deals, special offers and more.