Mattress Maintenance Tips: How to Extend the Life of Your Investment

Your new mattress is an investment in your sleep, so taking care of it properly should be a top priority. By following a few simple maintenance care tips, you can extend the life of your bed’s most critical component.

Regular spot cleaning, rotation, and vacuuming will help keep your mattress in good condition for many years of comfort

Understanding Your Mattress

Although we often take our mattresses for granted, they deserve our attention and care.

To appreciate the importance of regular mattress maintenance, you must consider the conditions your sleeping area is subjected to.

It’s unpleasant to think about, but mattresses are a collection spot for sebum (body oils), sweat, saliva, dead skin and the dust mites it attracts. The interior of any mattress can become a thriving environment for mould, yeast, and bacteria. These icky substances will quickly accumulate if ignored.

Regular Cleaning

mattress cleaning is vital for keeping a clean and healthy room. Mattress cleaning is more than just washing the sheets atop the bed. While changing your bedding once a week is important, you should also clean and inspect the mattress for any irregularities.

Just because your mattress appears clean doesn’t mean it is! Cleaning your mattress and bed sheets helps eliminate many of the allergens and contaminants you don’t see.

Vacuuming

Vacuuming your mattress is a key part of its upkeep. This practice helps eliminate dust, crumbs, and other tiny bits that can build up. No matter what type of mattress you have, whether it is an innerspring mattress or memory foam, vacuuming should be a regular part of your house cleaning chores.

Use the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner to go over every part of the mattress, including the sides. Be sure to focus on the crevices and seams where dust mites are likely to hide. It’s good to vacuum your mattress at least once every few weeks.

If allergies are a known problem for you or your sleeping partner, a vacuum with a HEPA filter may prove beneficial, as will the purchase of an air purifier for your bedroom.

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Spot Cleaning

Accidents can and will occur! Dealing with spills and stains right away is critical for protecting your mattress. The longer a contaminant is ignored, the harder it will be to remove.

When a spill happens, quickly blot it with a clean cloth. Soak up as much liquid as possible without further rubbing the stain into the mattress. You can use a mild detergent mixed with water on fresh stains.

If you’re treating older stains on a white mattress, the following homemade recipe can help.

  • 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide
  • 3 tablespoons of baking soda
  • 2 drops of liquid dish soap

Add these ingredients to an empty spray bottle and swirl them around within the container. Spray down the stained section of the mattress. Allow the solution to soak for approximately 10 minutes before blotting dry. If your mattress is dark in colour, be advised this solution could noticeably lighten the tone.

Deodorizing

Not all stains are noticeable right away.

If you encounter any older stains, sprinkling 1-3 cups of baking soda over the surface of the exposed area will help absorb any lingering smells. Baking soda can sit on the mattress anywhere from one hour to an entire day. For best results, the longer it sits, the more effective the baking soda will be. Make sure it is vacuumed up thoroughly before reapplying the sheets and bedding.

Deep Cleaning

In addition to regular spot cleaning, many people will perform a deeper clean every 6 months.

If your bedroom has a window that opens, exposure to sunlight and fresh air can help with airing your mattress out.

The sun’s UV rays disrupt the cell structures of dust mites and bacteria, effectively killing their growth. Many people will bring their mattress outdoors and rest it in a clean, dry place to sit in the sun. Roughly 6 hours is recommended for proper disinfection.

Others will use a steam cleaner for older stains or for attaining a deeper clean. However, this isn’t advised for newer memory foam mattresses or latex products. If you opt for steam cleaning, ensure you don’t sleep on the mattress again until it is completely dry.

Professional mattress cleaners are available for hire if you want to ensure the deepest clean possible. Your mattress retailer can also advise on deep cleaning tricks based on the particular style you own.

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Protecting Your Mattress

Often, the simplest preventative measures prove most effective in protecting your mattress. Here are some helpful tips to prolong the longevity of your mattress.

Use a Mattress Protector

A mattress protector is vital because it acts as a shield between your fitted sheet and the mattress. It serves as an extra layer of defence against spills, stains, dust mites, and allergens.

There are different styles and materials used for mattress protectors. All makes are designed to do the same thing: prevent the degradation of your mattress components.

A mattress protector also helps you keep your warranty valid. Many mattress warranties insist that a mattress protector be used. This makes buying a mattress protector a wise and cost-effective decision.

Keep Pets Off the Bed

We love our furry friends, but letting them share our beds affects the cleanliness of our sleeping area. Cuddling pets is part of pet ownership, but their fur, dander, and possible accidents can spoil the allure of our mattresses very quickly.

Pets can introduce dirt, pollen, and other contaminants to the bedroom that build up on the mattress. Their claws or tendency to lick and chew could also pose a threat to the integrity of the bedding.

If your pet has already laid claim to your bed, you’ll need to be more aware of the pet-related issues listed above. Don’t forget that your pet may be spending time on your bed when you’re not home, which makes proactive cleaning extra important.

Proper Handling

From the moment the mattress first arrives in your home to the moment it goes away for good, it’s crucial to handle its movement in the best possible way.

When transporting your mattress to a new location (preferably inside a sealed mattress bag) be sure to maintain the mattress’s shape. It’s especially important if the mattress contains innerspring coils. Even folding up memory foam and latex mattresses for a few hours while travelling isn’t recommended.

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Flipping/Rotating Your Mattress

Flipping and rotating your mattress is essential for its care. This step helps it last longer and wear evenly.

Not all mattresses are designed to be flipped over and slept on on either side. Still, all mattresses can and should be rotated occasionally.

When you rotate the mattress, your weight is spread out more evenly across the surface. Rotating helps avoid wear and body impressions in certain areas, especially for side sleepers who press harder on their hips and shoulders.

Make sure to check your mattress manufacturer’s instructions. They will tell you how often to flip and rotate your mattress, as this changes based on the style and make. Generally speaking, rotating your mattress once or twice a year is sufficient.

Avoid Jumping on the Bed

Jumping on the bed may seem like fun, especially for kids, but it doesn’t take long for this action to take its toll on the mattress. Repetitive jumping can strain the mattress’s materials and significantly reduce its durability. The repetitive motion of hopping up and down could weaken the coils or cause damage to the interior foam layers.

Also, jumping on top of the mattress jeopardizes the integrity of the surrounding bed frame. Our advice? Leave the bouncing for the trampoline to avoid accidental breakage.

Managing Humidity and Temperature

Warm temperatures can make sleeping unbearable during summer and contribute to excess sweat. Moist temperatures promote the growth of mould and mildew, which is never a good thing.

Unfortunately, these conditions also affect the cleanliness of your mattress.

Controlling Humidity Levels

High humidity enables dust mite populations to thrive. These microscopic organisms can trigger allergic reactions that could negatively affect the complexion of your skin or even your breathing.

That’s why it’s recommended that people in warm, damp environments use a dehumidifier during the wettest months to keep humidity at a manageable level.

Opening windows or using fans can also move the air and reduce the effects of household moisture on your furnishings.

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Temperature Regulation

Temperature control in your bedroom is important. It helps with comfort and also preserves your mattress. Drastic temperature changes can affect certain mattress materials. Memory foam, in particular, is sensitive to heat.

When it is warm, memory foam becomes softer. In cooler weather, it gets firmer. While this change is normal, too much heat for a long time can break down the foam, shortening the mattress’s life.

To keep your mattress in good shape:

  1. Keep the room temperature steady.
  2. Don’t position your mattress near heat sources like radiators.
  3. Make sure there is good airflow to stop heat from building up.

Doctors typically recommend temperatures of 15 – 21°C for optimal sleeping conditions.

Monitoring for Signs of Wear

The easiest way to know if your mattress needs replacement is by the quality of your sleep experience. However, people often get accustomed to less-than-perfect conditions.

With all the bedding removed, check for visible damage, such as tears, rips, or fraying along the edges. These conditions can worsen with continued use. Are there any new stains? Tiny red or brown spots can indicate the presence of bed bugs.

Is your nose detecting an unpleasant odour around any part of your bed? It could suggest a buildup of mould or bacteria, often caused by moisture retention.

Check for Sagging or Indentations

Start by regularly checking for sagging or uneven areas, which can indicate the loss of support in certain mattress sections. Press down on various areas of the surface to feel for soft spots or dips that could worsen over time.

Listen for Noises

Foam mattresses won’t emit any sounds. However, innerspring and hybrid mattresses could be the source of creaking and squeaking noises when their components are compromised or starting to wear out. It’s important to determine the source of any sounds. Often, it is the bed frame itself that requires adjustment.

Whether it’s the bed frame or the mattress, structural issues aren’t something you ever want to sleep on.

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Know When It’s Time to Replace

If you’re not sleeping well, it may have less to do with what’s on your mind and more to do with the quality of the mattress you’re using. If your mattress is no longer comfy, you owe it to yourself not to deprive yourself of any more restless nights.

Replacing your old, worn-out mattress is one of the best decisions you’ll ever make for your everyday happiness and vitality.

If you’ve received 7 – 10 years’ worth of use out of your current mattress, consider it time to start exploring the latest mattress offerings in the market today.

Conclusion

Proper mattress maintenance is a good idea for getting the most out of your bed. Regular cleaning and inspections ensure you get the most out of your new bedroom furnishing. Using a mattress protector will also help you maximize the mattress’s value and improve the quality of your sleep.

If you’re looking for a fine selection of mattresses, bed frames, bedside tables, and dressers to match, Q Living Furniture in Victoria and Richmond, B.C., is a terrific place to start your search.

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How To Contact Us?

 If you live in Vancouver/Richmond, Victoria or Abbotsford, you can always visit our stores during working hours. We are available from Monday to Friday, so feel free to stop by, and we’d love to show you our bedroom furniture and accessories on display.

Or, you can head over to the Contact page on our website, provide your contact details, and write to us. One of our team members will get back to you in a matter of minutes. If you don’t believe us, you can check the Testimonials section wherein our clients always praise us for our prompt and friendly staff!

So, what are you waiting for? Give your house that oomph with chic and contemporary furniture from Q Living!

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