Mattress Guide

Mattress maintenance plays an important role in extending the lifespan of your mattress, as well as ensuring you get optimum comfort while sleeping. This guide looks at everything you need to consider, including when to replace your mattress, how to take care of your mattress, plus general maintenance tips to ensure it enables you to get a great night’s sleep for as long as possible.

Replacing your current mattress

A mattress is a big investment and there are some important considerations to look at before you buy one. This includes when and how to get rid of your old mattress, plus how to choose the best type of mattress for your specific needs.

How often should you change your mattress?

We recommend replacing your mattress every 8 years. This is because the older your mattress gets, the less it can support your pressure points, and it retains dust and sweat over time. For example, a mattress that’s 10 years old could house up to 10 million dust mites – ergh! There may be indicators when it’s time to get rid of your mattress, regardless of its age. For example, if you often wake up with aches or pains. This could be due to sagging in your mattress and if this is causing discomfort, it’s time to buy a new one.

How to get rid of a mattress Unsure

Unsure where to put your old mattress once you’ve bought a new one? You can usually contact your local council who will collect it, often for a fee. However, it’ll most likely end up in landfill this way. An easy and environmentally friendly option is to use our recycling service. While delivering your new mattress, we can also take away your old one. We’ll reuse its materials and turn any waste into green energy – a great way for you to do your bit for the planet.

How to choose the best type of mattress for you

If you’re shopping for a new mattress it can be difficult to know where to start. We have many mattress types, comfort grades, and fillings to choose from. Factors that you should base your mattress decision on include your weight, any health conditions (such as allergies or pains), and your preferred sleeping position.

What type of mattress lasts the longest?

Most mattresses will need replacing every 8 years, regardless of fillings, to ensure you’re getting optimum support and hygiene. However, the lifespan of a mattress depends on several things, including how often it’s used, the weight it bears, how often it’s cleaned and aired, plus any damage it receives.

Setting up your new mattress

Once you’ve invested in a new mattress, you’ll want to make the most of it to ensure a good night’s sleep for years to come. At Dreams, our delivery teams will carry your mattress directly to your room of choice, so no setup is required on your part. However, read on to find out what to do once your new mattress has arrived.

If you’ve purchased a standard unrolled mattress, this will be ready for sleeping on instantly. Rolled mattresses however, can take up to 48 hours to unroll and rise fully

Mattress dimensions

dimensions Many of our mattresses are handmade meaning they can vary a little in size – around +/- 2cm. This is in line with the BS1334:1996 regulation. During transit to your home, some mattresses may contract, but they’ll relax back into their normal length again after being used for a short while.

Should a new mattress smell?

If your new mattress has an odour, don’t be alarmed. This is perfectly normal. A new mattress smell is due to volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) being concentrated in a small area, such as a box or packaging. Please allow it to air out nearby an open window for at least a couple of hours and the new smell will disperse.

Can you use a hot water bottle or electric blanket?

Using a hot water bottle or electric blanket is safe with all our mattresses, however they can affect the feel of your mattress. The heat can soften the fillings making it feel temporarily softer. We don’t recommend that electric blankets are placed directly on the mattress surface (without a sheet) as this can cause the fillings to overheat.

How long does it take to get used to a new mattress?

Your new mattress may feel slightly different than the mattress you tried in store, this is largely due to the amount of people that have sat and laid on the in-store sample, which in turn leads it to feel more worn-in compared to your brand-new one. A new mattress needs time to adjust to you. After around 30 nights, your mattress will start to contour to your body and the fillings will settle slightly. The fillings will settle in pressure point areas and this simply means the mattress is doing its job – supporting you where you need it most. In the unlikely event that you’re finding your new mattress uncomfortable, we offer a 30 Day money back guarantee because we want to help you find the mattress that’s right for you. This guarantee allows you to exchange your new mattress for another (after between 30 and 40 nights of use).

What does it mean if your new mattress is dipping?

dipping? All new mattresses are designed to settle/dip slightly in the areas that you sleep the most. The layers and fillings are simply responding to pressure point areas and providing support where you need it. While a little settlement is no cause for concern, there are ways you can minimize any further dipping:
• Allow your mattress to air out daily by leaving the covers pulled back for a while after you get up. This encourages any moisture to disperse and allows the fillings and layers to rise back up.
• Make sure you follow the recommended rotate and/or turn instructions as labelled on your mattress. Regular rotating and/or turning encourages the fillings to level out.

Maintaining your mattress

Once you and your new mattress have got to know each other, we recommend some maintenance tips to ensure your mattress lasts for as long as possible. These include rotating and/or turning over your mattress, cleaning your mattress, and airing it out.

How do you take care of a mattress?

To keep your mattress in tip-top condition and to prolong its lifespan, we advise the following:
• Avoid bending or jumping on your mattress
• Wash your bed linen every 1-2 weeks
• Use a mattress protector to shield against stains
• Let your mattress breathe by pulling the covers back and allowing it to air for a while every day
• Depending on what the label says on your mattress, rotate and/or turn over regularly (see more information below)
• Clean your mattress as soon as possible after any spills with some warm soapy water and a cloth
Read on to find out more about taking care of your mattress. How

How often should you rotate and turn your mattress?

All our mattresses are either single-sided or double-sided and depending on which one you choose, there are different instructions on rotating and turning over. If you have a single-sided mattress, there will be a ‘Rotate Regularly / Single-Sided’ label on it. For the first 3 months, we recommend rotating your mattress from head to toe once a week. After that, rotate it just once a month. If you have a double-sided mattress, there will be a ‘Turn Over Regularly / Double-Sided’ label on it. For the first 3 months, we recommend that you turn it over once a week. After that, turn it over just once a month. Doing this will prolong the lifespan of your mattress and ensure even settlement of the fillings. When turning or rotating your mattress, be careful to not allow it to fall against the side of the bed as this may damage the fillings. We recommend that two people move the mattress together, if possible. The handles on the side of your mattress are not designed to lift or carry it, they’re only intended to help rotate and position the mattress while laid flat.

How to clean a mattress

We recommend cleaning any spills as quickly as possible with warm, soapy water and a cloth. Remove dust and debris with a soft brush. We don’t recommend using any cleaning products or vacuuming your mattress.

How to air out your mattress

We recommend allowing your mattress to air daily by leaving the covers pulled back for a while after you get up. This allows any moisture to evaporate and odours to disperse.

Why use a mattress protector?

Although a mattress protector may seem like an unnecessary accessory for a brand-new mattress, we assure you it’s a great investment to keep your mattress in tip-top condition. It’ll protect your mattress from moisture and spills, plus save you money in the long run as you won’t have to buy a new mattress prematurely.

How often should you wash your bedding?

To maximise the longevity of your mattress, we recommend that you wash your bed sheets every 1-2 weeks. This minimises any dirt from your bedding making its way through to your mattress, and it also can help you drift off into a more comfortable sleep from that feeling of soft freshness.

How to fix a sagging mattress

As a mattress ages, sagging can sometimes occur. If your mattress starts to sag, it’s best to replace it as soon as possible to ensure you avoid any misalignment of your spine – this can cause aches and pains. In the meantime, try placing some firm pillows beneath your mattress in the problematic areas to provide a little padding and support. We recommend you replace your mattress every 8 years. We hope you found this guide useful, click below to read some more.