Lack of sleep is one of the leading causes of brain fog. If you want to stay mentally sharp throughout the workday, it’s important to get a good night’s sleep.
Think beyond simply extending the hours of nighttime rest. To get quality sleep, you’ll need a quality mattress.
Check out these common signs you need a new mattress.
You Notice Impressions
Memory foam is all the rage. People flock to memory foam mattresses with the hope of having all their sleep problems cured.
But memory foam also has its limitations. If you notice that the mattress keeps your body’s impression well into the day, it might be time for a new mattress.
You want your mattress to remember the contours of your body temporarily, not permanently. The length of time will vary by the mattress, but it should never last a 24 hour period.
Mattress Begins to Sag
One of the most common signs you need a new mattress is sagging. A sagging mattress is a sign your mattress is suffering from one or more issues.
There’s no correcting or repairing your mattress once it starts to sag though. Look into upgrades right away even if it’s only sagging a few inches.
Small changes in your mattress’s appearance mean a lack of support for your back while you sleep hindering your ability to rest well.
Sneezing or Itching
Any mattress that causes you to sneeze or itch isn’t worth the trouble no matter what condition it’s in. It’s common for mattresses to build up allergens over time if they don’t have a mattress cover.
You’ll notice irritation when sleeping on your side or stomach if your mattress has allergens.
These allergens are usually too small to spot but include things like dust mites, mold, and mildew. You can try getting your mattress cleaned if you’re not ready to replace it, but the best option is usually to replace your mattress to completely rid your bed of allergens.
Chemical Smells
We all know it takes special chemicals to manufacture mattresses. But that doesn’t mean we want to bring these chemicals into our homes after purchase.
If your mattress has a strong chemical smell, most experts recommend putting it out in the sun for a few hours. Airing the mattress out should get rid of any smells unless your mattress is defective.
If the smells don’t go away, get rid of the mattress right away. The glues, polyurethane and other substances used in creating the mattress are off-gassing.
This increases the toxic load in your body and can lead to illness. Avoid heart disease, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders by getting rid of toxin heavy mattresses.
Insomnia
There’s something waking you up in the middle of the night but you just can’t put your finger on it. The culprit is likely your mattress.
Insomnia is one of the other common signs you need a new mattress. You shouldn’t wake up unexpectedly or find yourself in a night sweat every night on your bed.
Memory foam mattresses are especially sensitive to things like room size and can cause you to react when the mattress isn’t in an ideal condition. For example, your memory foam might increase in moisture in a smaller room causing you to wake up drenched in sweat in the night.
Use trial and error with your mattress to see whether there are opportunities to upgrade without replacement. In many cases, it’s worth simply starting over to make sure you get a good night’s rest.
Body Aches
Another one of the signs you need a new mattress is body aches. Waking up with an aching back might feel like old age, but your mattress should support your aging not counter it.
One of the top reasons to choose the firmness of your mattress is to make sure it’s best for your specific body needs. The type of mattress you choose has to support your spine in order to keep your back comfortable throughout the night.
Try rotating your mattress if you start to notice body aches. If the aches don’t go away within a few nights, go ahead and upgrade to prevent further damage to your spine.
Stains
Just like other semi-permanent fixtures in your house like carpets and drapes, you should replace a stained mattress. Why?
The stains don’t simply fade into thin air once they enter your mattress. Some stains can evolve into harmful mold or microbes which is bad for your health.
Unless you have a proven trick for deep stain removal, get rid of a mattress with lots of stains to avoid bigger problems. Another option might be to flip the mattress depending on the type you have.
If you do choose to flip your mattress, just make sure you use a mattress cover to avoid the same problem on the opposite side. Mattress covers come in water proof varieties so you can avoid liquids penetrating your mattress in the future.
Noises
Mattresses aren’t machinery. There should be little to no sound when you enter and exit your bed during the day.
Any noises or squeaks are a symptom of old age. Unfortunately, that means the end is near.
Start shopping for your next mattress right away to avoid the next symptom which is usually a loose spring poking through the fabric.
Warning Signs You Need a New Mattress
The warning signs you need a new mattress are hard to miss. You don’t need a high tech mattress to get a good night’s sleep, but you do need a mattress in good condition.
Keep your mattress covered to extend its shelf life. Mattress covers also keep allergens at bay so you can avoid waking up with a rash.
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