How to Make Your Mattress Last Longer

Rotate it on a schedule, and flip it only if it's two-sided

Bed Advice UK, the National Bed Federation's consumer site, says to follow the care instructions that came with your mattress. If you don't have any, turn a one-sided, non-turn mattress head to foot weekly for the first three months, then monthly. For a two-sided mattress made to be flipped, rotate it one week and flip it the next for three months, then alternate those jobs monthly. Don't flip a one-sided mattress, because it has only one sleeping surface.

A heavy king-size is a two-person job, so get someone to help rather than wrestling with it alone. If you can't manage the turning yourself, some retailers offer a turning service, so ask yours.

A base that suits the mattress helps it last

Check that your slatted base is compatible with your mattress: Bed Advice UK's Bed bases explained says makers should give their own slat spacing and width, and an incompatible base invalidates the guarantee. Rigid slats leave the mattress to do all the work.² Flexible slats work with it and help it last. Imported or antique bedsteads may not be UK standard sizes, so check that the mattress and bedstead match.

• slat spacing and width match the mattress maker's recommendation
• no slats are broken or missing
• the mattress and frame are the same size
• the mattress doesn't slide or hang over the edge

Slats more than about seven centimetres apart, or a broken slat, are where I look first when a mattress dips. Metal frames squeak, in my experience. If yours does, use our guide to how long bed frames last to help decide whether it needs replacing. For a mattress that keeps moving out of place, follow our guide to stopping a mattress sliding.

Treat stains straight away and never soak the mattress

Bed Advice UK's How to clean mattress stains says to deal with accidents immediately so liquid doesn't seep into the filling. Strip the bedding, stand the mattress on its side if you can, and sponge with cold water without overwatering.³ My rule is simple: blot, use mild soap and let it dry fully. Never soak the mattress.

Urine: mild detergent, then cold water and antiseptic

Sponge with a warm solution of mild detergent or upholstery shampoo, then wipe with cold water and a few drops of antiseptic such as Milton. For dried stains, follow our guide to getting urine out of a mattress.

Red wine: blot, then salt

Blot the wine with an old damp cloth, then sprinkle salt over the stain to help soak up what's left.

Blood: stain remover, then cold water

Use a proprietary stain remover or upholstery cleaner on blood, then follow with cold water.

Vomit: scrape first, then treat as urine

Scrape up as much as possible without spreading it, then treat it as urine: mild detergent, followed by cold water with a few drops of antiseptic.

Air it, vacuum it and never bend a sprung mattress

Never bend or roll a new sprung mattress: it permanently damages the spring unit and invalidates any warranty or guarantee.¹ Keep it flat when moving it, even if folding it would make the job easier.

Air the mattress well before its first use and regularly afterwards, with the windows open. Strip the bed when you go away so it gets a proper airing while you're out. Once a month, vacuum the whole mattress with the upholstery attachment, paying particular attention to the seams and edges. And eat in bed if you like, because nobody's checking, but deal with spills fast.

Bed Advice UK says always use a protector, but I'm not a fan

Protectors divide opinion. Bed Advice UK recommends always using one. I like the idea of protecting the investment, but mattress protectors can hamper breathability, so I'm not keen. Wrapping a well-made mattress in one feels like putting a cheap case on an expensive phone. You decide whether that trade-off suits you.

If you have a house dust mite allergy, Allergy UK says a significant amount of exposure happens in bed. It recommends breathable allergen-proof barrier covers that completely enclose the mattress, duvet and pillows, tested to stop the allergen escaping.⁵ Wash bedding that isn't covered every week at 60 degrees or above to kill mites.

Body impressions are normal, but a sag you can feel through to the bottom isn't

Settlement usually appears in the first few weeks as the fillings mould to your shape, especially at your shoulders and hips.⁴ Bed Advice UK says that on its own it isn't a sign of failure, and a mattress with generous comfort fillings should be expected to show body impressions. There's no official industry standard for excessive settlement. King and super king mattresses show it more because the unused middle leaves a ridge.

A collapsed or sagged mattress feels obvious when you lie on it: there's a distinct lack of support, almost as if you can feel right through to the bottom. Read the guarantee's sag-depth clause before relying on it, because that clause decides whether you'd get anything back.

Replace it when it sags, not when the calendar says so

If you're looking after your mattress but notice lumps and bumps, creaks and crunches, and you're waking with a sore back, it might be time to replace it. Seven to ten years is only a rough guide. Go by the dip and by how you feel in the morning: a dip you can see, or a stiff back on waking, tells you more than the date. Use our guide to how long mattresses last to help judge when yours needs replacing.

Mattress toppers can soften a mattress that's too firm. They never fix sagging, because a topper laid on a dip just follows the dip down. If firmness is the problem, follow our guide to fixing a mattress that's too soft or too firm before buying a replacement.

When it's time, let the retailer take the old one away, even if there's a fee. Far too many mattresses end up in landfill, and it makes me cross. Our guide to getting rid of an old mattress explains your options.

Questions people ask about making a mattress last