The Lifespan of a Mattress

The Lifespan of a Mattress

The average age of a mattress is about 10 years. In a study published by Bert Jacobson, 59 healthy participants who used the same mattresses for an average of 9.5 years reported mild sleep-related pain and compromised sleep quality. After switching to a new medium-firm mattress for four weeks, they experienced a 48 percent reduction in back pain, a 55 percent improvement in sleep quality, and an approximately 20 percent decrease in stress.

Mattress Quality
 
Although a mattress appears flat and the springs looked normal, the weight-bearing springs can be weaker than the non-weight-bearing springs due to years of compression. How often a mattress should be replaced varies by material. “Innerspring mattresses usually need replacing more quickly than other mattresses due to wear and tear on the springs, while memory foam and latex mattresses may last longer because of their more resilient materials,” Shelby Harris, director of Sleep Health at Sleepopolis and a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in behavioral sleep medicine, told The Epoch Times. “The replacement interval also depends on the quality of the mattress and how well you take care of it.”
 
It is worth noting that even mattresses made from the same or similar materials can vary in lifespan. For example, low-density memory foam mattresses tend to have shorter lifespans than high-density ones. Similarly, synthetic latex mattresses generally do not last as long as natural latex ones. An average-quality mattress usually will require replacement every seven to 10 years, most experts agree.

Mattress Warranties
 
"When people consider how long their mattress will last, they often think of the 20- or 25-year warranty offered by the retailer at the time of purchase. However, these warranties mainly cover the mattress’s core structure and specific components. They do not guarantee the level of comfort or support," Jacobson said. "The wording of these warranty contracts or guarantees is often subtle, if not vague. The key details are typically hidden in the fine print, where exclusions or specific conditions are outlined."

Dust Mites?
 
Critters like dust mites can thrive in an old mattress. Human skin renews itself constantly, shedding an average of 1.5 grams of dead skin cells each day. This amounts to roughly 1.1 pounds of skin flakes annually, most of which become “house dust.” The continuous shedding and accumulation of skin cells in the environment is not a problem in and of itself. The real problem is that these skin cells serve as food for dust mites. Old mattresses often harbor large populations of these mites. They are microscopic, measuring about 0.4 millimeters in length, and invisible to the naked eye. They thrive in warm, humid conditions with ample food, which means mattresses are their ideal habitat.
 
​The type of mattress can also influence dust mite density. An early study conducted by Norwegian scientists on more than 100 mattresses found that foam mattresses were about three times more likely to harbor dust mite droppings than spring mattresses, and foam mattresses without covers were five times more likely to have them.

Flame Retardants
 
Today, many of the controversial flame retardants have been phased out in most countries. However, households may still be using mattresses containing these potentially hazardous substances. Flame retardants typically constitute about 3 percent to 7 percent of the weight in polyurethane foam. Although the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission approved a petition in 2017 to stop requiring flame retardants, it will take years to eliminate these toxic substances from household environments.
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A 2022 study showed that mattress covers were found to contain flame retardants despite certifications for the foam. In four newly purchased mattress covers tested by researchers, two contained more than 50 percent fiberglass—a common flame retardant used in mattresses—in the inner layers. The fiberglass fragments, ranging from 30 to 50 micrometers in diameter, could be inhaled into the nose, mouth, and throat.



Rotating and Flipping 
 
Rotating your mattress every three to six months can help reduce body impressions and the formation of irregular shapes, thereby extending its lifespan. However, be aware that some mattresses with zoned or layered constructions—such as those with a memory foam top and a spring base—may not be suitable for flipping and should only be rotated 180 degrees horizontally.