When an old mattress is to be replaced

The "shelf life" of a mattress depends on several factors such as usage, quality and even your own changing comfort and support preferences. In general, a mattress set that has been in use for five to seven years may no longer provide proper comfort and support, and should be evaluated.

A scientific study from Oklahoma State University, “Subjective Rating of Perceived Back Pain, Stiffness and Sleep Quality Following Introduction of Medium-Firm Bedding Systems,” found that participants with mattresses five years old or older reported significant improvements in sleep quality and comfort when sleeping on a new mattress, regardless of the sleeper’s age or weight.

According to an Oklahoma state university study, a new Mattress provided sleepers with significant Improvements, including*:

• 70,8 % % in sleep Comfort
• 62,0 % % in sleep quality
• 55,3 % % in back pain
• 50.7% in spine stiffness

*AS COMPARED TO SLEEPING ON A MATTRESS FIVE YEARS OLD OR OLDER.

Like your favorite old chair or worn pair of shoes, your mattress can still feel comfortable long after it has lost its ability to provide your body with the proper comfort and support it needs. Here are a few things to consider when deciding whether it’s time to buy a new mattress.

• Your mattress is five to seven years old.
• You wake up with stiffness, numbness, aches and pains.
• You had a better night’s sleep somewhere other than your own bed (such as a hotel or friend’s guest room).
• Your mattress shows signs of overuse (it sags, has lumps, etc.).