Is your bed not as comfortable as it used to be? Have you noticed that the places you sleep the most are getting saggy? Sagging is one of the things that mattress owners worry about the most.
All mattresses will sag over time, changing how the bed feels and how comfortable it is. The good news is that mattress owners can take a few steps to make sagging less of a problem.
This article will talk about how to fix a sagging mattress and when to buy a new bed.
6 Tips on How to Fix a Sagging Mattress
You can’t really “fix” a mattress that is sagging. The only option is having the manufacturer fix it or buying a new one.
The consequences of sagging can be lessened by doing several things by mattress owners. Depending on how old the mattress is and how much it sags, these methods may or may not work.
Here are some things you could try on how to fix a sagging mattress:
1. Use a Mattress Topper
If your mattress is sagging, you might be able to sleep better if you buy a mattress topper. Mattress toppers, as the name implies, are an extra layer of comfort placed on your mattress.
Mattress toppers are sold separately as accessories and are usually 2 to 5 inches thick and made of foam, latex, wool, down, a down substitute, or feathers. When keeping a mattress from sagging, thicker, denser toppers tend to work best.
A decent mattress topper can lessen the consequences of a sagging mattress by offering a more level sleeping surface. People who aren’t ready to buy a new mattress but want to make their bed more comfortable often use toppers.
In other words, while a mattress topper won’t solve a sagging mattress, it’s an inexpensive short-term solution to increase your comfort.
2. Rotate the Mattress
Most mattresses benefit from being rotated regularly unless the manufacturer advises otherwise. You may get a lot more use out of your mattress if you rotate it often by switching its position at the head and foot of the bed.
Rotating a bed regularly will help keep it from sagging too soon. Generally speaking, you should do this every three to six months.
You might still benefit from rotating your mattress even if it is already sagging. The sections of the mattress where the sleeper’s body exerts the most pressure tend to sag excessively.
This is usually around the shoulders and hips. Turning your mattress ensures that your heaviest sections rest on their firmest parts, extending their lifespan.
Note: Most mattresses shouldn’t be flipped unless the manufacturer says. Modern mattresses are mostly one-sided by design; flipping them usually results in inferior comfort and a higher risk of bed damage.
3. Use a Piece of Plywood
Sometimes you need to give your mattress more support to keep it from sagging. This can be done successfully with a piece of plywood.
Put this between the bed frame and the mattress. The mattress should settle on the plywood in a few days or weeks and resume its original position.
Be aware that your mattress can feel a little firmer initially, but you’ll hopefully get used to it. You can also “sandwich” your mattress with a topper and some plywood to get it back to its normal shape.
4. Replace the Foundation
Your bed’s foundation is frequently a factor in the premature sagging of your mattress. Less support is provided around the mattress’s center with foundations with fewer than six legs, which can frequently lead to premature drooping.
Similar to this, sagging problems can also be brought on by foundations that use slats, especially in the regions between the slats’ support. Old foundations can also lose their strength over time.
Several things affect which type of foundation is best for your mattress. Check with the company that made your mattress to find out what foundation you should use.
The guarantee on your mattress may be canceled if the space between the slats doesn’t meet the manufacturer’s requirements.
5. Use Extra Pillows
Some people put extra pillows on the mattress parts that are sagging to stop it from sagging for now. Some people like to put a pillow under their hips, back, or legs when they sleep. For this, pillows that keep their shape well are best.
Some guides say you can prop up sagging mattress parts by putting pillows under them. We don’t recommend this method because it can make the mattress wear out faster by making the support uneven.
6. Explore Warranty Coverage
Make sure you read the fine print on your mattress’s warranty if it’s sagging. If a covered reason contributed to the damage, the manufacturer might be able to fix the bed or perhaps replace it.
How to Protect Your Mattress from Sagging
It’s a good idea to know how to fix a sagging mattress, but wouldn’t it be even better to keep it from getting that way in the first place? You can stop your mattress from getting too soggy too soon. Here are some suggestions:
1. Inspect Your Mattress Often
Make sure to examine your mattress more closely and search for lumps or sags at least once a month.
It’s better to find a small hole in your mattress and try to fix it than to deal with a bigger problem. Check the level of your mattress with a ruler or other straight object. If you find deep angles, you should fix them immediately, so they don’t get worse.
2. Apply Pressure Evenly
To put it another way, you could experiment with sleeping in various positions throughout the bed. This keeps the mattress from getting used to pressure in one spot so much that it can’t bounce back when taken away.
You can alternate sleeping positions with your partner once every two to three months. Also, ensure the middle of your bed frame is well-supported since that’s where most sagging starts.
3. Go for a Metallic Frame
This can sometimes extend the life of your mattress by making it more supportive.
Bed frames made of wood tend to break down more quickly over time. This implies that over time when your body experiences pressure, the wood components become more brittle and may shatter.
A hole will quickly form due to the mattress sinking into the hole made of fragments of shattered wood.
Using a metallic bed frame, you may avoid dealing with a drooping mattress. Regardless of how heavy you are, metal is considerably more resilient than wood and may last a lifetime.
The metal frames give the mattress more support and make it last longer. Keep in mind that, depending on the quality and materials of the mattress, a replacement should be made every ten years.
When to Buy a New Mattress
The average mattress will endure between 7 and 10 years. However, this relies heavily on the quality of your bed’s construction materials and your care for them. Check out the elements below to get an idea of how long your bed might last:
Mattress Materials–
Latex mattresses often have the longest lifespan (up to 12 years). Innerspring mattresses also last for quite a while (up to 12 years).
The comfort layer’s material determines how long a hybrid mattress will endure, usually between 7 and 10 years. A hybrid mattress with a pillow top will lose its shape much more quickly than one with a latex layer closer to the top.
Most quickly, foam mattresses will sag. The average lifespan of a memory foam mattress is 7 years, but a low-end poly foam would only last 5 years.
Body Weight–
Your mattress will wear out faster the heavier you are. If you share a bed with someone who is considerably heavier or lighter than you, keep this in mind.
Sleeping Position-
Side sleepers put a lot of strain on specific areas of the hips and shoulders, which increases the likelihood that their beds may wear out soon.
More quickly than people who sleep on their backs or stomachs, those who sleep on their sides are likely to experience some sagging around their hips and shoulders.
Mattress Quality–
How long your bed lasts depends greatly on how good it is. A cheap mattress won’t last as long as an innerspring or latex bed made with better materials.
Your mattress’s warranty is a good sign of how good it is. Most warranties on high-quality beds will last at least 10 years.
FAQs
Can a mattress that sags give you back pain?
Experts agree that sagging, old mattresses are not good for your spine and can lead to chronic back pain.
How often should a mattress be rotated?
Every three to six months, you should rotate the position of your mattress.
How long before a mattress starts to sag?
The time it takes for a mattress to sag is proportional to its quality and the materials used.
Why is the middle of my mattress sagging?
Your weight has probably worn down your mattress’s upper springs or foams over time, causing the center to sag. Normal wear and tear have caused this.
What kind of mattress has the lowest risk of sagging?
Mattresses made of latex and innerspring are the least likely to sag over time.
What goes underneath a mattress to provide support?
A foundation, a box spring, or a platform bed frame can hold up your mattress. If your mattress is sagging, you can add support by placing a plywood sheet between it and the slats of your bed frame.
How to firm up a mattress?
If your mattress is too soft, try replacing the box spring, adding a plywood board, letting it air dry, rotating and flipping it often, or applying a hard mattress topper.
Conclusion
Sagging mattresses are a severe problem affecting your mattress’s health and sleep quality. There is no way to stop your mattress from sagging for good.
However, if you follow the guide on how to fix a sagging mattress, you can eliminate the drooping and its associated difficulties.
Considering purchasing a new mattress might be in order if your mattress still affects your sleep after attempting all the above.