For many years, the mattress industry-recommended rotating and flipping your mattress regularly to help it last longer and be more comfortable. This advice, however, is no longer valid due to advancements in the design of modern mattresses. Should you rotate or flip your mattress in the 21st Century?
The solution is dependent on your mattress design. Most mattresses should be rotated, not flipped, regularly. We’ll go over the fundamentals of rotating or flipping mattresses and show you how to do it regularly to get the most out of your mattress.
How To Flip Your Mattress
1. You’ll need two people, one on each side of the mattress, holding the handles. One person (person A) will move from the edge of the bed to the foot of the bed by elevating the mattress a few inches off the box spring or bed.
2. Person B will assist in lifting and moving their side of the bed toward the head, but they will remain standing on their side for the time being. Let the mattress rest for a while. The handles have been repositioned to face the top and bottom of the bed, respectively.
3. The three of you will return to your bedsides. Tip the mattress toward the headboard by bending your knees and gripping the underside.
4. When using a box spring or bed, lay the mattress on its side to absorb shock.
5. Grab the bottom edge of the mattress and slowly lower it to a flat position.
6. Align it with a box spring using handles.
How To Rotate Your Mattress
Many of our mattresses are equipped with handles to make rotating them simpler. These handles, built into our innerspring mattresses, help maintain the mattress’s weight by being attached to the innerspring unit.
1. You’ll need two people, one on each side of the bed, holding the handles. Once the mattress has been lifted a few inches off its base, one person (person A) will move from the side of the bed to its far end (person B will remain in place).
2. If you have a partner (person B), ask them to help you lift and move your side of the bed toward the head of the bed. Let the mattress rest for a while. Head-and-foot-of-the-bed-facing handles will now be used.
3. Person B is now free to walk to the foot of the bed and grip the handles from that location.
4. Relocating to their side of the bed, Person A will seize the bed’s new top handles. Person A will return to their side of the bed, and the two will lift the mattress together. As a result, the mattress and box spring will be more evenly spaced.
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Flipping vs. Rotating
When you flip a mattress, you turn it over so that the side you slept on is now towards the bed frame. Instead, rotating it implies turning it around so that the end you were looking at is now at your feet.
The purpose of flipping is to create a brand-new sleeping surface. The issue here is that some trendy mattresses aren’t built to be used on both sides of the bed. Only rotating is an option if your mattress is single-sided.
Rotating your mattress can help avoid premature sinking by transferring your weight more evenly than flipping your mattress. As a result, it may help extend the life of your mattress.
Keep in mind that flipping or turning some mattresses isn’t recommended, especially those with zoned designs. Some, on the other hand, can be flipped as well as rotated for maximum effect.
How Many Times Should You Flip a Mattress?
Most of the time, flipping a mattress is a waste of time. Do not flip your mattress unless instructed to do so by the maker of the bed in question.
Today’s mattresses are almost universally one-sided, making it impossible to turn them. The following is the basic construction of the majority of modern mattresses:
- The “support core” is a thick, rather solid layer of dense foam or metal springs at the bottom of the mattress.
- The “comfort system” comprises varying densities and rigidity levels of foam or other components on the mattress’s upper level.
- The mattress’s cover and any sewn-in foams or other materials are placed on top of it.
This concept does a good job of supporting the sleeper’s weight. This mattress has a great support system on top that contours to your body, while the denser support core underneath keeps your spine aligned and your body supported.
However, flipping this design makes it ineffective. It’s difficult to relax comfortably on the mattress’s support core since it’s too hard, and the comfort core doesn’t give enough support to keep it in good shape.
Flipping a mattress that wasn’t made to be flipped can result in a less comfortable and secure bed than a mattress that was. It will also shorten the life of the mattress and cause discomfort for those who sleep on it.
However, there is one exception to this rule: flippable mattress.
Double-sided designs are common in flippable beds. They may, in some situations, provide two unique levels of firmness.
A flippable all-foam mattress, for example, might have a 4/10 firmness rating on one side and a 6/10 firmness rating on the other. Others are flippable and have a single stiffness setting, making them more durable.
Also Read: 12 Best Firm Mattress (Septemeber 2021)
Which Mattresses Cannot Be Flipped?
Except for mattresses that are deliberately marketed as being double-sided, you should never flip a mattress. Whether they’re made of memory foam, latex, hybrid, or pillow-top, the majority of mattresses are only one-sided.
Flipping one-sided mattresses put undue strain on the mattress’s comfort layer, potentially resulting in permanent damage.
You may experience discomfort if you try to flip a memory foam mattress that isn’t designed to be turned. Memory foam mattresses have a comfort layer made of memory foam and a support layer made of poly-foam.
Your mattress will have a poly-foam core, so flipping it will put you on that. Memory foam is supported by the core layer, which is why it’s firm. The softer layers that will eventually form the core will likely degrade quickly and cause significant pain.
Sleep technologies like gel, copper, or graphite infusion are also found in some memory foam beds. The cooling properties of these sleep aids make them ideal for hot climates. If the comfort layer isn’t on top, you can’t get the most out of these sleep solutions.
For a hybrid mattress to qualify, it must include a comfort layer of at least 2 inches and a base layer of coils.
Flipping a latex mattress is an option with some models. However, there’s no need to do this because it takes a long time for them to start showing symptoms of wear.
If you flip a pillow-top mattress, you’ll lose the comfort layer’s extra padding. A pillow-top layer is common on innerspring mattresses to provide additional comfort and support.
When to Flip a Memory Foam Mattress?
A memory foam mattress needs to be rotated about every six months, just like any other mattress.
Memory foam mattresses usually only have one side made of the material. Thus flipping them isn’t a good idea. Replace it with a memory foam mattress that is rotated twice a year, 180 degrees each time.
You may want to think about purchasing a mattress topper to help extend the life of your existing mattress. In addition to reducing strain on your mattress, this additional bedding layer protects it from spills and enhances comfort.
FAQs
Is it possible to flip a mattress that only has one side?
A one-sided mattress cannot be flipped. In a one-sided mattress, the support layer is at the bottom, the transitional layer is in the center, and the comfort layer is on top. This configuration makes the mattress lay one way. If you sleep on one side of the bed, flipping it will be a terrible experience.
What are the benefits of flipping your mattress?
It would be best if you always turned your mattress so that you aren’t putting pressure on the same areas all the time and wearing them down. Those who are heavier than the average should take note.
By evenly distributing your weight across your mattress over time, you can help it last longer by reducing the amount of wear and tear on it.
Is it possible to flip all mattresses?
No. Most modern mattresses cannot be flipped. Each layer of our one-sided mattresses has been specifically designed for a particular use. Flipping a mattress is possible if it is labeled as double-sided.
Is it possible to flip a memory foam mattress?
The construction of most memory foam mattresses is top-down. The comfort layer is located on the bed, while the support layer is located beneath it. You’ll sleep on the irritating support layer if you flip a memory foam mattress. Additionally, converting a mattress upside-down accelerates the sagging process.
If a memory foam mattress isn’t labeled as flippable or dual-sided, don’t flip it over.
Which is better: Rotating or Flipping?
It’s always preferable to flip the mattress (along with a rotation) than to rotate it. This is because sleeping on only one side of the mattress when it is turned is inefficient. To make use of the opposite side, flip the mattress over. This additionally extends the life of the mattress.
Conclusion
Plan to flip your mattress at a specific period each year. Consider enlisting the aid of a companion or close friend to expedite the process. It may not be easy to rotate larger mattresses, such as a queen or king. Inattention to detail might lead to injury or mattress damage.
Reversing the direction of a mattress can help it last longer. However, one-sided beds are the norm these days. You don’t have to turn them over to see the other side.
A one-sided mattress that’s been flipped may be damaged, or its guarantee may be voided if done incorrectly. Rotating your mattress can help it last longer and avoid deep sags from forming, so you can get a better night’s sleep.
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