May 14, 2024, 4:04 am | Read time: 4 minutes
If a mattress is old and sagging, it can affect sleep quality. However, with a few care tips, you can significantly extend the lifespan of a mattress.
Especially in big cities, you occasionally see an old mattress lying on the street. It’s not a pleasant sight, especially when it rains–and it’s also a waste of resources. What lies on the sidewalk with a “Free to take” sign is considered “wild trash” by local waste disposal services, which garbage workers have to pick up by hand. Mattresses would last much longer if properly maintained. After all, “The best trash is the trash that doesn’t exist in the first place,” says the Association of Municipal Companies (VKU). Here are six care tips that are easy to implement:
1. Rotate regularly
A mattress should be rotated and flipped at least every three months to maintain comfort for as long as possible.
2. Remove discolorations
Depending on the model, the mattress cover can be washed, and unsightly discolorations and stains may disappear. Important: Check the care label on the cover to see at what temperature it can be washed–and whether it can be tumble dried or must be air-dried.
Tip: The German Cosmetic, Toiletry, Perfumery and Detergent Association (IKW) recommends pulling the textile apart vigorously while damp before hanging it up to maintain its original size.
3. Vacuum mattresses to make them last longer
The cover can also be cleaned regularly with a vacuum cleaner when changing the fitted sheet.
4. Use a mattress pad
It is stretched between the mattress and the bedsheet using corner elastics and protects the mattress and cover. There are also waterproof or water-repellent pads suitable for infants, toddlers, or people with incontinence.
5. Use mattress protectors or toppers
Mattress protectors are placed between the slatted frame and the mattress. According to the IKW, they prevent the mattress from slipping and developing wear spots when it rubs against the slatted frame during movement.
Toppers are between four and ten centimeters high and are placed on the actual mattress. According to the IKW, a topper not only provides pressure relief while sleeping but also protects the mattress. Toppers are mostly used with box spring beds.
6. Proper ventilation
A good room climate with low humidity and temperatures between 17 and 19 degrees helps prevent mold, according to the IKW. To sleep well on it for as long as possible, you should test a new mattress in the store and lie on it thoroughly before buying. This can help avoid returns.
Advice from Indra Enterlein of the German Nature Conservation Association (Nabu): “There is an opportunity to save money and do something good for the environment when buying a new mattress. Some retailers refurbish mattresses that are returned shortly after purchase and sell them at a lower price. My tip would be to ask specifically about this.”
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How to Properly Dispose of Old Mattresses
According to the German Nature Conservation Association (Nabu), around eight million mattresses are disposed of annually. Ninety-five percent are burned, and five percent are recycled. If you need a new mattress, there are several ways to get rid of the old one, Enterlein explains:
- Bulky waste: If you want the mattress conveniently picked up from home, you can order bulky waste collection or place the mattress on the street on a scheduled pickup day. Whether this is free can vary depending on your location.
- Recycling center: If you can transport the mattress yourself, you can take it to a nearby recycling center.
- Exchange when buying a new mattress: Depending on the provider, you may be able to hand in the old mattress when purchasing a new one. Check this in advance.
With material from dpa