I've been sleeping poorly for months,waking up groggy, not feeling rested. Naturally, I started shopping for new mattresses. The more I looked, the more expensive they got, and the more I hesitated.
Then I stopped and asked myself: before I drop a grand on a new mattress, have I actually taken care of the one I have?
Instead of buying new, I decided to actually maintain what I had. Washed the mattress protector (which honestly hadn't been washed in way too long), deep cleaned the mattress itself with a handheld vacuum, the surface, the areas I sleep on most, the edges, all those spots that usually get ignored. Also replaced my sheets, duvet cover, and pillowcases since the old ones were worn out.
The results surprised me. The mattress itself didn't change, but how it felt completely did. Less stuffy, room feels fresher, and that nagging feeling of I need a new mattress just disappeared.
Made me realize: a lot of times we want to upgrade because the experience got worse. But the experience getting worse doesn't always mean the thing is broken, sometimes it just needs proper maintenance.
Try cleaning before replacing. It might save you a lot of money.
Try maintaining your old mattress before buying a new one
byu/transcreature inFrugal
Posted by transcreature
7 Comments
Mattresses also need turning. Some modern ones are one sided, you just swivel is 180°, some need flipping over as well. It extends the life of it too.
Remember the old joke, a mistress is someone between the master and his mattress!
Wash the curtains and if you can, repaint the room; you’ll see the difference.
I replaced my mattress with the bamboo firm foam type. Really cheap and great for your posture. They do take some getting used to.
If anyone is still considering a new mattress, check out 100% latex ones. They’re expensive up front but are more durable than foam or spring mattresses and often have long warranties. I bought one 5 years ago and it still feels like new.
May I add replace your pillows. They wear out and may be contributing to some of the back pain you’re blaming on the mattress.
It didn’t fully solve my problem, but has definitely helped me. spending $90 on a pillow hurt me, but the cheap ones haven’t worked for long and this one has adjustable fill.
Back when we were financially challenged, our mattress was showing signs of wear. Sagging a bit in the middle, etc. We couldn’t afford a new one, so we bought a few mattress toppers to prop it up until we could afford, not just a new mattress, but a GOOD new mattress.
Also, pillows can and should be washed to get more life out of them.
Don’t sleep on getting a good mattress topper, the firmer the better.