Beautiful new mattress on timber bed frame in modern bedroom, purchased after the owner realised their previous mattress need to be replaced
Comfier Sleep by Alex Irving 4 minutes

Tired of your old mattress? It might be time for a new one

How long does a mattress last?

We see you. You’re lying in bed and thinking, Ow, my back hurts. Will a new mattress help me sleep better? It might! Especially if your mattress has celebrated its 5th birthday already.  

So, how often should you change your mattress? How long do mattresses last? 

The short answer is… it depends. A Koala mattress? Well, we know they last at least 10 years! They’ve been so rigorously tested we confidently provide a 10 year warranty on every one. But, for other mattresses? Well, 5 to 10 years on average, but again it depends.

How often should you replace a mattress?

Australia’s leading sleep expert Olivia Arezzolo says if you’re experiencing any of the following, it might be time to go mattress shopping. “If it doesn’t feel as supportive as it used to, or if you’re noticing that you’re waking up less refreshed than normal, your mattress might need to be replaced.”

Olivia adds, “Another element is that you feel like you toss and turn a lot through the night, and it’s difficult to find a comfortable position.”

😴 You’re waking up more tired than when you went to bed. Mattresses sag over time, and if that mattress is saggy, you’ll be tossing at night. No one wants to sleep with a tosser.

😴 You sleep better in other beds and they feel better than yours. Ever stayed at a friend’s or in a hotel and got a better night’s sleep than you would at home? Chances are your mattress is to blame.

😴 You’re waking up too hot (and not in a good way). The more your body sinks into the mattress, the hotter you get, which affects your sleep. If you’re waking up hot, it could mean the mattress is sagging, and it might be on its last legs.

😴 You notice your partner wriggling more than they used to. This can mean the mattress is starting to lose its structure and integrity due to age.

😴 You have an increase in allergy symptoms. Older mattresses are great hosts for dust mites, which can give you the sniffles. Suddenly sneezing? It might be your mattress.

😴 If your mattress is just feeling unsupportive. Much like a friend that’s just not there for you anymore, an ageing mattress loses support.

When do I need to buy a new mattress?

It may sound glib but… when you need a new one. 

Okay, that’s not very helpful, but at Koala, we don’t want to sell you something you don’t need. However, if your mattress is stained, getting old, if you’re getting aches and pains or you’re tired in the morning, it’s time to get a new one.

“If you have had a mattress for five years and you’re experiencing some of these factors, then you should consider if your mattress might be the source of these issues,” says Olivia.

 Beautiful new mattress on timber bed frame in modern bedroom, purchased after the owner realised their previous mattress need to be replaced
How long do mattresses last? With the Koala Mattress, you’re guaranteed it’ll last for at least 10 years.

How to look after your mattress

There might not be much you can do about your old mattress, but you can ensure your new mattress is given a fighting chance to make it to the 10-year mark. Here’s how.

😴  Become best friends with a mattress protector. Always keeping one on your mattress helps keep it clean.

😴  Wash your sheets regularly, and air out pillows and duvets. Dirt, hair, skin flakes and dust all accumulate in your bedding. Yuck! The cleaner your sheets, the better chance your mattress has of staying clean too.

😴  Never eat in bed. You’ve got a dining table for a reason. While breakfast in bed sounds romantic, tiny food particles can end up in your mattress, attracting bugs and vermin, and shortening the life of your mattress.

😴 Say no to your four-legged mates – we love our pets, but they carry dirt, fleas, parasites and other bacteria. So keep them out of bed.

😴 Sorry, kids (and big kids as well) — no jumping on the bed. We’ve seen it in movies. The kids are having a great old time and pop! There goes a spring. But it happens in real life too, and even to non-spring mattresses. Bouncing can damage the integrity of your mattress.

😴 Get your mattress moving. Rotate your mattress every month. When you sleep in the same spot, your mattress can begin to sag in that spot, becoming lumpy. Rotating your bed helps share the load.  

😴 Your vacuum isn’t only for the floor. Vacuuming your mattress removes dust, dirt, skin cells and other built-up particles. So a couple of times a year, pull off the covers (and mattress protector) and give your mattress a gentle vacuum.

😴 Clean up spills straight away. Accidents happen, and when they happen in bed, it’s best to clean them right away. Not sure how? Check out our article on how to clean a mattress.

😴 Make sure you use a high-quality bed frame. Not only will the frame support your body and ensure air flow, it will also help extend the life of your mattress by properly supporting it.

 A man sits on a Koala mattress in a minimalist bedroom researching how often you should change your mattress on his smartphone.
A couple of times a year, pull off the covers (and mattress protector) and give your mattress a gentle vacuum.

Reckon it’s time for a new mattress?

Okay, so you’ve realised it’s time to get a new mattress. What next? At Koala, we have a mattress to suit every sleeper. 

If you’re nervous about buying online, we get it. That’s why we give you 120 nights to see if you like your new purchase. If you don’t, returning it is easy. We’re here to help you buy a mattress online and help you find the one that’s right for you.

But what about your old mattress? The one that’s getting saggy and has a stain or two? Don’t pay oodles to get rid of a mattress or dump it at the tip. You can donate it to Soft Landings via our donation program if you’re in Sydney or Melbourne. But if you’re not, don’t fret – there are lots of great ways to get rid of a mattress that don’t hurt the environment.

Choose your new mattress! 

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