Mattresses feel like they last forever, but unfortunately, they have their prime years like everything else. Mattress lifespan varies by type—so how long does a memory foam mattress last and how do you know when it’s time to replace it?
Memory Foam Mattress Lifespan
Manufacturers and experts across the web state that a memory foam mattress lasts about 8–10 years. If it’s thin or low quality, then it may only last 6 years.
Technically a memory foam mattress can last up to 20 years and is often under warranty beyond that—but it’s not about how long it can last, it’s about how often you should replace it.
Why You Should Change Your Mattress Often?
You should change your mattress often for cleanliness purposes, more than anything. Luckily memory foam is quite hypoallergenic, and won’t store dust or dead skin and bacteria. Other mattresses, unfortunately, may double in weight with the dead skin and mites in them by the end of their lifespan.
Instead, memory foam’s biggest issue is sweat.
The foam functions on heat—as it absorbs heat, it moulds to your body’s shape. This is a blessing and a curse, as while heat makes its shape feel fantastic, there’s no way for the heat to escape.
Memory foam mattresses are pure foam, so the head gets trapped in them and reflects back to you. This leads to sweating, and the rest is unhygienic history.
Why Does Memory Foam Wear Out?
Alongside capturing a decade of sweat, memory foam mattresses wear out. It seems odd—memory foam bounces back after every use, doesn’t it? It’s the nature of its construction. It’s like elastic, slowly rising back up once the weight of your body has lifted.
Unfortunately, memory foam eventually gets amnesia and doesn’t bounce back as well as it used to. It’s foam after all—it compresses, and that’s the end of it. You can’t even it out or flip it, although you can rotate it regularly to try to keep it in shape.
The denser the foam the longer it takes to compress, but they all go the same way in the end. Think of memory foam like thick insoles in your shoes—eventually, it becomes flattened, uncomfortable, and stinks of sweat.
Signs Your Mattress Is On Its Last Legs
Besides the obvious, how do you know your mattress is ready to croak? The signs aren’t as obvious as with innerspring mattresses so you’ll have to be intuitive here.
#1 Sleeping Better Elsewhere
Let’s say you’re sleeping well, but you wake up feeling unrested. One day you fall asleep on the couch and wake up feeling incredibly rested—it’s a sign your couch is more comfortable than your bed.
Do some experimenting, sleep on the couch for a night then return to your bed. If your bed keeps you feeling mediocre but your couch is a rejuvenating wonder, it’s a mattress issue.
#2 Sleep Issues
Insomnia has several medical causes so be wary with this one. If you notice you have insomnia out of the blue and it’s clearly not from stress, it may be your mattress.
Change your pillow and consider getting cooler bedding, you may be too hot at night. If it’s not that, sleep somewhere else for a night or two and see if it helps. The same as above—if you sleep better elsewhere, your mattress is the culprit and it’s replacement time.
If you don’t sleep better elsewhere it may be a more serious issue. Please go to the doctor as soon as possible.
#3 Sagging
When memory foam stops springing back up you’ll notice a dip in the mattress. When you see this, it’s an instant sign it’s time for a new mattress.
Hopefully, you won’t see this dip for well over 10 years—more than the recommended lifespan of a memory foam mattress. Still, always be on the lookout.
#4 Stains and Smells
Your mattress is covered by a sheet most of the time so it’s difficult to notice odours and oddments. If on clean-sheets-day you notice the surface of the mattress is discoloured or smells off, it’s time for a new mattress.
Memory foam is incredibly difficult to deep clean and will take forever to dry. You should be wiping it down and giving it a once-over with the hoover regularly to prolong its lifespan, though.
Making Memory Foam Last Longer
The issues above will come eventually—except the fourth one, hopefully. Here are a few tips on how to keep them at bay for longer.
#1 Shop Smart
When shopping for your memory foam mattress, try to select one that’s dense, with as much actual memory foam in it as possible. Look for one with a solid two inches minimum, but more is ideal. The more there is, the longer the memory foam mattress will last.
#2 Clean Frequently
Wipe your mattress with a damp cloth to ensure all dust and dead skin comes off the surface. The substances won’t settle into the mattress, but they can still lie at a surface level.
Keep it hygienic and clean the mattress every time you change your sheets.
#3 Rotate
Rotate your mattress every three or four months to ensure different parts of the mattress are used. Unfortunately, you have to stay with turning it end to end—you can’t flip a memory foam mattress. The foam is only on one side.
Shopping For A Mattress
Going back to the comment about shopping smart, the video below has some tips for shopping for mattresses of any kind.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0VOHNPPcZs
Final Thoughts
Memory foam mattresses last 8–10 years. Cheaper ones could last as few as 6, where more premium could thrive for almost two decades. Try to change your mattress at least every decade, though, and watch out for the signs that mean “change it, now!” The signs are:
- Sleeping better somewhere else;
- Sudden insomnia caused only by the mattress;
- Saggy mattress;
- Stains and smells.
If you have any comments or questions on the topic, please free to leave them below.
