Your mattress is a comfortable home necessity where you can rest, sleep, and rejuvenate your body. Sleeping on your mattress gives you a sense of comfort and security. Not to mention, it’s fun to watch television, read a book, or simply lounge on your mattress outside of sleep. With over ⅓ of your life revolving around your mattress, this once comfortable and fun space can develop indentations and may eventually sag.
If your mattress starts becoming less comfortable and saggy, the quality of your sleep can be compromised.
Luckily, there are some things that you can do to improve the comfort of your sleeping surface before deciding to replace your mattress.
What Causes Mattress Sagging, Anyway?
Sagging is a sign of the normal wear and tear of your mattress. When you lie down on the same part of the mattress every night, it eventually builds up indentations, and its materials start to break down. This causes the mattress to sag.
Additional weights, such as mattress sharing or allowing your pet to sleep on your bed, can cause some areas of your mattress to sink where the majority of the pressure is applied. Your mattress will also sag earlier on the parts where your hips and shoulders lie.
Another cause of mattress sagging is a lack of support from the box spring or bed frame and the quality of the mattress itself. Is your mattress made from lower-density foam? If yes, its components will be more likely to sag faster than a higher-density foam mattress or a quality pocketed spring bed.
If your mattress is getting old, it’s inevitable that you'll want to prevent its components from breaking down. A mattress that is at least 6 years old can be very unsupportive and may cause aches due to the dips on some of its worn parts.
Generally, polyfoam and memory foam mattresses sag faster than latex and pocketed spring mattresses. This is because the foam layers of these foam mattress types can soften and lose their shape.
Latex mattresses can go through the same wear and tear process but can handle more pressure due to their natural durability.
Thanks to the presence of durable encased springs, pocketed spring mattresses can handle tension better than pure foam mattresses.
Unfortunately, this natural sign of mattress ageing can’t be fixed unless you want it completely replaced. What you can do is somehow improve the comfort of your mattress or extend its lifespan if a new mattress is still out of the question.
How Does Mattress Sagging Affect Different Mattress Types?
As we mentioned earlier, not all mattresses are alike. While all mattresses can receive the same amount of pressure when you sleep, some can handle wear and tear better than others. Because of this, some mattresses can sink faster than other types while others can last longer without premature sinkage.
Memory Foam Mattress
Polyfoam and memory foam mattresses can develop impressions quicker than latex and high-quality innerspring mattresses. This is because they are made from softer, contouring materials. However, higher-quality memory foam mattresses may last longer without sagging compared to lower density varieties.
Latex Mattress
Latex is a natural and durable material that many sleepers love. Because of its naturally durable build, a latex foam mattress is less likely to succumb quickly compared to other mattress types. In fact, mattresses made from natural latex are considered the most durable among other mattress types.
Innerspring Mattress
Traditional innerspring mattresses contain a metal coil support system that prevents the foam layer from sagging. While the metal coils are durable, they may lose their tension over time. Concurrently, the foam layer can lose its shape and sag.
To enjoy the supportive feel of an innerspring mattress, try a pocketed spring mattress with durable, individually encased coils that can last longer.
How to Fix a Saggy Mattress
While it’s inevitable for your mattress to sag no matter how high its quality is, you can still improve the feel of your mattress by taking these steps:
Add Extra Pillows
Use some comfy pillows on the saggy part of your mattress. Some key areas that receive the most pressure on your mattress are your hips, back, and calves or legs. These are also where the mattress usually sags. Adding some supportive pillows under your hips can also lessen the tension caused by the dips in your mattress.
When using this as a temporary fix, make sure to use pillows that can retain their shapes.
Use a Mattress Topper
A mattress topper is also another excellent temporary fix to prolong the lifespan of your mattress. This acts as additional cushioning on top of your mattress to improve the comfort of your main sleeping area. This can also even out the feel of your mattress, preventing aches and pains in the morning.
Rotate Your Mattress
If you have a double-sided mattress, try flipping or rotating it to the other side. In this way, you can extend the lifespan of your mattress while giving yourself a fresher side to sleep on. Doing this regularly can distribute the pressure on your mattress and prevent indentations.
Learn more about mattress flipping in this guide.
Replace Your Mattress Foundation
Your mattress requires a good foundation to get the right support and prevent premature sagging. Certain types of mattresses require specific foundations to prevent early wear and tear. Always check your mattress manufacturer’s instructions to find the suitable foundation for your mattress type.
When to Replace Your Mattress
The average lifespan of a mattress is between 6 and 10 years. However, the lifespan of your mattress will depend on its materials, build, and how it is used. If your mattress becomes too saggy and uncomfortable, you may need to replace your sleeping solution.
The tips above can temporarily improve the comfort of your mattress, but if your mattress starts to sag excessively, the permanent fix that you need is to get a higher-quality mattress that can handle your sleeping needs.
Sound Sleep Starts with Somnuz Mattress
If you’re ready to upgrade your sleeping solution, check out our thoughtful curation of supportive pocketed spring mattresses in Singapore. Our mattresses are made with high-quality individually encased pocketed coils that follow your movements without dips or sagging. Say goodbye to aches, pains, and sagging with your new Somnuz mattress.