If you’re like us, you understand the importance of caring for your essential belongings – your house, car, appliances – and even your bed. Once you’ve found the perfect mattress, maintaining its quality will help you enjoy long-lasting comfort. Here are a few key tips for properly cleaning and caring for your mattress to get you started.

Support

As simple as it sounds, fully supporting your mattress makes the most difference when extending its lifespan. Each model may require a specific type of foundation or base; research your mattress to confirm you’re using the best option. An improper support system (including a broken box spring, platform slats spaced too far apart, or placing your mattress directly on the floor) can potentially damage your mattress over time.

Rotation

In the past, experts recommended rotating and even flipping your mattress regularly to help ensure even wear. However, we design all Tempur-Pedic®, Sealy®, and Stearns & Foster® mattresses with a designated top and bottom construction — eliminating the need for inconvenient flipping. However, while not required, you may still rotate your mattress to evenly disperse weight and help promote longevity.

Protection

When caring for your mattress, adding a mattress protector ranks as our number one pro tip. While a protector may seem unnecessary to some, accidents can and do happen – especially for those who like to enjoy breakfast in bed or invite children and pets in for cuddles. Our recommendation? Play it safe and shield your investment from stains and damage.

Everyday Care

Once you know your mattress is well supported and protected, take the time to focus on the finishing touch – bedding! Typically, you should plan to wash your sheets once a week. This includes pillowcases, linens, and any blankets that you use regularly. Your comforter, duvet, or top blanket/quilt can typically be laundered less frequently. The items that come in the closest contact with your body will need to be washed the most often.

Even if you’re not a hot sleeper, you might be surprised to learn how much sweat, body oil, and dirt can accumulate within your bedding – and no one wants to sleep on that! Help prevent dust mites and allergens by pulling back your sheets in the morning so your bedding can air out from the night before. Similarly, let the sun shine onto your unmade bed for an hour or so as a refresh – even doing this once a week can make a difference.

While there’s nothing better than crawling into a bed with crisp, clean sheets, sometimes we simply can’t fit the task into our schedules. However, you might find it surprisingly easy to work this into your weekly, or bi-weekly routine – and after a while, it will become your new normal.

We know the importance of investing in your sleep and hope these tips will help you enjoy the comfort of your mattress for years to come.

References: Sleep Foundation