How To Clean Your Mattress for a Healthier Night’s Rest

Even if you clean your bedding compulsively, you’re probably not thinking about cleaning your mattress as much as you should be.

Mattresses often appear clean, even though a lot may be going on that you can’t necessarily see. You can literally see animal hair accumulating on the couch, you wipe down your counters every night, you scrub the shower.

But if you’re honest with yourself, how often do you look for signs that your mattress needs cleaning?

The Helix Sleep team understands the importance of a clean mattress for a deeper sleep. We’re going to show you how to clean a mattress, walk you through the filthy mattress warning signs and provide some information on consistent mattress care.

How To Clean a Mattress

1. Wash your bedding and pillows frequently.

2. Vacuum the mattress regularly to remove dead skin cells and allergens.

3. Remove stains from the surface of the mattress.

4. Use products to curb odors.

5. Don’t let stains sit on the upholstery.

6. Let your bed air out before making it each day.

7. Open some windows and let sunlight in.

8. Most importantly - Cover your bed with a mattress protector.

How Often Should You Replace Your Mattress?

How often you replace your mattress depends on a variety of factors, including how often you sleep on it, how much you weigh, and how well you care for it. However, a typical mattress tends to last between 7 and 10 years.

How long your mattress lasts also depends on the type of materials used. American-made hybrid mattresses with superior craftsmanship last longer than most others. It also helps to place your mattress on a foundation such as a box spring or mattress foundation, which helps extend its longevity.

People who have quality mattresses tend to get better sleep so it’s important to evaluate whether your mattress is in good condition or if it needs to be replaced soon.

Learn how often you should replace your mattress for better health.

What Materials Typically Make Up A Mattress?

Mattress materials vary widely depending on the type of mattress. If you sliced a new mattress in half, you’d see many layers of high-quality fabrics, gels, and foam mattress materials. Other mattresses are built with springs, coils, and other materials. 

For a good night’s sleep, it’s important that you find a material type that’s comfortable for you and your sleeping style. 

Understand the importance of mattress materials.

How Long Does A Latex Mattress Last?

A latex mattress should last about 10 years. Different types of latex have distinct lifespans. Natural latex tends to last longer than the synthetic version. 

If they’re maintained properly, natural latex mattresses can last up to 20 years. Synthetic or blended latex should hold up for 6 to 10 years. Latex mattresses generally last longer than regular mattresses, which have shorter lifespans of 5 to 7 years. 

If you’re looking for more general information on mattress lifespans, check out our guide to how long mattresses last.

Everything You Should Know About Latex Mattress Allergies

Many people with latex allergies assume that they could never use a latex mattress. However, what you may not know is that a latex mattress doesn’t generate an allergic reaction in many latex allergy sufferers. Among the general population, sleeping on a latex mattress has not been shown to cause allergies. 

One of the reasons that people with latex allergies may be able to sleep safely on a latex mattress is that the material never comes in direct contact with the individual. That’s because these types of mattresses are usually made up of more than just latex—the latex is just the core of the mattress that provides comfort and support. 

Learn more about latex and the construction of this type of mattress so that you can determine what type of latex mattress would be best for you. 

How to Make Your Soft Mattress Firmer

Your mattress could be too soft because it’s worn out. It could be sagging toward the middle. It could be made from materials that are too soft for your liking. The bottom line is that if you’re not comfortable with how your mattress feels, you need to find a way to make it firmer. 

Our sleep experts will offer some ways to accomplish this, but first, we’re going to talk about why mattress firmness matters. 

The type of mattress you use and the firmness of that mattress have a significant impact on your comfort at night. For example, back sleepers and the occasional stomach sleeper often do well with a medium-firm mattress. 

In contrast, side sleepers may find the same mattress too firm because it applies more pressure to fewer areas of the body. This can ultimately lead to back pain and other issues. Though comfort is largely subjective, there are some truisms across the board in terms of what’s good for your health and spinal alignment. 

Dream On: 10 Great Songs About Sleep

While many songs might put you to sleep, there are plenty of great songs written about the actual act of sleeping itself. Funny enough, most of these songs aren’t peaceful songs to lay your head down to at night, but rather proclamations about what does or doesn’t happen when you hit the hay. 

From rap to rock, grunge to trance, sleep is a common thread throughout songwriting. It should be since it’s one of the things all artists have in common—we all have to go to sleep eventually.

5 Ways to Break in Your New Mattress

One of the many things you’ll have to do when you get a new mattress is to properly break it in. Mattresses do indeed need a little time to adjust to your body, but there are some things you can do to speed up the process: 

• Let it breathe 

• Sleep on it nightly 

• Think about a pillow-top mattress topper 

• Be patient while your body (and the bed) adjusts from the old mattress 

• Return the mattress/exchange for a new bed with different firmness 

We’ll go into each of these in a little more detail, but first, let’s talk about how long it takes to actually break in your new mattress. 

Do I Actually Need A Mattress Protector?

You certainly don’t need a mattress protector, but having one will protect your mattress from moisture, bacteria and allergens. If you don’t use one, you leave your mattress at risk for damage by liquids and odor-causing bacteria. 

What Is A Mattress Protector? 

Mattress protectors are removable covers that can serve many functions, from repelling moisture to preventing allergens from absorbing into your bed. High-quality mattress covers stretch over your mattress and are designed to replicate or even enhance its feel. They typically are placed between the fitted sheet and the mattress itself and come in all standard mattress sizes – twin, twin XL, full, queen, king and California king. 

Why Natural Latex Mattresses Are Safer Than The Alternatives

Many people who have purchased a new mattresses complain about the smell that emanates from a newly opened mattress. If your mattress is not natural latex, that noxious smell is the result of off-gassing, which is the emission of harmful chemicals. 

While organic latex may have a fragrance, it’s just the scent of natural rubber. It’s not the result of chemicals entering the atmosphere. Natural latex is safer than many other types of traditional and foam mattresses. 

Do Latex Mattresses Off-Gas? 

Off-gassing occurs when the materials that are inside of the mattress break down, and their gasses release into the air. The toxic fumes can cause respiratory and health issues, such as allergies, breathing problems, or nausea.