Top 3 Care and Maintenance Tips for a New Mattress

A new mattress is a big purchase, and most of what shortens its life is avoidable. Sweat, spills, dust and uneven wear do the damage over time. These three habits start working the day it arrives.

1. Put a protector on it from day one

A mattress protector is the single most useful thing you can buy for a new mattress. Put it on before the first night, not after the first accident. It sits under your sheets and blocks sweat, drinks and the occasional pet or child accident from reaching the mattress itself. Choose a washable one that fits snugly, and wash it every month or two along with your sheets. A protector you can wash is far easier than a mattress you cannot.

2. Rotate it on a schedule

Every mattress wears fastest where you sleep. Turning it head to foot every few months, especially in the first year, spreads that wear around and keeps the surface from developing a permanent dip. Check the manufacturer's care label before you flip it over. Many modern mattresses are built with a top and a bottom and are not meant to be flipped, though they can still be rotated. Rotation is easier with a second person, so pick a day when someone can help. A phone reminder every three months is enough to make it a habit. Each time you rotate, strip the bed fully, look over the surface for stains or damp spots and vacuum it before the sheets go back on.

3. Let it breathe and treat spills quickly

Moisture is the enemy of any mattress. Strip the bed in the morning once in a while and let the mattress air out for an hour with a window open instead of pulling the covers up right away. Vacuum the surface with an upholstery attachment every month or so to lift dust and skin cells. If something spills, strip the bed, blot the liquid with a clean cloth and press, never rub. Use as little water as you can, and let the spot dry fully before you remake the bed. A damp mattress that gets covered up is where odors begin.

A few more small things

• Use a base or frame that supports the whole mattress, with no sagging gaps underneath.
• Keep kids from jumping on it, because it damages the internal support.
• Do not drag the mattress by its handles. They are meant for positioning, not for carrying the full weight.

When a professional mattress clean makes sense

Even a protected mattress picks up dust over the years, and some situations call for more than home care. A professional cleaning makes sense if there has been a spill that soaked through, a pet or a child's accident, a lingering odor, or a visible stain that blotting did not lift. It is also worth doing when you move into a place with a mattress you did not buy, or before a baby's or a guest's first night. Mattress cleaning is one of the things we do at ASAP Carpet Cleaners, and we offer free estimates. Our mattress page is at mattress cleaning.