Flipping or rotating your mattress are both important for increasing your mattress lifespan. This is because your sleeping body puts stress and pressure on the same parts of your mattress over time, causing indents that reduce support when you sleep. Flipping or rotating your mattress throughout the year ensures no single part of the mattress is under constant pressure. A good timetable to do this is every six months; if your mattress is new, consider doing it ever three months for the first year or so.

That said, not every mattress is flappable! Memory foam mattresses, for example, typically aren’t flipped. If your mattress has a tag that recommends against flipping, rotate it instead. Rotating is relatively easy: you simply turn the mattress 180 degrees so the foot of the bed is where you lay your head and vice-versa. If you want to enjoy the benefits of memory foam on a flappable mattress, consider using a memory foam topper.


How to Flip Your Mattress

Flipping a mattress is also a simple process. Think of it like flipping a huge burger or pancake! When finished, you’ll be sleeping on the opposite surface of the mattress than before. First, rotate the mattress 90 degrees so it’s perpendicular to the rest of the bed. This makes flipping easier, as you can leverage support from the box spring/bed frame. Next, turn the mattress on its edge, then flip over. Now rotate mattress an additional 90 degrees to realign it with the bed.

You’ll notice that this process combines flipping with rotating, ensuring a maximum lifespan for your mattress.


Other Mattress Maintenance Tips

Flipping and rotating aren’t the only ways to ensure your mattress lives a long life. Using a mattress protector is ideal for protecting it against spills and stains. This Tempu-Pedic waterproof mattress cover, for example, will keep spills away for easy cleanup. The Buglock Plus mattress protector has the added benefit of locking bugs out from your mattress.

You should also avoid consistently sitting on the edge of the bed. Like sleeping, this can lead to impressions and weaken the mattress support. When edges are depressed this way, you’ll find that fitted sheets have a more difficult time keeping hold.

Finally, make sure you’re vacuuming your mattress on a regular basis. This protects against dust particles that build up throughout the season or year. An all-purpose stick vacuum is just as useful on a mattress as it is with carpeting. If your mattress is plagued by odours, simply sprinkle it with baking soda, let it sit, then vacuum it away.


No Mattress Lasts Forever

Maximizing your mattress lifespan is great, but nothing good lasts forever. If you’ve had your mattress for a decade or longer, it’s time to upgrade. Shop our mattress collection and discover the perfect mattress for your sleep preferences.