At a Glance:
Why Do People Rotate Their Mattress?
Rotating Mattress vs Flipping Mattress
How Often Should You Rotate Your Mattress?
What Happens If You Don’t Rotate Your Mattress
Rotating a mattress is crucial to extending its lifespan. It also makes for a much more comfortable and supportive bed, allowing users to get a good night’s sleep every night. So, how often should your mattress be rotated? First, let’s take a look at why people rotate their mattresses in the first place. Then, let’s compare rotating a mattress versus flipping a mattress and if one or both are needed.
We’ll also answer the main question, “how often should you rotate your mattress?” as well as the side effects if you choose not to rotate your mattress. Hint: it’s not good! Finally, we will showcase a few top-rated mattresses for those who are ready to ditch their old mattress and replace it with a new mattress. Follow along to learn more!
Why Do People Rotate Their Mattress?
It might seem weird to rotate a mattress if you have never done it yourself, but there are good reasons to do so. Rotating a mattress occasionally throughout the year helps spread out the wear and tear of the mattress. Rather than sleeping in the same spot day after day and year after year, the mattress is rotated. This rotation helps to spread out the pressure of the body on the mattress so that it doesn’t start sagging in one area. As a result, the mattress can last much longer than a mattress that is never rotated.
Rotating Mattress vs Flipping Mattress
Some people may have heard that mattresses should not only be rotated but also flipped. Is flipping a mattress helpful? If so, should it be done to all mattresses? Not necessarily. According to the Sleep Foundation, most mattresses are designed to be one-sided and shouldn’t be flipped. In fact, flipping a mattress that is designed to be one-sided only will result in the mattress wearing out more often. Plus, it will be less supportive and comfortable for the sleeper.
Of course, there are mattresses that can be flipped. These types of mattresses are two-sided and are typically designed with two different firmness levels. For example, one side might have a firmness level that is higher than the opposite side. This helps homeowners choose the best mattress firmness for themselves. Not all “flippable” mattresses have different firmness levels on each side. Some mattresses are simply two-sided with the same firmness on both sides. Either way, a two-sided mattress can be flipped occasionally to help prolong its longevity.
How Often Should You Rotate Your Mattress?
A mattress manufacturer might suggest how often you should rotate their brand of mattress. Otherwise, it is a good idea to aim to rotate your mattress about every 6-12 months, although some would say to do it as often as every 3 months. When it comes down to it, the frequency of rotating your mattress will depend on how often it is being used.
For a brief guideline on how often to rotate your mattress, here are some tips from the Sleep Foundation regarding different types of mattresses:
- Memory Foam/Latex Mattresses: rotate 1-2 times per year
- New Innerspring Mattresses: rotate 1-2 times per year
- Old Innerspring Mattresses: rotate 2-5 times per year
Some brands, like Temper-Pedic, do not suggest that homeowners rotate their mattresses. Rotating the mattresses will not harm them, but it is not necessary because of Temper-Pedic’s unique design. If you are someone who would rather not think about when you should rotate your mattress every year, then a Temper-Pedic mattress or a similar brand would be the best mattress option for you.
What Happens If You Don’t Rotate Your Mattress
Unfortunately, not rotating your mattress will eventually result in needing to replace your mattress sooner than necessary. Because rotating a mattress helps to alleviate the pressure from the body on the mattress, not rotating it will add more and more pressure to specific areas of the mattress (usually where the hips and shoulders are).
Once the mattress begins to sag, there is no going back. A sagging mattress cannot be fixed no matter how much rotating (and flipping) you do. And a sagging mattress is not comfortable to sleep on. Because of the sagging, a user will no longer feel supported when they sleep. This can lead to soreness or achy joints in the morning in addition to feeling less rested overall.
If your mattress gets to this point, it is time to consider replacing it with a newer model (and one that does not sag). For some, this may not be a big deal to do every few years. But for others, replacing a mattress needs to be as limited as possible. If that is the case for you, make sure to take care of your mattress and rotate it as necessary to prevent sagging from happening sooner than later.
Of course, there are mattresses that have been designed in a way that they don’t need to be rotated. If this is your case, then you have nothing to worry about!
Replacement Mattresses
It is common for mattresses to need to be replaced every six to eight years if they are often used. If you would rather replace your old mattress and start fresh again, we have included a few mattress options that are currently on the market. You will see that these mattresses are from reliable and reputable brands such as Beautyrest, Purple, and Restonic.
Beautyrest® Harmony Lux™ Carbon Series Pocketed Coil Medium Queen Mattress
The Beautyrest Harmony Lux Mattress features an innovative coil design (T2 Pocketed Coil® Technology) and support system so that homeowners can sleep peacefully and comfortably. There are also advanced pressure-relieving foams, cooling technologies (InfiniCool™ Lux), and sustainable fabric technology for a balance of soft support where the body needs it most. To help prevent sagging, this mattress is designed with a dual-strand coil that is located in the center of the mattress. The RightTemp™ Wave Foam is a conductive carbon fiber that provides support to sleepers. This Beautyrest mattress comes with a 10-year manufacturer warranty.
Our favorite Beautyrest Harmony Lux mattress review: “I love how soft the material is, and is very nice and sturdy. Excellent quality, one of the best mattresses I've ever bought.”
Purple® Hybrid Premier 4 Queen Mattress in a Box
This Purple Mattress has been designed with the Purple Grid™—an innovation that took over 30 patents to completely perfect. The Purple Grid is a gel material that helps support and comfort the body, especially the hips, shoulders, and back. It's one of the best mattresses for those who like to sleep on their side, are curvy, or like to keep cool throughout the night. Inside the mattress are 7.5” wrapped springs and 1” density polyurethane foam, plus a 4” Purple Grid topping for an extra boost of softness. In addition, sleepers may notice the motion-isolating technology when there’s movement on the bed. This mattress also comes with a 10-year limited warranty.
Our favorite Purple Hybrid Premier mattress review: “We have never felt better! Waking up to no aches and pains, feeling energized, is worth every penny…Simply put, the Purple mattress is lovely.”
Restonic Brighton Plush Full Mattress
If you are looking for a quality yet reasonably priced mattress, the Restonic Brighton plush mattress is a great choice. This mattress comes from the largest family-owned US mattress manufacturer, so you know it is reliable and comfortable. With their ComfortCare mattress line, homeowners will receive 25 percent extra support in the middle of the mattress with Marvelous Middle technology. Available in a full size, this mattress is ideal for single adults or for couples looking to downsize in the bedroom.
A healthy bed means a healthy you, so if you haven’t included rotating your mattress into your regular bedroom maintenance, there’s no better time to begin to than now. Of course, results depend on the quality of your mattress. No matter how much flipping or rotating you do, an old or low-quality mattress won’t be able to give you the rest you deserve, like one that’s of better quality. The good news is that the Sleep Better Mattress Store experts can help you find a solution with our exclusive Sleep Cast system that analyzes your body type and sleep position to match you with the best mattress for your needs.
Stop by or learn more online to see all the great mattresses from the brands you love, and start enjoying better sleep tonight!
FAQs
There’s a lot to wonder about when it comes to taking care of your mattress, especially considering rotating one. Here are a few last-minute questions to consider.
Should I rotate my Tempurpedic mattress?
One of the perks of a Tempur-Pedic mattress is that it never has to be rotated or flipped. Its patented one-sided design means that the material will never lose its shape; therefore, the mattress doesn’t need to be rotated.
Is it better to flip or rotate a mattress?
If you have a two-sided mattress, it is best to rotate the mattress and flip it. Lying on the other end of the mattress and the other side of it as well will help to extend the lifespan of the mattress greatly.
How do you rotate a mattress yourself?
To rotate a mattress yourself, you will want to make sure all bedding and pillows have been removed from the mattress. Use the mattress handles (if you have them) and turn the mattress 180 degrees from the head of the bed to the foot of the bed.
How often to rotate mattress?
As a general guideline, homeowners should aim to rotate their mattresses between 1-3 times a year. The more the mattress is used, the more often it should be rotated.
Can a mattress last 20 years?
It’s possible a mattress could last 20 years if it was not being used often and it was made of memory foam or latex. Most standard mattresses only last seven to 10 years.
Why Trust Sleep Better Mattress Store?
The Sleep Better Mattress Store sticks to what they know best - the right mattress for you. With a specialized SleepCast mattress fitting system, they take the guessing game out of finding a new mattress by using technology to identify painful pressure points unique to you. With expert advice backed by technological solutions to sleep, they ensure everyone who shops at Sleep Better can go home to - Sleep Better. Complete with Haul Away services and white-glove delivery services, your best night’s sleep is one visit away.
Shop Mattresses at Sleep Better Mattress Store
At the Sleep Better Mattress Store, we provide quality mattresses for a better night’s sleep. Shop mattresses online or visit us today at our mattress store in Santa Clara. In the meantime, browse our website to shop by mattress brands and check out our bedroom furniture selections to upgrade your bedroom decor. More available than ever, our experts at Sleep Better Mattress Store are always happy to help you learn how often should you rotate your mattress, whether you call us or use our online chat feature. Contact us today!
Learn More: Do Double Sided Mattresses Last Longer?