There are plenty of things that can keep a person up at night. Some of us stare at the ceiling for hours each evening, worrying about work and relationships. Others can’t quite get to sleep because they struggle to drag themselves away from their smartphones.
However, if there’s one thing that affects our sleeping patterns, unlike anything else, it’s an uncomfortable mattress.
Every mattress, no matter how expensive or perfect it was when you originally bought it, can end up losing its shape or suffering from reduced performance over time.
Regular use often means that mattresses begin to sag and soften, reducing the amount of support your muscles and joints get in bed. While in an ideal world, you’d be able to constantly replace your mattress whenever you needed to, switching to a new bed can be exhausting and expensive.
Fortunately, there are a few cheap and easy things you can do to make your mattress firmer.
Option 1: Use Plywood Boards
If your mattress is much too soft, then try counteracting that softness with something harder. Slipping some plywood boards between the bed frame and mattress or the box spring and the mattress can help to prevent sinking and sagging.
Some people find that this helps to deliver extra support, particularly when they have back pain and similar problems. However, you may need to replace your boards regularly.
Option 2: Try a Mattress Topper
If your soft mattress is stopping you from getting a good night’s rest and you don’t want to pay for a new mattress, then adding a mattress topper might be a helpful alternative.
There are a lot of different kinds of mattress toppers out there, from hard foam to memory foam and beyond. Just like buying a new bed, it’s a good idea to check out the reviews and ratings for various options to ensure that you’re making the right purchase. Latex and polyurethane toppers are often useful for people who need firmer bedding.
Option 3: Change the Box Springs
Sometimes, the coiled box springs in your mattress can end up losing its bounciness due to general wear and tear. If your mattress loses its firmness because of issues with the box spring, then it may need to be replaced.
If you can add a new box spring without changing your entire mattress, then you should get a firmer, thicker bed that may last a lot longer. On the other hand, some beds simply can’t have their springs replaced.
Option 4: Put Your Mattress on the Floor
Another way to make your mattress firmer is to place it on the floor. Placing your mattress on the floor can give it an extra layer of support and stability. However, you’ll need to take any allergies that you have into account, as these could get worse if you’re lying too close to the floor.
Option 5: Flip the Mattress
Finally, there are some mattresses that can be used on both sides. This means that flipping your entire mattress can sometimes give it a new lease on life.
Check the instructions to see whether it can be flipped. If it can, turning it over every six months will help to even the wear and tear out on both sides of the bed so that it stays firm for longer.
If flipping isn’t an option, then make sure that you rotate your bedding. Simply move your bed so that the part at your feet is in the area where your head is. Doing this every once in a while can help to balance wear.
Maintaining Mattress Firmness
Mattresses can often sag and lose their firmness over time. However, buying a brand-new bed isn’t always a possibility for everyone. The steps mentioned above should help you to get the good night’s sleep you need until you can get a replacement for your mattress.