Mattress Matters
According to The National Sleep Foundation, a good mattress should last somewhere between 9-10 years. However, you should look for visible signs of wear-and-tear on your mattress regularly, like dents and lumps, and change it when the damage becomes visible or easily felt while lying down. For maximum comfort, it’s recommended to change your mattress somewhere between the 5-year and 7-year mark. This rule of thumb will benefit your sleeping habits greatly and decrease backaches and other problems.
Pillows Talk
Pillows have an enormous effect on quality of sleep. An old pillow can flattened out and cause aches and pains all over. Knowing when to replace your pillows is just as crucial to your health as it is to your comfort level. Over several months, pillows accumulate dust particles, dead skin cells and mildew which can cause nasal congestion and allergies. To avoid this, rotate pillows every 6 months. If you’re not ready to let go of your favorite pillow, you can extend its life up to a year by using a protector.
Nice Sheets
Luckily, sheets are more durable than just about anything else on your bed and don’t need to be tossed as frequently. Still, they do need to be washed at least once a week. This is a number that seems to surprise many people, as most don’t change their sheets with such regularity. However, all sorts of things may be lurking in the fabrics that you’re unaware of, such as dead skin particles, oil, sweat, crumbs and saliva. Ick. Exposure to these things on a daily basis may cause you to develop allergies or weaken your immune system.
Comforter Control
To protect the life of your comforter, you should buy special covers that can be removed and washed at least weekly along with your sheets. This will save you the headache of having to wash the actual comforter as often and risk damaging it. The comforter itself doesn’t need to be washed as regularly. Twice or three times a year should suffice…as long as the covers are kept clean and sanitized. To remove any stinky air pockets that may form, put the comforter outside on a breezy day.
