When you consider upgrading your bed by purchasing a new mattress, there are several times during the year that you can find discounts and sales. Upgrading your mattress allows you to sleep better, improving the quality of your sleep as well as the amount of energy that you get from a good night’s sleep. Let’s explore reasons to look for a new mattress and the best time of year to buy one.
How Long Does a Mattress Last?
Just about all types of mattresses last between seven and 10 years, but the actual life span will depend on the materials used and the total amount of weight that lies on the bed each night. For example, mattresses for adjustable beds can last longer than a decade with proper care. Here are a few different mattress materials and the expected lifespan of each product.
- Innerspring: 6.5 years
- Foam: 7 years
- Latex: 8.5 years
When to Replace Your Mattress
Ultimately, the best time to replace your mattress depends on your own experience. Here’s a quick breakdown of when you should consider replacing your existing mattress.
When Allergies or Asthma Are Increasing
While your mattress may look perfectly clean, you can’t always see the mattress factors that adversely affect your health. In seven years, you can spend more than 20,000 hours sleeping on your mattress. While you’re sleeping on top of your sheets, dust, saliva, dead skin, and dust will settle on the mattress surface.
All of these can lead to significant increases in one of the primary causes of allergies and asthma: dust mites. These pests flourish in humid environments filled with shed skin cells, which is exactly what your old mattress provides. Dust mite waste and body fragments can trigger allergies and asthma attacks due to the proteins they release. Similar proteins are also found in accumulated pet dander and dust. If you’re experiencing difficulty breathing at night, high levels of dust and dust mites may be to blame. It’s time to replace your mattress.
When Your Mattress Is Sagging
Mattress sagging happens thanks to a variety of factors, including:
- Standard wear and tear
- Sleeping in the same positions every night
- Improper maintenance and upkeep
- The weight of the sleepers
- Broken box springs
- Poor foundations or support
- Sleeping with family pets
Did you know that you should flip your mattress from time to time and that not doing so can actually void your mattress’s warranty? This falls under mattress upkeep, and it’s definitely a major consideration when your mattress starts to sag. No matter what the cause, mattress sagging significantly decreases the value of a mattress as the mattress stops being as supportive. If you’re finding that that’s the case, it’s time for a replacement.
When You’re Simply Not as Comfortable as You Used to Be
Even when your mattress isn’t quite at that sagging stage as it ages, it’s just not going to provide you with the same level of sleep as it did when it was fresh out of the store. Sleep is very important, and if your mattress is just not providing you with a good night’s sleep, consider getting a replacement.
The Top Layer Is Becoming More Stained and Damaged
Old mattresses tend to accumulate a wide variety of stains, from simple saliva to spilled beverages. If you notice the presence of stains or yellowing on your mattress, we recommend a replacement. Remember, stains aren’t just a visual problem; many of the substances that stain a mattress will also lead to the buildup of bacteria. This will not only cause allergy and asthma issues; bacteria can lead to health problems down the line. Stains also tend to have another problematic effect: unpleasant odors.
Best Time of Year to Buy a Mattress
The best time of year to buy a mattress is not a specific month. It depends on what you are looking for and the sales that are available. If you are in the market for a new mattress, consider some of these sale events before locking into a purchase.
Holiday Sales
When you’re in the market for a new mattress, it’s sometimes better to wait for a holiday sale. This is because the best mattresses are often big-ticket items that you should spend a little more money on to optimize your comfort. When you wait for the sales, you’ll end up saving on these without necessarily sacrificing quality. Here are some of the best holidays to purchase a new mattress.
- Presidents’ Day: This holiday is a good time to purchase a new mattress because retailers will take an additional 5% to 10% off already existing sales prices. This is also an ideal time to purchase a mattress because it’s well into the month of February, and most people will have recovered financially from the holiday gifting season.
- Memorial Day and Labor Day: Retailers are aware of the “summer mentality,” where customers are thinking more about relaxation. For this reason, they sweeten the pot by reducing prices on mattresses. They also take advantage of the fact that this is when most people are off of work and most retailers are open for business. As a result, most people expect some sort of sale on Memorial Day and Labor Day.
- Fourth of July: Another holiday that takes advantage of the “summer mentality,” Independence Day also falls close to when new mattress models hit the market. For this reason, this is a good time to find steep markdowns on previous mattress models. Retailers also reduce prices since July falls mid-year.
- New Year’s Day: New Year’s resolutions are a major reason why retailers reduce the price of mattresses at the start of the year. Many people resolve to get better sleep, and for this reason, mattress retailers make new mattresses cheaper.
- Veterans Day: While Veterans Day sales may equate to many of the other holiday sales when it comes to savings, many retailers offer deeper cuts for current and past service members. This time of year also falls near the holiday shopping season, so prices tend to be very competitive amongst mattress retailers.
Online and In-Store Sales Events
If you are looking for a new mattress, consider sale events that are available either in-store or online. These events allow you to purchase a mattress online and use a trial period to ensure that it is right for your needs. If you are not satisfied with the mattress at the end of the trial period, you can often return the mattress for a full refund. Some of the sale events to look for include Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Summer Savings Events
Summer is when new models are released, leading older models to go on sale with significant price reductions. This allows older models to sell and creates more space for updated inventory. If you don’t need the latest mattress designs, this is an excellent opportunity to find a good-quality mattress at a lower price. Additionally, if you need a new mattress for someone moving into a dorm room or an apartment in the fall, summer is a great time to take advantage of sales to reduce moving expenses.
End-Of-Year Clearance Sales
At the end of the calendar year, most retailers aim to reduce their inventory to make room for new models in the upcoming year. This means you can find high-quality mattresses at a fraction of the usual price. These sales typically occur in December but often extend into January, allowing you to use your Christmas bonus to make a more significant purchase.
What to Look for in a New Mattress
In addition to choosing the right time to make a purchase, you also need to determine what mattresses will be the most comfortable for your needs. Whether you are looking for a twin mattress or a queen mattress, find options that you are comfortable sleeping on and that offer additional perks.
The Type of Mattress
Mattresses come in a few varieties based on the type of sleeper. For example, a pillow-top mattress is great for some, but others might prefer the support provided by an innerspring mattress. Firmness levels will increase to even higher levels with mattresses designed explicitly for spinal alignment and the reduction of heat buildup.
Additionally, some mattress types are designed with different kinds of sleepers in mind. A good example of this would be a Euro-top mattress, which feels similar to a pillow-top, but its plush top is sewn into the cover of the mattress. These are great for side sleepers and those who sleep on their back, but these fall behind for stomach sleepers.
When selecting the type of mattress, it’s critical to know how you sleep specifically. This will help you select the mattress type that best fits your sleep style.
Bundled Deals
If you need more than just a new mattress, consider bundled deals while you are shopping. These often include things like mattress protectors and pillows when you make a mattress purchase.
Mattress Size
Most adults are comfortable with either a queen or king-size mattress. A queen-size mattress is about 60 inches wide, and a king size variation is about 76 inches in width. Both mattress sizes have the same length of 80 inches. Most couples will find that a queen-size mattress is more than enough space, but for those that like to spread out when sleeping, we suggest a king-size model. For children and teens, consider a twin mattress, which is designed for one person.
Comfort Level
The most important thing to consider, when purchasing a new mattress, is the level of comfort. If you want extra cushioning, opt for a mattress with a pillow top. If you don’t want your mattress shifting when your partner rolls over, then a memory-foam design might work best to provide you with optimal comfort. If you sleep hot, then consider getting a mattress with cooling technology to make nights more bearable.
Purchasing a New Mattress When the Time Is Right
Knowing when to make a new mattress purchase takes a little know-how, and at City Mattress, we're here to help. Mattresses are all about achieving the most comfortable sleep, which has several beneficial health implications. Don’t delay upgrading your mattress if you need one now, but you can wait to take advantage of sales and events that’ll help bring down the cost.
Image Credits
Afzal Al Faraby/Shutterstock.com
fizkes/Shutterstock.com
New Africa/Shutterstock.com
PH888/Shutterstock.com
ORION PRODUCTION/Shutterstock.com
BearFotos/Shutterstock.com
