We’ve all heard that it’s a good idea to flip or rotate our mattress. But what are the reasons for doing so? Is it really that necessary? And if so, how often should you flip your mattress? These are questions we’ve all had at one time or another, so let’s find out!
Why Not Let It Lie the Way It Lies Now?
Wondering why you should flip your mattress instead of leaving it the way it is? Here are two great reasons:
Your Health
The first, and most major reason, for turning your mattress is to maintain your comfort, health, and well-being. If you sleep on the same spot every night, it can eventually cause the mattress to wear out unevenly. This, in turn, not only leads to an uncomfortable night’s sleep, but it could also harm your spine’s alignment, making back pain a part of your daily morning routine. While you may not notice any discomfort at first, over timebad spine alignment could ruin your straight posture and can have a negative impact on your overall health.
Sleeping on an even mattress, however, decreases the chances of back pain, and prevents you from waking up throughout the night due to discomfort. It has an overall positive influence on your sleeping habits.
“92% of people have stated that a comfortable mattress is a key to a good night’s sleep.”
Durability of Your Mattress
The second reason has to do with the durability and lifespan of your mattress.How can flipping and rotating affect the mattress lifespan?
If you don’t rotate or flip your mattress, the chances of innerspring breakage are a lot higher. But if you move your mattress at least twice a year, it’s lifespan could be increased up to 5 or even 7 years! And that will prevent you from having to buy a brand new, expensive mattress.
Flipping vs Rotating
The idea of flipping is quite simple – you simply turn your mattress upside down and sleep on the other side. The result should be a perfectly even surface, giving you the feeling of lying on a new mattress.
Rotating is different, though. When you rotate your mattress, the surface you sleep on stays the same. So, why bother?
Well, the idea here is that you’ll be sleeping on a different part of the bed and your body will put its pressure on different springs. You’ll feel much more comfortable sleeping on a fresh side of the mattress. Additionally, if you rotate the mattress, it helps prevent sagging or sinking, which in turn will helpincrease its lifespan.
Which Is Better: Rotating or Flipping?
There is no universal answer to this question because everything depends on the kind of mattress that you own. For example, pillow top mattresses should not be flipped at all.
In the case of a hybrid mattress designed with different layers, it would be best to consult the manufacturer before you rotate or flip it because the layers may be damaged in the process.
If you own a non-pillow top innerspring mattress, try both rotating and flipping. Then you can decide which is best for you based on your own feelings.
The absolute best thing to do is look at the owner’s manual or shipment packaging. These usually have notifications that say Do not flip or No flipping required. If this is the case, then simply rotating the mattress a couple of times a year will work fine.
How Often Should You Rotate or Flip Your Mattress?
There are a great number of recommendations on how often you should rotate or flip your mattress. Some say to rotate your mattress once or twice a month. But, to be honest, this is unnecessary.
Twice a year is plenty, both for rotating and flipping. Of course, if you want to rotate or flip your mattress more often, then feel free to do so.
For me, turning an item that typically weighs 50-60 pounds more often would a bit too much for me!
How to Rotate or Flip Your Mattress Properly
Flipping Your Mattress
Raise the mattress on the edge so it stands in a vertical position in the middle of your bed. Then gently lower the mattress so that it’s upside down. Once flipped, be sure to align the edges of the mattress with the base of your bed to ensure it’s placed correctly.
While it seems quite simple, not all mattresses are easy to raise. If you have a large mattress, be sure to ask someone to help you lift it up and flip it around.
Rotating Your Mattress
To rotate your mattress, simply turn it around 180 degrees and realign it with the bed base. Again, watch out for bigger mattress sizes (here is a great guide of different mattress sizes) as they are often too heavy to even rotate without help.
Cleaning Your Mattress
Regardless of the material and the construction, it’s always a good idea to keep the mattress clean. Dust mites and other nasty mites might choose to dwell in your mattress if you don’t. And the perfect time to do this is when flipping or rotating.
Grab a vacuum and clean the mattress, making sure to get the hard-to-reach places too. Once finished, you’ll feel as if you’re sleeping in a brand new bed.
In Conclusion
Unfortunately, almost all mattresses will eventually sag or sink in. Others may break down entirely. The best way to extend the life of your mattress is to rotate it, flip it, or both, at least twice a year.
Doing so is not only beneficial for your mattress, but it will also have a positive impact on your sleeping habits and your posture.
Just remember to check what kind of mattress you have, and if you are still unsure, contact the manufacturer’s customer support service for advice.
What do you think about mattress maintenance? Let us know in the comments how often you flip or rotate your own mattress.