When shopping for a new mattress, you’re concerned about comfort, cost, and durability–and often in that order. But you might want to consider how long a mattress lasts during your shopping experience to make your purchase the most affordable and efficient one possible.
Comfortable, yet cheap mattress options might provide you the support you are looking for–but it might not last for long. If you need a fast bedding solution that might be perfectly acceptable, but when you want a quality, the long-lasting choice you need to do your homework in advance. If you are wondering about a gel memory foam mattress lifespan, you first need to consider the brand and reviews offered on that particular product.
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What is a Gel Memory Foam Mattress?
Memory foam was first introduced as a revolutionary way to provide body contouring and comfort while you slept, all while isolating movement from your partner. Made from viscoelastic foam that is highly responsive, various degrees of density and firmness exist of this material to provide you with the surface you prefer.
Unfortunately, memory foam has a close cellular design, meaning air does not travel through it well. This creates areas of heat retention and can cause discomfort throughout the night. Because of this memory foam manufacturers began to include gel-infused layers to help draw heat from the body and help dissipate it.
The gel is a coherent mass and works to cool through the properties of conduction. The gel provides a cooling effect as it pulls heat from your body to equilibrate the two masses to a consistent temperature. This allows the surface of the gel to feel cooler to the touch.
Mattress Longevity
Unfortunately, it is difficult to determine how long any mattress will last unless you do some research in advance. No two gel memory foam mattresses are the same, and the key to finding a quality product is through careful company research. Quality foam mattresses are naturally going to last longer and will reflect a density rating of around 4 lbs/cubic foot. Anything lower may have a lower price tag, and also lifespan.
In general, quality memory foam mattresses will last 15 to 25 years, but other factors may also have to be considered- such as body weight and the type of frame support you provide. Ways to determine if your mattress is nearing the end of its life span is to look for obvious compression areas that have not sprung back into shape, sagging, lumps and bumps, or if you wake feeling stiff, sore, or in pain. All of these are indicators of a breakdown in the support it provides.
Things That May Decrease the Life of Your Mattress
Always be sure to check for a manufacturer’s warranty on your mattress choices as that can tell you about what the company perceives pertaining to the quality of their product. Many quality memory foam mattresses offer 10 to 20-year warranties and pretty much guarantee you won’t start to feel a permanency compression in the foam if properly cared for.
This might not always be accurate, however, as it doesn’t take into account body shape and size. Heavier bodies may decrease mattress life as it further compresses foam that might not be dense enough for long term support.
The foam also doesn’t hold up under moisture well, and despite your best attempts, body moisture and oils will make their way into a mattress which can begin to weaken the cellular structure of the foam.
Only sleeping on one side of the mattress can also begin to make it uneven. And may show signs of compression one area over time.
Ways to Increase the Life of Your Mattress
There are multiple ways you can elongate the life of your mattress without much effort overall. Consider adding a few of the following habits to your cleaning schedule for maximum mattress comfort for years to come:
- Either keep your mattress in a mattress protector or keep it well vacuum to help reduce dust mites and another buildup of dust and grime that can hold moisture. Since moisture breaks down foams, this is a great way to help keep your foam feeling the way it should.
- Spray your mattress with antifungal and antibacterial sprays quarterly since body moisture can build up in mattresses to create environments that harbor bacteria and fungus growth.
- Keep your mattress dry if you have to spot clean it, and air it out regularly to help keep it smelling fresh and healthy.
- Although most memory foam mattresses are not designed to be flipped, they can be rotated, and it is suggested to do so at least 4 times a year to help keep weight distribution evened out.
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Conclusion
So even though there isn’t any concrete answer to how long gel memory foam mattresses last, you can be assured that you should be able to get a decent life out of any quality choice you decide upon. Always check with the manufacturer about the warranty, and take care of your investment to help keep it feeling like new.