A mattress is a big purchase. We at Yankee Mattress are committed to ensuring you get at least the full warranty length of life, but there is a lot you can do to make sure your mattress stays supportive for a long time.
Rotate Your Mattress
Rotating your mattress from head to toe is very important. You want to make sure that you are applying even pressure on the upper comfort layers of your mattress over time. Your shoulders and hips push down on these layers much harder than other parts of your body. A 180-degree rotation every 1 – 2 months will allow the top layers being exposed to this pressure to bounce back, lengthening the life of the mattress.
Proper Frame Support
Ensuring your mattress is properly supported also will lengthen the life. Proper support prevents the mattress from sagging and avoids improper weight distribution / spinal alignment. Having improper support could void your warranty.
If you are using a mattress and box spring, all queen & full frames must have either a rigid steel crosswise or lengthwise center slat or bar that is supported by at least one leg extending to the floor. King frames must have at least 2 center legs.
Mattress-only use with no box spring/foundation must be supported by either a solid wood platform or a wooded slat system with a gap of no more than 3″ between each slat. If the gap in the slats is wider than this, you will need a bunkie board or flat piece of plywood to lay down over the slats before putting your mattress on top. Full, queen, and king sizes must also have center leg support as described above.
Use a Mattress Protector
Safeguarding your mattress with a protector is very important. In pretty much all cases, a stained or soiled mattress will void your warranty. Mattress protectors that are waterproof and protect all five sides of the bed (top and four sides) are the best. There are some protectors that will actually back up the warranty of the mattress by buying you a new bed if the mattress does get stained. Mattress protectors keep dust, allergens, mold, and mildew from getting into your bed, ensuring it doesn’t degrade over time.
Keep Your Mattress Clean
Having a mattress protector will enable you to clean your mattress less frequently, but it is important to keep the mattress sleep surface clean. Washing your sheets and bedding on a regular basis is a good first step. Every six months or so, it is also good to wash your protector and clean your mattress using the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner. You can also sprinkle baking soda on your mattress, let it sit for a few hours, and then vacuum it up with the upholstery attachment, to keep the mattress smelling fresh.
If you do not use a mattress protector, you need to clean all spills or accidents up immediately. If these set into the foam, it could permanently damage the mattress, as well as void the warranty.