| How to fix a sagging mattress? Before coming to the answer to this question, just notice if there is a change in your mattress performance. Have you been waking up tired and lethargic? Good chances are that your mattress isn’t performing well and need some tweaks to function better. Mattress sagging or sinking is a major problem. All beds are supposed to sag after years of use and this affects the quality of sleep and comfort. A sagging mattress disrupts sleep which in turn causes a lot of health problems. Besides buying a new bed, you can fix your old sagging mattress with a few tips and tricks and help prolong its life. This blog will help you find ways how to fix a sagging mattress and provide you with legitimate information on ways to prevent your bed from getting sagged. |
How to Fix a Sagging Mattress: 7 Tips to be Utilized!
The first question here is how exactly can you fix a sagging mattress. In fact, you cannot completely fix a saggy mattress. The best possible way is to replace it with a new one. However, if you can’t do it immediately, you will have to get it repaired by the manufacturer if the warranty is not over yet.
However, some ways can help you in somewhat restoring the level of firmness to some degree. To address this commonly reported complaint, we will share the research that we conducted. We hope it will help you fix your old and worn-out bed to an extent.
The tips shared below will differ in their level of effectiveness. How well a method will work to fix mattress sag depends greatly on the age of the bed and the level of the damage. Here are a few helpful methods that you can try at home to fix mattress sag:
Opt for a Mattress Pad or Topper
Putting on a mattress topper over your sinking mattress can help you restore its level of comfort or firmness. They will not fix a sagging mattress but will create a supportive and comfortable sleeping surface for the time being. Learn more…
Mattress toppers or pads can be bought from a mattress shop, online bedding accessories stores, or retail giants like Amazon, Walmart, or Target.
Rotate the Mattress
All mattresses can be rotated regularly unless a manufacturer does not recommend doing so. Some mattresses with pillow top surfaces and unique coil construction cannot be rotated.
However, rotating the side of a mattress has been proven to help prevent further sagging. Or you can say it prolongs the process of sagging and let you use your existing mattress for a couple of more years. It is recommended to rotate the mattress after every 3 to 6 months to keep a balance on both sides.
If your bed has already started to sag from one side, you can still opt to rotate it to combat the sagging process.
A mattress starts to sink from places where excessive pressure is applied for a longer duration. Commonly the areas around the shoulders and hips are prone to sag soon. Rotating the mattress let the heavier body areas rest on the surface that is still intact.
Rule of Thumb
A misunderstanding should be clarified here: mattress rotating is different from mattress flipping. The majority of the mattresses cannot be flipped unless a manufacturer recommends doing so. All the latest technology mattresses are designed to be used from one side only.
Flipping a bed may result in reduced support and lesser comfort and may cause damage to the inner construction as well. Instead of flipping, rotation is helpful to fix a saggy mattress.
Change the Mattress Foundation
A damaged or worn-out bed frame is often a culprit. Remove your mattress and inspect the foundation thoroughly. Check if the wood is damaged or slats need to be replaced.
The base of the mattress can be a factor in causing premature sagging. Foundations with a lesser number of legs often result in premature sinking because they provide less support in the middle of a bed.
Also, bed foundations made up of slats cause the mattress to sink especially in areas between the slats.
Older and worn-out foundations also cause imbalance and may cause the mattress to deteriorate sooner than expected.
Choosing a foundation for your mattress depends on different aspects. We recommend checking the care instructions that come with your mattress to look out for compatible bed frames.
A lot of mattress manufacturers mention the recommended foundations to be used for certain types of mattresses. The instructions also sometimes specify the suitable distance to be kept between slats to ensure an even surface.
Using an incompatible foundation for a mattress can also violate the warranty where you will not be able to get your worn-out mattress replaced or repaired by the manufacturer.
Prop Up Some Pillows
To reduce the effects of sagging temporarily, you can prop up some pillows around areas that have deteriorated excessively. You can put a pillow under your lower back, hips, or knees. It’s a temporary measure to create some comfort while sleeping.
A few pillows between the mattress and the foundation alter the level of pressure and put support underneath the sagging areas. This of course will not create an even surface instantly and might take some days to balance out but it’s a simple way to fix your mattress temporarily.
Alternatively, you can put some blankets, throws, and denser pads under the mattress to fix the sagging.
According to our research, a lot of sleep professionals recommend putting some extra pillow under the mattress to create an even sleeping surface. However, pillows seldom create an even surface and may actually create imbalance and result in a lack of support.
However, for people who cannot afford a new mattress and want to fix the mattress sinking, throwing up some pillows under the bed may help save the day.
Get the Mattress Repaired
If you notice that your mattress is sinking, you can check your mattress warranty to see if the manufacturer offers to repair or replace it.
If the mattress has started to sag because of the reasons mentioned in the warranty, then you might be able to get your mattress fixed or even replaced by the company.
Make Use of Plywood
Most of the time you need to put additional support under your bed to prevent sagging. A small piece of plywood can do the job quite well. Place a plywood piece between the bed frame and mattress. The mattress will be placed on the plywood and might regain its actual shape in a few days’ time.
However, for some people, the surface might feel a bit hard but with regular use, the body gets used to firmness. You can also put a mattress topper or pad at the top of the mattress in combination with plywood to create a softer and more comfortable surface.
Causes of Mattress Sagging
Sagging is a normal phenomenon that every mattress goes through. After a few years of use, mattresses begin to decline in their performance and start to sink from certain specific areas.
The foam used in the construction gets compressed over time as constant pressure is applied onto the surface. A time comes when the softening of the surface starts to sag and cause discomfort. A sagged mattress offers less support and sometimes disrupts sleep.
Sagging is also common in hybrid beds and innerspring mattresses. The metallic springs and pocketed coils lose their elasticity with time and foamy comfort layers also begin to feel soft. This imbalance of layers in the mattress causes reduced support, especially in areas around the hip, shoulders, and lower back.
Sagging generally begins in areas that are used more often and because of constant exposure to pressure, the surface loses its firmness.
Why Does a Mattress Sag from the Middle?
There are various causes behind a sinking mattress. A mattress can begin to sag because of low-quality materials used in production or because of a poor construction design.
Consistent exposure to moisture (urination and water spills) also causes a mattress to break down sooner than its approximated lifetime. Damaged box frames, old and worn-out bed frames, and faulty slats are other possible reasons why a mattress sags from the middle.
Also, continuous exposure to pressure at the same point can cause the surface to deteriorate.
When Should We Replace a Sagging Mattress?
If you feel significant discomfort when sleeping on your sagged mattress, then it’s time to dump it and get a new bed. The tips and methods shared in this blog post are temporary solutions that you can adhere to for fixing your sagging mattress for the time being.
These solutions, however, will not fix the problem and ultimately you would have to invest in a new and more suitable mattress.
Generally, sleep scientists advise replacing a mattress after every 8 to 10 years. But if you notice that your mattress has sagged enough to cause sleep disruption then you can get a new one as soon as possible.
Sagging Mattress and Sleep Problems
A sagging mattress can be the root cause of a lot of health problems. As such mattresses offer an uneven sleeping surface, the sleeper won’t enjoy a relaxed and restful sleep. Lower sleep quality results in
- lethargic mood
- memory-related issues
- weak immunity
- unstable blood pressure
- lower concentration levels
Lack of support around core-sensitive body areas may also result in body aches and joint pains.
What Mattresses Prevent Sagging
Hybrid beds and innerspring mattresses tend to last longer than mattresses made up of foam materials.
Mattresses with metal coils last around 12 to 15 years on average while foam mattresses begin to deteriorate after 6 to 8 years of regular usage.
Hybrid beds are also great for heavy sleepers and even after exposure to excessive pressure, they continue to provide a responsive and even sleeping surface.
Conclusion
If you are figuring out how to fix a sagging mattress, know that any solution you choose might only serve as a temporary fix. The information and tips shared in the blog post will help you make your sleeping surface more comfortable while minimizing the adverse effects of sagging.
While mattress sagging is a natural process, you can help delay its onset and slow down the effect to prolong your mattress’s life.
FAQs
Q.1: How to fix a sagging pillow-top mattress?
Ans: Putting a mattress topper over the bed helps in creating a comfortable sleeping surface. Propping
up some blankets or pillows under the mattress can also fix the sagging to some degree.
Q. 2: How to fix a sagging memory foam mattress?
Ans: Fixing the bed frame, putting plywood under the mattress and over the foundation, and using
mattress toppers are helpful ways to fix a sagging memory foam mattress.
Q. 3: How to fix a sagging mattress with plywood?
Ans: Placing a piece of plywood under the mattress helps to counteract the sagging. We have discussed the method in detail in the blog post.
Hope the information helps.