A full mattress topper can transform your bed into the peaceful oasis it was always meant to be. Whether you're in a dorm room or an apartment, these mattresses aren't always as soft and plush as you'd expect them to be.
At Sleepyhead, we offer two different types of premium mattress toppers designed to restore the quality of your sleep and even extend the lifespan of your mattress.
However, it can be confusing to know how long you should use yours. Do you need to replace it after a year, or can you enjoy it for a little longer without purchasing a new one?
Today, we're breaking down all of the details you need to know.
Factors That Affect the Lifespan of Your Mattress Topper
There are a few different factors that will affect how long you can expect your mattress topper to last. These include:
- The quality of the mattress topper
- The type of mattress topper
- The quality of your mattress
- How frequently you use it
- How well you maintain it
- Your sleep environment
Let's break each of these down a little more.
The Quality of the Mattress Topper
It pays to start with a premium topper. It's as simple as that. In this realm, you typically get what you pay for.
Especially if you're on a tight college budget, you might be intrigued with the idea of saving a little money and going with a sub-par topper. While you might not spend as much up-front, keep in mind that most of these toppers are thin and flimsy, designed to simply separate your mattress from your sheets without enhancing your comfort.
That means that not only will you not feel a physical difference by using one, it will likely wear out much more quickly. You'll find that you have to replace it more frequently, which will wind up costing more in the long term.
Our Sleepyhead Mattress Toppers are available in two different designs: Gel Toppers and Copper Toppers.
Both feature a number of benefits that you can't always find with our competitors. For instance, all of our toppers:
- Keep you cool
- Promote spinal alignment
- Rejuvenate your mattress
- Offer enhanced support
- Relieve pressure from your bones and joints
- Include washable covers for enhanced sanitation
By purchasing one for your full-sized bed, you can rest assured that you're getting much more than a slim piece of fabric. You're getting a plush, luxurious topper that will transform your bed and improve your quality of life.
In addition to the features listed above, our Copper Topper also offers enhanced hygiene support and wellness benefits to keep germs away. This 100% copper-infused topper is:
- Anti-microbial
- Anti-inflammatory
- Hypo-allergenic
- Resistant to mites and bed bugs
- Odor-eliminating
As you sleep, it also draws heat away from your body. This keeps you cool all night long, which makes it easier to fall asleep and stay that way.
The Type of Mattress Topper
Manufacturers use a few different materials to make mattress toppers. Three of the most popular include:
- Memory foam
- Latex
- Down
Of these three, memory foam toppers are by far the most durable, comfortable, and longest-lasting. This material is the thickest in the group, which means that it takes a longer amount of time to wear down. Not to mention, it also feels the best under your body and keeps you well-supported and aligned all night long.
Both our Gel-Infused Topper and our Copper Topper are made out of 100% memory foam. The foam in our Copper Topper is infused with copper, while the foam in our Gel Topper is infused with supportive, pressure-relieving gel.
The Quality of Your Mattress
While you can absolutely add a topper to a brand-new mattress, most people purchase these accessories to place on top of older mattresses that need a little boost in the comfort and sanitation departments.
Depending on the quality of that mattress, your topper may have to work harder than expected. The memory foam will naturally follow the contour of the mattress shape, so if it's worn out and dipping in places, the topper will take on that formation over time.
Before long, this unnatural curvature can compromise and even damage your mattress topper. Note that this can happen with any older mattress, even if it doesn't show visible signs of age or disrepair such as cracking or sagging.
After about seven years, all mattresses are due for a replacement, although some can last up to 10 years or longer if they're well-maintained. If you're in your own home, then you can monitor that timeline and adhere to it. However, it can be difficult to know how long a mattress has been in your furnished apartment or dorm room.
Inspect your bed for signs of stress, and understand that your topper might not perform as well if the mattress is extremely old and worn. For best results, apply your topper to a firm, even mattress that won't cause it to distort.
How Frequently You Use Your Topper
Naturally, if you use your topper every night, then you'll need to replace it sooner than someone who only uses it on a guest bed. If you own your home, we suggest outfitting all of your beds with our premium toppers!
However, if you're living in a dorm room, then you only have to worry about one bed: your own. Still, you can use it every day without sacrificing its quality or performance. Even if you put nightly pressure on it for hours on end, it will hold up and work beautifully for as long as you need it to.
That's because our toppers are designed to last. Under our good-till-graduation guarantee, we warrant our products for five years against any damages due to defects in materials or craftsmanship.
This timeline is ideal for a typical college undergrad. You can use our toppers for the extent of your time at college and never have to worry about replacing them! If it's still in great shape after you turn your tassel, it also makes an ideal accessory in your first home.
When you need to store our mattress toppers, you can compress and roll them, just as they'll arrive packaged on your doorstep. Because we use only top-quality, high-density, and resilient foam, this process will not undermine the topper's integrity.
You can learn more about our warranty and other terms on our FAQ page.
How Well You Maintain Your Topper
It goes without saying that the best full mattress topper is a clean one. While you don't have to scrub yours every day, we do suggest giving it a quarterly refresh!
Thankfully, it's easy to keep yours fresh and clean. Both of our toppers come equipped with removable, washable covers! You can simply throw the cover in the machine when it gets dirty or you want to rejuvenate it.
Don't want to wait for laundry day? You can purchase a second, separate fabric cover so you're always prepared. Our covers are crafted from high-quality performance fibers made with recycled PET polyester materials, so they're both comfortable and durable.
Make sure your topper is completely dry before putting it back onto your mattress. If it's still damp, it could harbor mold and mildew, as well as other types of bacteria and contaminants.
When it's time to put the topper back on your bed, make sure you're using properly-sized sheets. Trying to squeeze a double-sized sheet set onto a full-sized mattress can pinch and pull at your topper, which could damage it over time.
Your Sleep Environment
A mattress topper that's consistently exposed to humid, damp, or otherwise unhealthy conditions will wear out faster than one that's kept continuously in a comfortable, air-conditioned room.
At the same time, your topper should also be out of the direct scope of sunlight or adverse weather. The indoor air around it should be healthy and free of excessive dust, debris, or contaminants.
While your mattress topper may naturally oxidize over time as it reacts with oxygen in the environment, there are certain conditions that can speed up this process and cause discoloration, including:
- Prolonged exposure to UV light or sunlight
- Excess, untreated moisture (water, humidity, drool, sweat)
- High temperatures (including storage)
By cleaning your mattress topper and keeping it out of the sun and heat, you can help it last as long as possible. When you make these adjustments, you'll also find that you also sleep better at night! A cool, clean, and comfortable room is the key to getting all of the zzzs you need.
Invest in a Full Mattress Topper That Will Last
A full mattress topper can help extend the life of your bed and keep you comfortable all night long. However, not all of them are created equal. When you invest in one, you want to make sure that it will last as long as possible.
When you're ready to learn more about our bedding solutions, check out our online shop. There, you can compare all of the different features of our memory foam mattress toppers. Designed to outlast and out-perform other models, they're natural additions to any bedroom.
If you have any questions, you can always contact us.
