Do you follow the rule of thumb regarding mattresses? Common practice says you need to replace your mattress every eight years, but few people actually do. Often it simply comes down to money: mattresses can be expensive. However, the idea that you need a new mattress every eight years isn’t some scam by the mattress industry to get your money. There are some actual reasons behind that number, many of which have to do with your health.

If you’ve decided to replace your mattress, you then have to do something with the old one. Often, this means getting rid of more than just the mattress. You may need to get rid of the old box springs and even your old bed frame if you’ve upgraded to a larger bed. It can be difficult to get rid of items this large and bulky. That’s where Junk King Plano comes in. We can haul away any old furniture, including mattresses. 

So is it time to give us a call? Here are some of the signs that you need a new mattress.

You’re Not Sleeping Well

A good night’s sleep is vital to your health. If you aren’t sleeping well, your body isn’t able to rest and repair itself. This will affect nearly every part of your overall health, including your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It will affect your family, your job, and your hobbies. Studies have shown that going long periods of time without good rest leads to being sick more often, have worse chronic health conditions, and simply aren’t as happy.

While there can be other causes for poor sleep, a bad mattress is one of the most common. If you’ve ruled out different health issues along with stress and anxiety, it’s likely that your mattress is the problem. Mattresses do start out well-padded and comfortable, but over time and with use, that changes. Memory foam breaks down, padding shifts, and the coils used in traditional mattresses can lose some of their tension or move out of place. This leads to a loss of support and can make the mattress uncomfortable.

Why is that an issue? During sleep, your body is able to battle infections and repair itself. If you’re not sleeping well, that doesn’t happen. Your body isn’t able to fight off illness as well, nor can it repair injuries or keep chronic health conditions in check. Mentally, you may find it hard to concentrate or focus on tasks. You may have frequent headaches from a lack of sleep, especially if you use a lot of caffeine to try to get some of your energy back. Emotionally, you may find yourself getting angry more quickly or becoming more emotional over minor things. 

How Can You Tell if Your Mattress is no Longer Supporting You?

There’s a fairly easy way to tell if your mattress is providing the support you need. First, remove the sheets and anything else on the mattress. Can you see an impression of your body where you usually sleep? Mattresses shouldn’t have such an indentation. If you don’t see this, lie down on the mattress for a few moments, then get up. How quickly does the mattress rise back up? If you can still see where you were lying for more than a few minutes, it’s likely the mattress isn’t supporting you correctly.

You May Feel the Lack of Support at Night

Think about how you’ve been sleeping. Do you toss and turn a lot? Do you wake up in the middle of the night because you’re uncomfortable? These are signs that your mattress isn’t supporting your body like it should be. A good mattress shouldn’t put undue pressure on any point of your body. If it is, it’s not cradling you correctly. Another sign that your mattress isn’t providing the right support is if you wake up feeling stiff and sore nearly every morning. 

Sometimes waking up sore is expected. If you were very physically active the day before, it’s likely you’ll feel it the next day. However, if you didn’t do any strenuous activity but are still waking up hurting, there’s a problem. It could be health-related, especially if the pain seems to be focused on one area. However, if your doctor rules that out or if the pain seems widespread, it’s probably the mattress.

On a good mattress, you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a comfortable position and falling asleep fairly quickly. You should sleep through the night without waking up from discomfort, and you should feel rested when you wake up. If you’re not, it might be time to give Junk King a call so you can get rid of that old mattress.

Other Signs that Your Mattress Needs to be Replaced

In addition to seeing your mattress physically sagging and feeling it poke you in the back, there are a few other physical signs that it needs to go. First, you might hear it. Older coil mattresses can start to creak and groan over the years. This is a good sign that the coils are no longer in the correct position or are starting to wear down. If you hear noise every time you turn over, your mattress’s coils are shot. You’ll want to look for sagging once you start hearing a lot of sound from your mattress. It’s very likely that you’ll see some.

Another thing to look for, or smell for in this case, is an odd odor coming from your mattress. Your mattress shouldn’t smell. If you’ve eaten or drank while in bed, it’s possible some spills have occurred. Your pets may have had accidents on your bed, too. Even if neither of these have happened, your body sweat can soak into the mattress. Anything that creates a warm, damp, dark place can lead to the growth of fungi. This mildew can create an unpleasant odor that’s a sign of more than just a bad smell. Breathing in mildew or, worse, mold, can affect your breathing. You definitely need a new mattress if it stinks.

Finally, stains on the mattress are another good sign that it may be time for a replacement. They look bad, plus they can indicate that the mattress has absorbed some liquids. If you see stains, give the mattress a sniff. You may have mold growing inside it.

But I Haven’t Had My Mattress for Eight Years

Some people sleep horribly on their mattress but are determined to keep it until it hits that eight-year mark. It’s important to remember, though, that the idea of replacing your mattress every eight years isn’t a hard and fast rule. It’s a good suggestion, but you may find that your mattress wears out more quickly. If you lay in bed a lot, have kids that jump on the mattress, or have bought a very cheap mattress, it’s likely going to wear out more quickly. On the other hand, if you take good care of the mattress, it may last you a good ten years or more. 

It can be easy to place the blame on your poor sleep, especially if you haven’t had a mattress for very long. However, if you find that you’re not sleeping well consistently and that you sleep really well when you’re out of town at a hotel, it’s a sign that your mattress is worn out.

What Do You Do with Your Old Mattress?

Getting rid of an old mattress can be a challenge. It’s hard to find a charity that will accept donated mattresses due to hygiene issues. You can put them out for city bulk garbage day, but that day doesn’t come around that often. In the meantime, what do you do with the old mattress? Taking it to the dump can be a challenge as well because you may not have a vehicle big enough to haul a mattress. 

Fortunately, there’s another option for residents of Plano: call Junk King. We will haul away your old mattress, box springs, bedframe, and any other junk you have. We take furniture, appliances, yard waste, DIY remodel debris, and much more. As long as it isn’t hazardous waste, it can go in our truck. We’ll even carry it out of your house for you, so you don’t need to worry about being able to move the mattress yourself.

Contact Junk King Plano Today to Get Rid of Your Old Mattress

If you want to get rid of your old mattress in the easiest, fastest way possible, give us a call. We’ll arrange to come pick up your mattress and anything else you need us to get. We’ll also give you a free, no-obligation quote that will include all the fees and other costs. We are firmly against hidden charges, so you won’t see any unexpected extras tacked on at the end. 

To learn more or to schedule a pickup, you can call us at 1-888-888-JUNK. You can also text us information about what you need us to haul away, including pictures, to 1-737-888-5865. Finally, if you’re ready to go, you can book online.