Can You Flip a Memory Foam Mattress? - And How to Get the Most Out of It
For most mattresses, it’s important to flip them so you can prolong their lifespan, but you should never flip a memory foam mattress.
Memory foam mattresses are designed to be ‘no-turn’, and you can end up damaging your mattress if you do. They’re made up of multi-layers which consist of a soft memory foam top layer, and a harder supportive base on the bottom. If you flipped a memory foam mattress you would make the memory foam design virtually useless - and it wouldn’t be very comfortable either.
Although you can’t flip a memory foam mattress, they’re not entirely maintenance free. There are a few little things you can do to help prolong their lifespan, and to get the most out of their features, you just need to know how.
Read the following advice to find out how you can care for your memory foam mattress.
Rotating Your Memory Foam Mattress
Although you can't flip a memory foam mattress, you can rotate it. By rotating your mattress, you’ll make sure it wears out evenly and you’ll prolong its lifespan. It’s particularly important to regularly rotate your mattress if you share it with a partner.
You should aim to rotate a memory foam mattress 180 degrees every three to six months.
Tips for Rotating Your Mattress
Before you begin rotating a mattress, remove any bedside lamps or breakable items from your nightstand. You’ll also want to move any bedside tables, desks or vanities away from your bed if you can.
Remove all of the bedding. Take this opportunity to vacuum the mattress and bed base. This will remove any dust and dirt from your mattress and keep it looking newer for longer.
Mattresses can also be pretty heavy so make sure you ask for help before you rotate your mattress to prevent you from injuring yourself.
Memory Foam Mattress Care Tips
As mentioned previously, memory foam mattresses are pretty low maintenance, but there are some key things you can do to prolong the lifespan of your mattress besides rotating it every few months.
Use a Mattress Cover
One of the easiest ways to protect your mattress is to use a mattress cover. They’re particularly useful when it comes to keeping your mattress clean.
Quite a few memory foam mattresses will come with a removable mattress cover already. These are often zip covers that can be easily removed and machine washed. Just like you should regularly change and wash your bed covers, you should also regularly wash your mattress cover.
Some mattress covers come with smart fabric temperature control. This helps if you either feel too hot or too cold during the night. The fabric will try and regulate the temperature to help you get a comfortable night's sleep.
Mattress Cleaning
Like pillows, duvets and sheets, mattresses also need to be cleaned. The best way to clean a memory foam mattress is to vacuum it. This will remove any dust or hair that has gathered in the mattress.
Simply run the vacuum up and down your mattress making sure you use a soft brush attachment.
Air it Out
Another simple way to look after your memory foam mattress is to regularly air it out so that you can keep it in the best condition possible.
When you wake up in the morning, pull back your bed covers and leave your bed unmade. This will allow your mattress and bedding to breathe so that any moisture (i.e. from sweat) that has collected during the night can evaporate.
Airing out your mattress can also stop it from smelling.
Pick a Good Bed Base
If you’re going to invest a lot of money into purchasing a memory foam mattress, it’s important that you have a supportive bed base for it to lie on.
If you have a bed frame with damaged supports or broken slats, this could result in mattress dipping which can be pretty bad for your back.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Clean a Memory Foam Mattress If You’ve Spilled a Drink on It?
If you spill any liquid on your mattress, make sure you strip your bed and wash the covers. To clean your mattress, gently clean the foam with a small amount of lukewarm soapy water.
For more general cleaning you can just vacuum your mattress and air it out for a while to dry.
Can you Flip a Memory Foam Mattress Topper?
You may not be able to flip a memory foam mattress, but you can definitely flip a memory foam mattress topper. This should be flipped once or twice a year. When flipping the mattress topper, you should consider getting it professionally cleaned. This will help keep it looking new.
Can you Flip a Hybrid Mattress?
Just like memory foam mattresses, hybrid mattresses are not designed to be flipped over. When you flip it over you will be sleeping on the innerspring system - which is not ideal for your back!
You should rotate a hybrid mattress every six months, or every three to six months if you share the bed with someone else. By rotating the mattress you will prolong its life span.
Can You Flip a Tempur-Pedic Mattress?
Tempur-Pedic mattresses are a type of memory foam mattress designed to release pressure from your back when you sleep. According to their website, Tempur-pedic mattresses do not need to be flipped or rotated. They are designed to keep their shape for the duration of their lifespan.
If you feel like your Tempur-pedic mattress is losing its comfort, you can try rotating for a few nights and see if it improves.
How Often Should You Rotate a Mattress?
Newer memory foam mattresses can be rotated once every six months, or every three to six months if there are two of you sharing a bed. However, if you have an older mattress, it will need to be rotated every two months. This will help keep the mattress in shape and stop it from losing it’s comfort.
