How To Make Mattress Firmer? Comprehensive Guide

Helen Skeates
Helen Skeates
17 min read

There are three options to consider if you’re looking for a firmer mattress. Even while sinking into a soft mattress may feel good at first, we need to be careful not to lose our balance. The mattress, like pillows, has a major impact on how we rest our bodies during the night.

To prevent spinal misalignment, it should be sufficiently firm. Too much room between the body and the mattress can lead to back pain and other health problems. If you want a firmer mattress, keep reading this post.

5 Benefits of A Good Mattress

1. Achieve Adequate, Quality Nighttime Sleep

The major benefit of a good mattress over a bad one is, unsurprisingly, the ability to consistently enjoy a decent night’s sleep or a restful afternoon nap. A cloud nine sleep experience, stress-free pressure points, and a supportive back — all depend on the style of mattress you choose.

You should be able to sleep soundly on a nice mattress, not interrupted. You may need a new mattress if you’re constantly uncomfortable, have trouble falling asleep, or wake up in agony. If you suffer from persistent back discomfort, click here immediately to read our top mattress suggestions.

2. Promote Good Form and Posture

It’s possible that people don’t even realize how often they switch sleeping positions throughout the night. By investing in the correct mattress, rather than just a high-quality one, you can help or restore your body’s natural alignment. In order to maintain the same sleeping position night after night, you’ll need a mattress that supports healthy body alignment.

How To Make a Mattress Firmer | Mattress Clarity

For instance, those who sleep on their sides are more likely to experience back pain because the fetal posture increases pressure on the spine and neck. Since it will be pressed down against the mattress, it might also exert pressure on the arms and shoulders, cutting off circulation. Sleeping on your right side, in particular, puts extra strain on your internal organs.

Memory foam mattresses, thankfully, have you covered if you sleep on your side. The responsiveness of the material can help keep the spine in proper alignment and relieve pressure in key areas. Your spine and joints will thank you for choosing a mattress designed for side sleepers. This means that you should think about how you sleep while shopping for a mattress.

3. Keep Your Mental and Emotional Health in Check

Bad mattresses can seriously disrupt sleep. There may be a few restless evenings at first, but if you continue to sleep on an uncomfortable mattress, you may find that you are unable to get enough shut-eye. Sleep deprivation has been related to a variety of negative outcomes, both immediate and long-term, and can have a significant impact on your mental and emotional well-being.

If you don’t get enough shut-eye, you may have some of the following negative consequences on your mental and emotional well-being:

  • Sluggishness and forgetfulness.
  • Brings on sleepiness and yawning during the day.
  • Increases irritation and mood swings.
  • Increases the severity of mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and ADD/ADHD (ADHD).
  • Causes problems with thinking and performing.

If you invest in a high-quality mattress, you’ll reduce your risk of developing any of the aforementioned health problems while you snooze. However, keep in mind that even with the most comfortable bed, you probably won’t get the finest sleep.

4. Develop an Inclination to Your Sleeping

Some people have trouble falling asleep for a variety of reasons, one of which may be a subpar mattress. Some people are so busy with their hectic schedules of work, school, and extracurricular activities that they neglect to get enough rest. Getting a new mattress could put you back on the path to normal sleep.

If you’re not the kind to feel refreshed after a good night’s rest, perhaps it’s time to replace your mattress. Creating a relaxing bedroom setting can also help you get more shut-eye.

Make sure you give yourself the luxury of a good night’s sleep. Get some sleep in comfort by following these suggestions:

  • Your bed should only be used for sleeping or personal moments.
  • Bring down the ambient volume
  • Put the temperature down to a comfortable 65 degrees Fahrenheit or 18.3 degrees Celsius.
  • Put all electronic devices out of reach.
  • Reduce as much visual noise as possible.
  • Keep your bedroom a soothing, warm color.

5. Get the Most Out of Your Purchase

The current market price of a mattress is not funny. It’s not easy to put save money for a mattress, even a cheap one, especially if you have other responsibilities.

A good mattress, therefore, is an investment that will last a lifetime. It is possible to get your money’s worth out of a high-quality mattress because they can last for several years with proper care.

Compare the typical durability of different mattress materials:

  • 5–6.5 years for an innerspring
  • The foam has a lifespan of 6–7 years.
  • There is a 5- to 8.5-year latex life span.
  • Age of Hybrid Vehicle: 5–7.5 Years

How Can I Make My Mattress Firmer?

Modifications

Similarly to how you can fix indentions in your mattress, you can make your mattress firmer by making some alterations. In the first place, you should examine the mattress to see if it has absorbed any moisture. Bedding can absorb moisture from the air due to humidity even if you don’t feel it.

Dry your mattress

Even if you don’t see any obvious moisture, this will soften your mattress. It is recommended that you take your mattress outside on a bright day to allow it to dry regularly. Additionally, you will be preventing the growth of mold and mildew while sanitizing the area.

How to Make a Memory Foam Mattress Firmer? - Terry Cralle

Add or replace materials

Adding a mattress topper is another option for customizing your mattress. Finding the right material for the desired support is a strength of this approach. Instead of just replacing the mattress, though, you may want to also consider swapping out the box spring.

If you are still unhappy after making these adjustments, try putting a plywood board under your mattress. If that wasn’t solid enough for you, this should do the trick. It can go either on the slats or on top of the box spring.

Check the room

When everything else fails and your mattress is getting too soft, consider switching things up in the room. For mattresses made of memory foam, which adapts to body heat, this technique can be quite helpful. Keep in mind that heat softens memory foam faster than cold does.

Your mattress may soften more quickly during the warmer months. If this is the case, installing an air conditioner is a quick way to fix the problem. Additionally, you won’t have to worry about being too hot and uncomfortable on your mattress like you would with memory foam.

Is There A Firm Mattress Topper?

The firmness of a mattress topper is something to consider if you’re on the fence about buying a new mattress but are considering using one to make your current one more comfortable. Keep in mind that this solution is only appropriate if the mattress needs minimal additional firmness. Latex, memory foam, and polyfoam are firmer than down or wool and can be found in a wide range of mattress types on the market.

Because firmness is relative, it’s recommended to check one out for yourself, as their thickness can range from 1 inch to 4 inches. Even if you think you’ve found the perfect firmness in a mattress topper, another person could disagree. You should think about your weight and the mattress you’re using, but remember that a thinner mattress will always be firmer than a thicker one.

What is the right firmness for you?

Everyone has a different ideal level of stiffness, as we’ve already established. Keep in mind, however, that different sleeping positions call for different degrees of firmness. Use of a firm surface is recommended for those who sleep on their backs or stomachs to prevent the hips from sinking and the body from being out of alignment.

A softer mattress that can contour to a person’s side is ideal for those who sleep on their sides. By doing so, you can avoid back pain even when sleeping on your side. Finally, if you change positions frequently during the night, you should determine your dominant sleeping position before purchasing a mattress.

Poor pressure relief might produce tingling if your mattress is overly hard. There must still be some give in the mattress to help distribute the weight of the body while we sleep. Test out the product’s effectiveness on your nighttime sleep with no risk.

What Makes A Mattress Extra Firm?

It might be difficult to find a firm mattress because of the subjective nature of firmness, but using the manufacturer’s terminology can help. On a scale from 1-10, 9-10 is considered “very firm.” A grade of 5 would indicate a medium mattress, whereas a score of 7 or 8 would indicate a firm mattress.

The firmness of an additional mattress depends on more than this indicator. Even if both have the extremely firm rating, the firmness of an innerspring or latex mattress will exceed that of a memory foam mattress. Further, keep in mind that the firmness of a mattress might vary depending on its manufacture and design.

How to Keep Your Mattress in Good Shape Longer

Here are seven tried-and-true methods for extending the life of your mattress and warding off potential disasters.

1. Make sure your mattress is properly supported.

It is important to ensure that your mattress has the proper support, even if you decide not to buy the coordinating box spring or foundation. This helps keep things from breaking down too quickly and prolongs their useful life.

It is recommended that you consult the manufacturer or the warranty policy for guidance. It is common knowledge that only spring mattresses should be put on box springs, but other types of mattresses, such as memory foam mattresses, also need a strong foundation.

Queen and king size beds particularly require center support bars to ensure they can hold the weight of their occupants and the mattress. Depending on the type and weight of the mattress, a platform bed with wide slats may require additional slat support.

Every year or so, you should inspect the slats and springs supporting your mattress to make sure there are no breaks.

2. Use a mattress protector from the beginning.

We’ve discussed mattress protectors previously, and they’re one of the easiest and most effective ways to extend the life of your bed.

A high-quality mattress protector not only keeps your mattress clean and free of dust, debris, and filth, but it also provides waterproof protection in case of accidents.

This prevents allergens like mildew and dust mites from accumulating on your bed, keeps skin oils and sweat off the bed, and helps preserve the life of the materials inside your bed. Many of the current models of protectors are as soft and as comfy as a standard fitted sheet, and they make cleanup a breeze when mishaps do occur.

3. Wash bed linens regularly.

Sweat, oils, hair, and dead skin cells are all shed during sleep. Crusts from breakfast in bed and pet paw prints are just two sources of potential mess in the bedroom. All of this, in addition to looking unpleasant, can permeate a mattress, providing a fertile environment for bacteria and dust mites.

Most cleaning professionals agree that washing bed linens once every week to two weeks is optimal. It’s still vital to wash sheets regularly, even if using a mattress protector. Mattress protectors should be washed on a regular basis as recommended by the manufacturer.

4. Get pets separate beds to snuggle in.

Pets shouldn’t sleep on your bed, and you should get them a bed of their own instead.

Even the cleanest pet will track in dirt and grime from outside, drool, and shed hair and cells much like people when they climb into bed with you. A mattress is almost completely ruined by even one mishap from a pet.

5. Rotate the mattress regularly.

Regularly rotating a mattress of any size or composition is beneficial. Although not all manufacturers recommend it, rotating can help ensure your tires wear evenly and prevent depressions or soft spots.

Every 4-6 months flip your mattress over from head to foot. This is especially crucial in the first several years, while you are “breaking in” the mattress.

6. No jumping on the bed!

If your mom warned you not to jump on the bed, she was right. While spring, water, and air beds are more likely to suffer damage from rough use, foundations, frames, and foams are all subject to faster wear as a result of frequent use.

7. Take care when moving your mattress.

A mattress can easily be damaged during a move, thus it is recommended that you encase it in plastic and refrain from bending or folding it. Heavy-duty mattress bags that can be sealed with tape are available at many moving and box stores to protect your bed from dust, water, and scratches.

If you need to move a mattress, it is recommended that you stand it up on its side to prevent it from being wrinkled or saggy during the trip. It is not recommended to use the handles on a mattress cover to drag or move the mattress.

8. Don’t bring home unwanted hitchhikers.

One of the quickest ways to damage a mattress is by infesting it with bedbugs, which can be tough to get rid of once they’ve set up shop.

Keep your luggage off the floor and check the bed for symptoms of bed bugs whenever you stay somewhere other than your own house. Texas A&M University offers advice on how to avoid carrying bedbugs home in the event that you find signs of infestation.

Use a bedbug-proof mattress encasement if you live in an apartment or a portion of the country where these pests are common. Bed bug encasements are distinct from mattress protectors in that they completely encase the mattress and have sturdy zippers to keep pests out.

How To Make A Mattress Firmer?: A Step-by-Step Guide

9. Let the light in occasionally.

If you can, take your mattress out into the sun and open the windows for a few hours once every two months (though if bedbugs are possible, leave the cover on).

According to research conducted at Kingston University, this helps prevent moisture problems caused by both the sleepers and the humidity.

10. Follow manufacturer cleaning directions.

Cleaning your mattress on a regular basis is important for the health of both you and your mattress.

Most beds should be vacuumed with a hose attachment to eliminate surface dust, and many manufacturers provide guidelines for removing stains and cleaning in general.

Make sure stains are dry before making the bed after treating them with a gentle soap and water solution. Harsh chemical cleaners should be avoided on foams since they compromise foam integrity.

Vacuuming should be done once every one to three months, and stains should be cleaned as needed, depending on dust levels, allergies, or personal taste.

Mattresses come in a wide variety of styles and brands, but the fundamentals of keeping them clean and comfortable are always the same. The bed should be kept clean, guarded from harm, supported, and rotated to ensure even wear.

Many things contribute to how long a mattress will last, but following these guidelines should help you get the most out of your investment and get a good night’s sleep for many years to come. Know that a 10-year guarantee on your mattress is regarded industry standard, whether you’re shopping at a more traditional brick-and-mortar store or one of the new bed-in-a-box mattress providers.

Conclusion

When it comes to support and posture, an extremely soft mattress isn’t always the best option. If you’ve noticed that your mattress has gotten softer over time, you probably want to know how to make mattress firmer. Since moisture might cause the mattress to soften, you can see if it needs to be dried.

Heat could be another contributing factor, especially with memory foam. As the temperature in the room drops, the mattress should become more supportive. If you still feel like your mattress is too soft or too firm, you may always try a different topper or even some plywood.

Helen Skeates

Helen Skeates

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