You spend at least eight hours a day with your mattress.

This makes it the most frequently-used furniture at home, which means its hygiene is paramount. A dirty mattress isn’t just disgusting, but a hotbed of germs and diseases.

A good mattress can last you 10 years, but poor maintenance will also shorten its lifespan. Here are a few things you can do to make yours last longer.

1. Flip and rotate it every six months

Make it a habit to flip and rotate your mattress once every six months. This will make sure it wears evenly, without depressions at odd places.

Sleeping in the same area for too long will cause the area to sag from body pressure. Rotating and flipping your mattress regularly will keep it even.

2. Vacuum your mattress

Use a clean vacuum brush to clear your mattress of dust and mites. Sleeping on a dusty mattress will cause allergies and make you sick.

Do this every six months to keep it clean.

3. Don’t use any liquid

Avoid spilling or spraying any liquid on your mattress, even fabric detergents! Once your mattress is exposed to liquid, it will take a while for the moisture to dissipate. Moisture encourages mold growth, which is bad for those with allergies and can even cause sickness.

If you accidentally spill something on it, quickly blot the stain away and dry the mattress.

4. Get a mattress protector

It’s good to fork out a bit of money for a high-quality mattress protector. Waterproof ones are great to prevent stains from leaking onto your mattress.

It also protects you from dust, mites, and germs that might make you sick. Remember to wash the protector regularly, preferably in hot water.

5. Don’t jump on it

We know jumping in bed is fun, especially for the little ones. However, this will damage the foam and make it wear out faster.

You might even damage the bed frame, which will cost you more to replace.

6. Sun it

Sunlight is a natural disinfectant. It can kill germs, bed bugs, and eliminate moisture to prevent mold from forming.

This will also remove any unpleasant odour from your mattress. This is best done before you flip or rotate it.

This article first appeared in kaodim.com.

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