How to flip a mattress
Posted by Chris Inch on July 20th, 2009
Most mattress manufacturers recommend that you rotate your mattress to allow it to wear evenly and prolong its lifetime. This is especially important if you have a partner that you share your bed with. If you and your partner are different heights and weights, then you will need to rotate it to prevent it from getting too worn in some areas, but not others. The concept is not unlike rotating the tires on your car, allowing them to wear evenly as well.
So how do you flip a mattress? Do you flip it the long way, or the short way? What way did you rotate your mattress last time? This past weekend, I came up with an easy system that is pretty straight forward and will help you remember when and how to flip your mattress.
The first thing you should do is strip all the sheets off your mattress. Then, take a permanent marker and label each corner of your mattress with the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4. It doesn't really matter what order you mark the corners. Just label them 1 to 4.
Finally, pick an inconspicuous part of your bed frame and mark it with an 'X' or a happy face or something that will let you know what corner is your "key" corner. I chose an "X" and I put it on one of the slats that hold my mattress.
Now you're all set up. Start by positioning the corner marked with a 1 in the "key" corner. Next, on the first of every month, simply flip your mattress so that the next number is positioned over the "key". From 1 to 2, 2 to 3, 3 to 4 and finally 4 back to 1. Depending on how often you wash your bed sheets, you could simply flip your mattress every time the sheets are stripped from your bed.
The numbers will help you keep track of how you last flipped your mattress and allow you to avoid simply flipping your mattress back and forth.
Lastly, you should note that not all mattresses need to be flipped this way. My mattress is a Sultan mattress from Ikea and it requires regular flipping and rotating. I think most regular mattresses are the same. Perhaps if you have an Ultramatic bed, the mattress flipping might differ a bit.
Comments
#2 roberthahn commented on July 25th, 2009 at 8:08 p.m.:
We marked our mattress with arrows centred along the bottom edge of the mattress. if the arrow points towards the head of the bed/at the foot, we flip in that direction. Once flipped, we'll see a new arrow going left/right in the same place. That'll be the direction we'll flip next. The arrows are cleverly designed to ensure that we're flipping the mattress in an even-wear pattern.
Credit to my wife for that idea. She's clever!
#3 amazon coupon commented on Feb. 15th, 2010 at 5:53 p.m.:
quite interesting article. I would love to follow you on twitter.
#4 mbt shoes commented on May 6th, 2010 at 12:23 p.m.:
great information you write it very clean. I am very lucky to get this tips from you.
#5 Best Registry Cleaner commented on May 6th, 2010 at 1:18 p.m.:
Thanks for best news!
#6 Zach Smith commented on June 2nd, 2010 at 9:06 p.m.:
Thanks for your tips. Unfortunately, most mattresses today are "no-flip" mattresses. These mattresses have harder base foams which makes it not ideal for flipping. The purpose for no flip beds is for sanitation. Bed bugs will have a shorter distance to travel if the mattress can be flipped on both sides. However, rotating the mattress is a good idea to even out wear. The tips you mentioned will surely come handy.
#7 bed bug bites commented on July 4th, 2010 at 6:42 a.m.:
Bed bugs are vile and it's not just the bites, they can make you feel dirty and ashamed. The only sensible option is to get professional pest control assistance, trying to do it yourself will just make the infestation last longer.
#8 Buddy Thiessen commented on Nov. 27th, 2010 at 10:12 p.m.:
Chris, I really think your comments were very insightful. We have been using your method for one full rotation now and sleep has never been better! Thanks
#9 Mattress Salesperson commented on Jan. 28th, 2011 at 10:14 p.m.:
Its really a shame that the mattress industry stopped making 2-sided mattresses. But even with 1-sided ones, I have found that customers that frequently rotate their mattress have a much longer comfort life.
Good post.
#10 2011 iphone new 4g commented on March 4th, 2011 at 11:41 a.m.:
When may be the actual iphone 5 supposed to appear? I have verizon and would certainly like to acquire the new iphone when my personal agreement expires in July, I would prefer to discover if the iphone 5 is coming out anytime in the future, simply because if so, I would stick it out lengthier to receive that instead of the apple iphone 4.
#11 Kevin commented on June 3rd, 2011 at 11 p.m.:
No/Never Flip mattresses are a scam. It's not hygiene reasons that the mattress is not supposed to be flipped.
The company just wanted to make a cheaper product so they opted to put the pillow top materials on one side only.
This allows for a higher profit margin. It's really that simple. If your in the USA check out the original mattress factory.
Before you ask.. NO I don't work there. I bought a mattress there though. They have cut away views of a lot of the different mattresses in their show room and show you why even the most expensive mattress is not always best. (especially the no/never flip)
#12 Matt commented on June 30th, 2011 at 7:49 a.m.:
That's a really good idea to make sure that you aren't rotating your mattress back the same way every time! - www.cosymattress.co.uk
#13 Marie commented on Aug. 7th, 2011 at 4:40 a.m.:
Good stuff! Only problem is I've got a foam mattress which has a specific top and bottom. I assume it's not meant to be flipped! But good tips none the less.
#14 Laura Gray commented on Dec. 7th, 2011 at 11:33 p.m.:
Thank you for sharing this blog. Keep posting more about it.
RSS Feeds
#1 Geoff commented on July 21st, 2009 at 12:41 p.m.:
We've got a pillow top...we can only rotate it 180 degrees. Something to keep in mind if you ever opt for one...