5 quick tips to make an old mattress feel new again

Woman side sleeping while hugging a pillow
(Image credit: Getty Images)

For many of us, the New Year means resolutions, and improving our sleep is (and should be) a key priority. But if you’ve stretched your budget buying Christmas presents, a new mattress might not be a viable option right now.

Even the best mattresses will start to feel worn as they age. So, what’s the solution if your existing bed isn’t quite as comfortable as it used to be? We’ve put together some quick tips to help you boost the comfort of an older mattress, which should help you get a better night’s sleep.

Of course, if you do have the budget and want to invest in a new mattress, then it's worth checking out our guide to the best mattress sales this month. It's updated regularly and will point you in the direction of the best discounts on the mattresses we recommend. But for now, let's take a look at how you can spruce up your existing bed.

5 quick tips to make an old mattress feel new again

Before you shell out for a new mattress, try these quick tips to help make your bed a more comfortable place to be.

1. Add a mattress topper

A mattress topper is like a mini mattress – a thick layer of padding made from similar materials to mattresses, such as memory foam, latex, cooling gel, wool, fleece and even hybrid options (which combine coils with foam.)

The best mattress toppers will add support and comfort, giving you a smoother bed surface and helping to better support your body. Not only that, but you’ll get the added bonus of protecting your mattress and helping to lengthen its lifespan.

We would recommend a mattress topper that’s around three to four inches thick for older mattresses, any thinner and you’re unlikely to see any benefits. If you can’t afford a mattress topper you can try adding some extra padding by putting a blanket or comforter on top of your mattress and underneath your fitted sheet.

2. Rotate your mattress

A man and woman lifting each side of a mattress to rotate it

(Image credit: Getty Images)

One of the simplest tricks when it comes to extending the lifespan of your mattress is to rotate it regularly. Without rotation your body weight will naturally cause the mattress to dip and sag at all the major pressure points (head, shoulders, back and hips.)

Rotating the mattress helps to keep the surface of your bed more even and reduces general wear and tear. We’d recommend rotating your mattress every three months but do check with the brand first to ensure you can rotate it (some mattresses have zoned support that means they have to be kept facing in one direction.)

Innerspring mattresses can also be flipped as their construction is the same on both sides, but most memory foam and hybrid mattresses can only be rotated.

3. Check your bed frame

With so much focus on the mattress itself, it’s easy to forget that the bed frame it sits on is equally important. Over time, frequent use can cause the fixtures and fittings of your bed frame to loosen, which can in turn cause your mattress to sag.

Tightening up your bed frame will help to instantly make your mattress feel firmer, as well as giving you more support. It’s also important to make sure that you’re using a suitable bed frame for your mattress – if you use a slatted frame for instance, you need to make sure that the slats are close enough together to offer adequate support. And remember that your bed frame will need replacing roughly every 10 years.

4. Check your mattress warranty

Most mattresses come with a mattress warranty, with the average period of coverage at 10 years. However, many mattress in a box brands offer longer, with some companies offering a lifetime warranty.

So before you spend any money on products to help improve the comfort of your bed, check whether your mattress is still covered by a warranty. Do be aware, however, that while most warranties cover sagging, brands do require enough sag for it to qualify as a problem in their eyes. Sagging needs to be causing structural problems to warrant a repair or replacement mattress.

Helix Midnight mattress review: hand pressing into mattress

(Image credit: Future)

5. Use a bunkie board

A bunkie board is a flat board, normally made of plywood or particle, that’s designed to sit between your bed frame and mattress for added support. They can also be used to cover the spaces of a slatted bed frame, when the slats are too far apart to adequately support the mattress.

A solid surface will help to distribute weight across the bed and prevent pressure building up in one area, which will lead to a more comfortable night’s sleep. You can usually pick up a queen bunkie board for under $100, which is considerably cheaper than a new mattress.

When should you replace your mattress?

Whilst the above are excellent ways to prolong the lifespan and comfort of your mattress, there are some circumstances where the only valid choice is a new bed.

Even the most expensive and well-made mattresses have a lifespan, with innerspring mattresses lasting for around 5-7 years, and hybrid and memory foam for around 10 years. The exception is latex mattresses, which can last as long as 25 years but if your mattress is over its allotted lifespan, it’s time to replace it.

You’ll also need to replace a mattress if you can feel springs poking out, there’s a rip or tear in it, or if it’s gone yellow or has signs of mould. Finally, if you’re waking up with aches and pains every day and you’ve ruled out any other causes, the chances are that your mattress is to blame. If you're still working to a budget, check out this year's guide to the best cheap mattresses to find the perfect option for you.

Jo Plumridge
Mattress tester and sleep writer

Jo Plumridge is an experienced mattress reviewer with several years' experience covering all things mattresses and sleep, and who tests memory foam, hybrid and organic mattresses. What Jo doesn't know about a boxed mattress isn't worth knowing, so naturally we tasked her with producing a series of features for Tom's Guide looking at all aspects of mattresses, from how to pick between latex and memory foam (it's a tricky one), to the seven mistakes people make when buying a mattress for the first time. When testing the DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid for Tom's Guide, Jo said: "I loved the back support and pressure relief it offered. Plus, it looks far more expensive than it is." When she isn’t writing about sleep, Jo also writes extensively on interior design, home products and photography.

Read more
A comparison photo showing a Helix mattress directly next to a Helix mattress topper
You need a new mattress but don't have the budget — is a new topper worth buying this World Sleep Day instead?
The image shows Tom's Guide's testers unpacking the Siena Memory Foam Mattress
How to make your cheap mattress last longer — 5 pro tips
Woman sleeping on a new mattress in a brightly lit room
Keep waking up at night? Your mattress might be stopping you from sleeping through — here's why
A woman feeling the side and top of a mattress as she shops
How to choose a budget mattress for back pain and get it right — 5 pro tips
Two women sit on the Helix Midnight Elite mattress as they look for the right mattress for their sleep position, a Tom's Guide Sleep Awareness Week deals graphic (right)
5 signs your mattresses no longer suits your sleep position — and what to pick instead
A cheap mattress on a bed frame
How to buy a cheap mattress and get it right — 5 expert tips
Latest in Mattress Care
A woman scrubbing the surface of a mattress with a blue sponge with a Sleep Week 2025 logo in the corner
I’m a mattress cleaning expert — the 5 products I swear by for getting rid of urine, stains, smells and bed bugs
Rubber gloves hands holding a spray bottle and cleaning brush over white mattress surface
3 tricks professional mattress cleaners swear by for getting rid of urine and sweat stains
The image shows a glass bowl, a tube of toothpaste, a bottle of liquid laundry detergent and a jar of baking soda on a wooden table
I tried the viral toothpaste and warm iron DIY mattress cleaning hack for brown stains — these are my results
Koitat mattress steam cleaner on white mattress with steam coming out
I tried a mattress cleaning machine that uses steam to 'kill' bed bugs and dust mites — and I was impressed
A woman scrubbing the surface of a mattress with a blue sponge with a Sleep Week 2025 logo in the corner
5 DIY mattress cleaning jobs you should do now — avoid mold, bed bugs, allergies, and dust mites
Bed bugs or fleas on a mattress through a magnifying glass
5 things you should do now to prevent bed bugs infesting your mattress this spring
Latest in How To
Woman changing bedding
How to get rid of bed bugs and dust mites from your bedding and pillows if a hot wash isn’t an option
How to delete TikTok
TikTok has rolled out a vital new security feature — here's how to use it
iPhone 16 Pro Max shown in hand
Your iPhone has a custom voice command feature — here's how to use it
iPhone 16 Pro Max shown in hand
You can change your iPhone's default browser — here's how
Shutterstock Sora image
5 must-try Sora prompts for creating incredible AI videos
Ninja Air Fryer
Air fryer dos and don'ts — 7 safety tips for everyday use