About Mattress Flipping

Mattresses are often ignored until they become a problem for an aching back. By then, of course, there is little to be done about the mattress aside from replacing it. Flipping a mattress, however, can extend its life, offer a better night's sleep and save money in the long run.

Significance

Mattresses are essentially a soft-sided box with spring coils or other support surrounded by foam, cotton, or other padding to make the mattress more comfortable. Over time, a person's weight compresses the coils and bedding, resulting in a sagging trough-like sleeping surface. Flipping a mattress is recommended to address this problem before it is too late.

Time Frame

Different mattresses of different quality have widely varied flipping requirements; some as often as a week or as infrequently as several months. For best results on an average mattress, they should be flipped every couple of weeks to prevent irreparable damage to the mattress. Pillow top mattresses are no exception to this rule, though their increased padding usually extends the time between flippings.

Features

Flipping a mattress takes teamwork. At least two people should flip any mattress because the size and flexible nature can cause injury to a lone person attempting to flip one. Mattresses should be stripped of all bedding and pillows before flipping, and the area around the bed should be cleared. If the bed is against a wall on any side except the head, it should be pulled away from the wall.

Prevention/Solution

Mattresses should be flipped end-over-end, meaning the foot of the bed should come up toward the ceiling and continue over to the head of the bed while the head slides down to the foot of the bed. Since the majority of a person's weight is in their torso, this shifts the burden of support to coils that are either fresh or have been rested and allowed to regain their shape.
Alternatively, a large mattress such as a king or queen sized mattress, can be rotated 180 degrees and then flipped sideways so that the left side comes up and continues over to the right while the right goes under and becomes the left. This method also alleviates the pressure put on the coils near the torso and may be easier for people with tight spaces or short stature.

Warning

Never flip a mattress when tired, as the activity requires physical strength and an awareness of your surroundings. Failure to be completely aware of your surroundings can result in injuries to the flippers. For example, king sized mattresses can weigh several hundred pounds and can shift unexpectedly very quickly.