How To Restore Memory Foam Mattress: Ways To Fix Sagging And More
Memory foam mattresses are the leaders in the mattress market, and no wonder—they are very comfortable, pretty durable, and have a lot of great features from good motion isolation to the absence of noise.
They are not perfect, though. They’re sagging over time, may have some chemical odor, and feel too soft or firm for a particular sleeper. How to fix a mattress and make it way more comfortable? We’ll provide the solutions to all these problems in this guide.
Memory foam mattress problems and solutions
The good news is you can solve the most common memory foam mattress problems, which are sagging, wrong firmness, and chemical odor pretty easily and more importantly, without spending a fortune, and we describe them all in detail below.
Memory foam mattress sagging issue
First, let’s focus on the reasons why an all-foam mattress may start sagging. They are as follows:
- The more weight is put on the mattress, the faster its sags—in part, this is why larger people may need a firmer mattress that provides that extra support and is sagging slowlier (for more information in firmness read this guide).
- Wrong bed base. You need the right foundation (preferably with no excess space between the bed slats) that will hold your mattress properly.
- Time. Foam mattresses are sagging over time. You can slow down the process or use methods to fix the problem, but sagging itself is the problem you’ll inevitably face one day.
How do you fix a sagging mattress? There are a few ways to do it:
- Buy a good mattress pad. It is used to adjust the firmness and make a mattress more supportive. Usually, such pads are 1” to 5” thick and made of different materials: foam, latex, wool, feathers, etc.
- Rotate your bed every 6 months to prevent and fix sagging.
- Get another bed base with more slats.
- Put pillow(s) under or on a mattress in sagging areas.
Note that most above-mentioned methods also work for those who want to make their beds a bit firmer.
Breaking in memory foam mattress issue
If your mattress is too firm, you don’t always have to buy a new one—there are a few ways to make a mattress softer.
- Apply some pressure. Manufacturers recommend sleeping on a mattress for at least a month to figure out how soft it will feel during the next 7-10 years for a reason—foam becomes softer over time. If you don’t want to wait, you can crawl on a bed with knees and hands—some pressure will make your mattress softer.
- Increase the temperature in your bedroom—memory foam gets softer in warmer rooms.
- Choose an ultra-soft mattress pad or a protector.
- Buy a high-quality topper (a topper, not a protector—there are differences between them) that can also make your mattress feel less firm.
- Buy another foundation or a box spring (you can find more information on box springs in this guide). If it's a super firm and solid base, you may just need another foundation, for example, a foundation with slats.
As you can see, none of these methods is ultra-expensive, on top of that, most of them are free. In any case, you’ll save a lot of money that you could spend on a new mattress.
More Koala’s memory foam mattress tips: Solving the off-gassing issue
First, we should emphasize that the vast majority of all-foam mattresses have a chemical odor. The smell is not always strong, but you’ll feel it after you unpack your new mattress. It doesn’t mean that it’s toxic, at least, if a mattress is certified and meets federal standards (check this before you purchase a bed). Still, it can be pretty stubborn.
Fortunately, there are ways to get rid of it much faster:
- Get more plants to your bedroom.
- Put coffee grounds to a bowl and place it on a nightstand.
- Open the windows.
- Use charcoal odor absorber.
- Sprinkle baking soda over the mattress, leave it for at least 8 hours and then vacuum it.
- Install air filters.
In most cases, it takes a few days for the odor to fade away. In some cases, you can feel that smell for weeks. If you realize that off-gassing lasts too long, just use any of the methods that we’ve listed above.
Conclusion
Memory foam mattresses have a lot of benefits. They are pretty cheap, durable, and comfortable. Yes, sleepers may face some problems like sagging, but there are ways to fix them. Feel free to use the tips in this guide, and you’ll make your bed last much longer!
FAQ
How to fix a sagging memory foam mattress?
You can buy a mattress pad, buy a better foundation (you can choose a solid base), rotate your mattress regularly, and/or put pillows on or under the sagging areas.
How to make memory foam expand faster?
Increase the temperature in your bedroom—warmth affects memory foam and makes it expand much faster. You can also apply some gentle pressure—crawl on a bed with knees and hands, but don’t jump on it.
Can I put a mattress topper on a memory foam mattress to fix sagging?
Yes, you can do it. Moreover, this is the fastest, the easiest, and one of the most effective ways to fix it.
What to do with old memory foam topper that has sagged?
The truth is that it’s much easier to replace it. Toppers are usually pretty thin, and if it’s already sagging, you won’t make it last much longer anyway.
Do memory foam mattresses break down?
Yes, they’re sagging over time and become softer. However, a good all-foam mattress is supposed to last at least 7-10 years. In most cases, manufacturers provide information on a mattress’ durability, so you can find out how long it will really last before you’ll need to replace it.
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