It’s easy to tell when your mattress is showing signs of wear and tear and needs to be replaced, but do you know how to tell if a box spring is worn out?
Here are 5 easy signs to look for that indicate you need a new box spring:
- It creaks and squeaks under pressure
- There is visible sagging
- The metal grid is bending or damaged
- There are broken wood slats
- You’ve had your box spring for 10+ years
Keep reading to learn about the purpose of a box spring, how to tell when your box spring needs replacing, and how to keep your current or new box spring protected.
What is the Purpose of a Box Spring?
Box springs were designed with the primary purpose of supporting your mattress. A quality box spring provides your mattress with a stable surface for good weight distribution and support. The box spring’s flexible metal frame offers shock absorption to protect your mattress from damage.
In return for investing and taking care of your box spring, you get a mattress that lasts longer, with less wear and tear. Your mattress will also be more comfortable to sleep on and keep you from experiencing back or hip pain related to a saggy, unsupportive sleep surface.
Another useful function of the box spring is that, along with your bed frame, it lifts you and your mattress up off the floor. This keeps things like dust and allergens from the floor off your bed and protects you from the cold by keeping you elevated. It also creates a ventilation space that provides airflow between your bed and the floor.
Something many people don’t realize is that using a box spring that is worn out or damaged (or not using one at all) can void your mattress warranty. A couple exceptions are if you use a platform bed or one with an adjustable base.
For this reason, it’s important to purchase a quality box spring, keep it protected, and check it regularly for common signs of damage. This will keep your mattress in the best shape possible as well as protect your mattress investment.
See this quality Zinus Arminta 9 Inch Box Spring
Do Box Springs Wear Out?
Yes. You might not think of it because they’re hidden under your mattress, but box springs do wear out. It’s important to watch for signs of box spring damage because a worn-out box spring can cause your mattress to sag prematurely.
Signs Your Boxspring is Worn Out
Knowing what to look for when it comes to a worn-out box spring is essential. Some people think that their newer mattress is causing them discomfort when really an old box spring is causing the problem.
You should consider replacing your box spring when you notice one or more of these 5 signs:
- It creaks and squeaks under pressure
- There is visible sagging
- The metal grid is bending or damaged
- There are broken wood slats
- You’ve had your box spring for 10+ years
The sooner you replace your box spring when noticing these signs, the better. Keep in mind that many box springs can be covered by a warranty or protection plan. If you notice wear and tear before your plan expires you may not even need to pay for a replacement!
How Often Should You Replace a Box Spring?
An average quality box spring lasts around 8 to 10 years, or a little longer than a mattress. Cheaper box springs may only last a few years, while a high quality one can last around 15 to 20 years.
How to Protect Box Springs
1. Using a Box Spring Cover
Purchasing a high-quality box spring cover is one of the best ways to protect your box spring so you don’t need to replace it prematurely.
A good box spring cover protects your box spring from:
- stains
- bed bugs
- water damage
- and allergens like pet dander, mold, dust mites, mildew, and pollen.
Box spring covers work by fitting closely over your mattress. A zipper is used to keep the cover securely closed. Box spring covers provide protection from spills on all six sides by using strong materials like polyester that are water resistant, breathable, and hypoallergenic.
Covers like the SureGuard Box Spring Encasement use super fine zippers and a fold over Velcro flap to make sure the zipper stays shut and bed bugs cannot penetrate the box spring cover. Other benefits of the SureGuard box spring cover is that it’s machine washable, noiseless, and free from harmful substances and toxic chemicals.
Shop the SureGuard Mattress Protectors online
2. Rotating Them
Just like a mattress, it’s important to rotate your box spring 180 degrees approximately every 6 months. Although many people don’t think to do this, rotating your mattress and box spring can reduce uneven wear and tear from always having more weight on one side of the bed than the other.
3. Vacuuming It
Vacuuming your box spring on a regular basis is another way to make sure it lasts long as possible. The purpose of vacuuming is to remove things like dead skin, dirt, and debris that attract dust mites and contribute to bacteria building up on (and in) your box spring.
Recommendations vary as to how often you should do this. Depending on your schedule you can choose to vacuum your box spring as frequently as once a month to once every six months.
4. Routinely Washing Bedding
Just like vacuuming, routinely washing bedding ensures that things like dust and bacteria aren’t building up and penetrating your mattress or box spring.
On average, we sleep in our beds for 8 hours a night. That adds up to almost 3,000 hours a year! You might be surprised to know just how many germs get on your bedding and your mattress during this time.
A 2015 study found that mattresses contain the highest concentration of dust mites in a household. Another study by Amerisleep, a 5-year-old mattress can carry as many as 13 million bacteria, some of which can cause pneumonia and other infections – a good incentive for regularly washing bedding.