Getting proper rest is highly important to your overall health and well-being, and a good quality mattress can definitely help. However, even the best of the best quality mattresses can deteriorate over time. And unfortunately, keeping a tired, old mattress can negatively impact your sleep quality and your health. Because of this, knowing when it’s time to change your mattress is important if you want to improve your sleep experience and well-being.

In order to not compromise on quality sleep, prioritize replacing your mattress when it shows signs of deterioration. Here are five telltale signs you need to say adios to your old mattress.

1. Sagging or Lumps

If you notice sagging or lumps starting to form on your mattress, it’s probably time for a replacement. This happens because, over time, the materials that make up your mattress start to break down. As a result, your mattress loses its shape and support.

And when left unresolved, these issues can have a negative effect on your body, leading to discomfort, back pain, and poor sleep quality.

2. Worsening Allergies or Respiratory Issues

While allergies are a common complaint during peak seasons like spring and fall, they can also be caused by a mattress that’s way past its prime.

An old mattress can become a breeding ground for microscopic organisms like dust mites and allergens. And without treating the problem, these teeny, tiny critters can make allergies or respiratory issues even worse.

So if you’ve got a recent case of the sniffles or other allergy symptoms like sneezing, coughing, or congestion, consider that your mattress might be the culprit.

Pro Tip: While regularly cleaning your mattress can help, if symptoms persist, replace it with one made from hypoallergenic materials to prevent future issues.

3. Persistent Pain or Discomfort

Experiencing pain and discomfort when you sleep is another telltale sign that you need to change your mattress.

Mattresses are designed to provide adequate support, alleviate pressure points, and promote proper spinal alignment while you sleep. But over time, they can lose their ability to distribute weight evenly, leading to persistent pain or stiffness, especially in your back, neck, or joints.

Fortunately, by swapping out your old mattress for a new one with proper support, you can reduce your pain for better overall sleep quality.

4. Visible Wear and Tear

Sometimes the easiest way is the most obvious. So if you can actually see wear and tear on your mattress, it’s probably time to let it go.

Visible signs of wear and tear can include fraying seams, exposed springs, or thinning or torn fabric. These signs of damage not only compromise the structural integrity of your mattress but can be a potential safety hazard, too. This is because a visibly deteriorating mattress is likely to provide inadequate support to your body, increasing the risk of discomfort and even injury while you sleep.

So if your mattress is showing significant signs of wear and tear, be sure to replace it ASAP to keep you and your loved ones safe.

5. Unpleasant Odors

If you notice an unpleasant odor coming from your mattress, beware. This tends to happen because sweat, body oils, and other bodily fluids can penetrate through the surface of your mattress over the years. And in turn, this breeds the perfect environment for bacteria to grow and thus, odors to form.

A musty or foul odor that won’t go away no matter how much cleaning and airing out you do is a clear indication of deep-seated contamination. For this reason, it’s important to change your mattress to not only eradicate unpleasant odors but provide a fresh, clean sleeping environment, too.