Good question!

It’s a good idea to rotate your mattress regularly. For the first month, aim to rotate your mattress once a fortnight. You should then continue to rotate it once every month. This will ensure even wear across the entire sleep surface and prolong the life of your mattress. As our mattresses are one-sided (or non-flip), rotate your mattress 180 degrees but don’t flip it over. A.H. Beard mattresses are not designed for use on both sides.

By following these care guidelines, you can expect your mattress to provide comfort and support for many years.

• When handling your new A.H. Beard mattress, make sure you always carry it on its side and do not attempt to move it on your own
• If your mattress has handles, do not use these for carrying. Mattress handles are provided to assist with the positioning of your mattress on the base or rotating and are not load-bearing
• Never bend or fold your mattress. These actions will damage your mattress edge
• Do not use roof racks to transport your mattress. Securing a mattress to roof racks may cause it to fold, damaging the mattress edge
• Similarly, do not stand or jump on your mattress as the guarantee does not cover misuse or abuse
• Rotating your mattress from end to end every month will even out body signatures that develop as the materials settle
• Ensure that you use the whole sleep surface, including the middle. If the centre of the mattress remains unused, especially on a king-size bed, the settling of the comfort materials in this area will not occur. This means the centre of the mattress will feel and look different from your normal sleeping area

We recommend that you do not use an old base with a new mattress, as both parts of your sleep set work together to provide you with optimum comfort and support. A.H. Beard’s timber platform bases provide the best possible support for your new mattress, to prolong its life and ensure the most comfortable sleep experience.

• Ensure your base is flat and even with plenty of ventilation for your mattress
• If you have a slatted base or bedframe, ensure the slats are secured, no more than 10cm apart, and supported with a centre support rail
• Flexible slats should be convex in shape but can lose their resiliency over time, becoming concave causing irreparable damage to the mattress
• Please check slats regularly as the guarantee does not cover mattress damage caused by inadequate slat support

Using a mattress protector as well as frequently‌ ‌cleaning‌ ‌your‌ ‌mattress,‌ ‌pillow,‌ ‌sheets‌ ‌and‌ ‌linens‌ ‌is‌ ‌essential‌ ‌to‌ ‌maintaining‌ ‌a‌ ‌hygienic‌ ‌sleeping‌ ‌environment,‌ ‌and‌ ‌getting‌ ‌the‌ ‌best‌ ‌night’s‌ ‌sleep‌ ‌possible.‌ ‌

Our‌ ‌mattresses‌ ‌are‌ ‌exposed‌ ‌to‌ ‌a‌ ‌number‌ ‌of‌ ‌different‌ ‌particles,‌ ‌from‌ ‌pollen ‌to‌ ‌debris,‌ ‌dust‌ ‌and‌ ‌more.‌ ‌Like‌ ‌any‌ ‌item‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌home,‌ ‌your‌ ‌mattress‌ ‌needs‌ ‌to‌ ‌be‌ ‌regularly‌ ‌cleaned‌ ‌to‌ ‌ensure‌ ‌it‌ ‌keeps‌ ‌you‌ ‌healthy,‌ ‌both‌ ‌mentally‌ ‌and‌ ‌physically,‌ ‌for‌ ‌years‌ ‌to‌ ‌come.‌ ‌

So,‌ ‌how‌ ‌often‌ ‌should‌ ‌you‌ ‌clean‌ ‌your‌ ‌mattress‌ ‌and‌ ‌what’s‌ ‌the‌ ‌best‌ ‌way‌ ‌to‌ ‌ensure‌ ‌your‌ ‌mattress‌,‌ ‌and‌ ‌your‌ ‌sleeping‌ ‌environment‌,‌ ‌are‌ ‌as‌ ‌healthy‌ ‌and‌ ‌hygienic‌ ‌as‌ ‌possible?‌ ‌Read‌ ‌on‌ ‌to‌ ‌find‌ ‌out.‌

How often should you clean your mattress?

For most of people, we recommend doing a deep clean of your mattress at least once every six months. However, you may need to clean your mattress more frequently if you suffer from allergies or have pets at home — for example, once every two to three months.

Did you know?
Failing to keep your mattress clean and free from stains may void your mattress guarantee, as it poses a health and safety risk for our staff if it’s returned for inspection or repairs.

If you’re not sure where to start, these four tips will help you rid your sleeping environment of anything that may affect your sleep:

• Wash and air your bedding regularly. We spend anywhere from 49 to 63 hours on our sheets per week, so it’s important to clean them as often as possible. Aim to clean your bedding linens once every fortnight (or once every week if you experience night sweats), and wash your pillow and duvet every three months.
• Keep the air circulating. Try to keep air circulating in your house whenever possible by opening windows or using an air conditioner, investing in a dehumidifier, and sealing off any leaks in your home. This will help remove any lingering smells and also prevent a build-up of mould and mildew.
• Don’t forget about your furry friends! We love our pets, but pet dander? Not so much. Pet dander is made up of tiny particles that have been shed from animals with fur — and it’s one of the biggest triggers of allergic reactions such as sneezing, itching or hives. Wash your pets regularly and keep them off the furniture as much as possible, in order to reduce the amount of dander in your house. Don’t forget to vacuum the house regularly as well!
• Pop a hypoallergenic mattress protector on your mattress. These keep your mattress free of stains and reduce exposure to dust mites, microbes and other allergens.

Want to know more? Here’s how to clean your mattress: a step-by-step guide

1. Start by stripping the bed and washing your bed linens

Remove all of your sheets, pillowcases, mattress covers or protectors, duvets, and pillows and give them all a thorough clean. Make sure to read the care instructions on the label before putting anything in the wash, as different types of materials have different cleaning requirements.

Tip:
If you have asthma or allergies, experts recommend washing your linen in hot water (above 55 degrees) to get rid of dust mites and pet dander.

2. Check for stains

If your mattress is stain-free, then the remaining cleaning process is fairly simple and straightforward. However, if you do find stains, you’ll need to tackle them quickly to ensure your mattress remains clean and odour-free for years to come (more on this in step 4).

3. Gently vacuum your mattress with a soft brush attachment

Most vacuums come with a special attachment that’s designed specifically for cleaning mattresses. Check that the attachment is clean, then vacuum the entire surface of the mattress — paying extra attention to any corners or nooks and crannies to ensure you get any dust mites or other particles. It’s especially important to be gentle when cleaning, as being too rough or careless with vacuuming could damage the mattress fabric, and pull or loosen the stitching.

 This is also a good opportunity to vacuum under your bed and rotate your mattress.

4. Spot-clean mattress stains

If you do spot any pesky stains, it’s best to try and remove these as soon as possible. Spot-clean stains with a stain remover — in this case again, the type of remover will depend on your individual mattress’ care instructions. Put the stain remover onto a cloth, then gently blot the stained area until the stain lifts.

Don’t soak your mattress or apply a cleaning solution directly on it, as it may damage the comfort layers or spring unit and void your guarantee. If stubborn stains still aren’t budging, it may be time to call a mattress cleaning professional.

5. Air your mattress

Once you’ve finished vacuuming and cleaning your mattress, it’s time to air it. The best solution is to put your mattress under a window that gets direct sunlight and leave your windows open. This lets the fabric breathe, while the sun helps to kill bacteria or mould.
 If you live in an apartment building or can’t put your mattress in the sun, try sprinkling baking soda over your mattress. Use anywhere from half a cup to the entire box (depending on the size of your mattress), then let it sit for a few hours or even overnight if it’s possible. Once the baking soda has worked its magic, vacuum your mattress thoroughly again, then put the sheets back on.

6. Try to do quick cleans on a regular basis

In addition to a deep clean, the best tip for how to keep your mattress clean is to add a quick clean every time you change your sheets and linens. Gently vacuum your mattress to eliminate any particles or dust mites that have accumulated.

7. Keep your sleep environment clean

When it comes to getting a decent night’s shut-eye, creating a healthy and hygienic sleep environment is just as important as having a clean mattress. Keeping your bedroom clean will keep dust and allergens at bay and prevent them from affecting you during sleep. Refer back to the four tips at the start of this article.

A good quality mattress should last you at least 7-10 years. Beyond this, a mattress’s quality and componentry may deteriorate to the point where it no longer offers the support and comfort you need.

However, if you are experiencing poor quality sleep due to a change in your physique, health or sleeping environment, you should consider replacing your mattress immediately – no matter how old it is.

Rest assured, when you buy an A.H. Beard mattress, you can count on us to honour its Warranty.

AH Beard mattresses have comfort layers made of locally sourced delicate fibres like cotton, wool and cashmere. When weight is applied to these fibres for sustained periods of time, a body indentation may form as they contour to suit the sleeper.

Body indentations or imprints are normal and may occur in most mattresses. This does not affect your product’s comfort or support. A.H. Beard tests each mattress model and sets the highest industry standard in body impression allowance, guaranteeing your body imprint should not be greater than 40mm.

More information can be found in Bed Care and Guarantee guide found here: https://ahbeard.com/guarantee-brochure/

Your bedroom should be your personal sanctuary of rest and recovery. The ideal bedroom is one that is cool, dark, quiet, clutter free, and comfy.

KEEP YOUR BEDROOM COOL

The ideal temperature for sleeping is between 18 – 22 degrees Celsius. If you don’t have an air conditioner, consider opening windows, turning on a fan or opting for linen and pyjamas made from natural fibres to help regulate body temperature.

KEEP YOUR BEDROOM DARK

Our bodies require darkness to release melatonin, the natural sleep hormone. Where possible, remove any harsh white light emitted from lights and screens and use block out blinds to help minimise any light entering your bedroom from outside.

KEEP YOUR BEDROOM QUIET

It isn’t noise alone that interrupts our sleep; it is the inconsistency between silence and noise. Wearing earplugs or introducing soft noises like a fan, meditation music or soothing sounds can help minimise the chance of a barking dog or car horn waking you.

KEEP YOUR BEDROOM CLUTTER FREE

When your room is clean and clutter free, you are more likely to be in the right frame of mind for sleep. Removing items like a computer or an exercise machine can help make a bedroom more conducive to sleep.

INVEST IN GOOD SLEEP

When the right mattress is paired with a good pillow, together they support your head and neck, and keep your shoulders, hips, and spine in alignment for a great night’s sleep. Invest in the biggest mattress you can fit, at the highest quality you can afford, and you’ll be repaid in deeper, more rejuvenating sleep.

Spinal alignment is essential for healthy, restorative sleep. When your spine is properly supported in a straight line from head to hips, you have the ideal conditions for what we at A.H. Beard call premium sleep.

During premium sleep your body goes through four to six sleep cycles, alternating through light sleep, deep sleep and REM (or dream) sleep.

A night of premium sleep allows your body to restore its cells, repair its muscles and cleanse the neural pathways in your brain and nervous system.

The benefits of premium sleep include improved memory, stronger immune system, enhanced mood and increased productivity.

At A.H. Beard, we take spinal support very seriously. So do the experts at the International Chiropractors Association, which is why they endorse our Reflex Support Technology, which provides exactly the right amount of support for your body wherever and whenever it’s needed throughout the night.