Hacks to Make Your Old Mattress Firmer

When cared for properly, a firm mattress will give you excellent support and comfort while you sleep, allowing you to wake up in the morning refreshed. But even the firmest mattress will begin to sink and sag once it reaches the end of its (hopefully) long lifespan. If you’re noticing you’re waking up feeling unusually tired or sore, it’s usually a sign that it’s time to replace your old mattress.

However, mattress shopping takes time, so you’ll still be sleeping on the old one until the new mattress comes in. Because of that, here are a few hacks that you can use to make an old mattress firmer while you shop.

Flip Your Old Mattress

In general, flipping and rotating your mattress regularly helps extend its lifespan, as it gives the parts of the bed you regularly sleep on time to decompress. So even when the bed is at the end of its lifespan, giving it another flip or turn could still offer you some temporary extra firmness and comfort while you shop for a replacement.

Keep in mind not every mattress is flippable, even though all Gardner mattresses are. If you can’t flip your mattress, you can still rotate it. So this is a great hack for anyone who has one of our mattresses to keep it strong and supportive.

Add a Mattress Topper

Some people think mattress toppers are only meant for making a firm mattress softer, but the opposite can be true, too. Mattress toppers, like mattresses themselves, come in a variety of thicknesses, materials, and levels of firmness. If you’re dealing with a mattress that’s gotten soft and saggy, a topper could give you an extra layer of support so you can sleep.

Put a Plywood Board Under the Mattress 

This is a good hack if your bed is starting to sag in the middle. Find a flat plywood board that’s the same length as the width of your bed frame. Make sure the edges are sanded down to keep any splinters from ripping the mattress’ fabric. Lift up your mattress so you can see the base of the bed frame and put the board across the center. This will give you a little extra support in the middle of the bed.

Move the Old Mattress to the Floor

If all else fails, take your mattress off of your bed frame and move it to the floor. This might not be the best for the mattress overall, as it will be exposed to all the dirt and dust that could be on your floor. However, it will offer you the greatest amount of back support and keep it as firm as possible. Plus, if you’re already shopping for a new mattress, a little dirt and dust on the bottom of the old one isn’t so bad.

Even if your old mattress is sagging, it’s ok to take a bit of time to shop around for a new one. These hacks will hopefully keep your mattress firm enough to support your body and offer you a comfortable night’s sleep.