When to Replace Your Pillows and Mattress

How long pillows and mattresses last

These are averages. How you sleep, how much you sweat and whether you use protectors change the number a lot.

The pillow fold test (30 seconds)

This is the test from our video.

1. Take the pillowcase off.
2. Fold the pillow in half (for a big or very full pillow, fold it in thirds).
3. Let go.

If it springs back open, it still has life in it. If it stays folded or opens slowly and halfway, the filling is broken down and it is no longer supporting your head.

For a feather or down pillow, fold it in half and put a shoe on top. If it pushes the shoe off, it is fine. If not, it is done.

Memory foam and latex do not fold well, so check them differently: press your hand in the center. If the dent stays for a long time, the foam has crumbled inside, or you can feel thin spots or crumbling edges, replace it.

Signs your pillow is done

• It fails the fold test.
• Yellow stains that do not come out in the wash.
• Lumps or a flat spot in the middle that you keep folding or punching.
• A smell that comes back even after washing.
• You wake up with neck or shoulder pain that goes away during the day.
• You sneeze or wake up stuffy: old pillows build up dust mites and their allergens.
• You keep stacking two pillows to get the height you used to have with one.

Two or more of these? Time for a new pillow.

Signs your mattress is done

• Visible sagging or a body-shaped dip, usually more than about 1 inch (2.5 cm).
• You wake up sore in the back or hips and feel better after you get up and move.
• You sleep better elsewhere: hotels, the guest room, the couch.
• Noisy springs or springs you can feel.
• Allergies that are worse at night or in the morning.
• Stains or smells that remain after a deep clean with baking soda.
• It is past 8–10 years old.

Before you replace a mattress that is only a few years old and sagging, check the warranty: many cover sagging past a certain depth, but usually only if the mattress is clean and was used with a protector.

How to make them last longer

Pillows

• Use a zippered pillow protector under the pillowcase. It is the single best thing you can do.
• Wash pillowcases weekly and protectors monthly.
• Wash washable pillows 2–3 times a year (check the label). Wash two at a time to keep the machine balanced and dry on low with dryer balls until completely dry: a damp pillow grows mildew inside.
• Fluff daily and let them air out in the sun now and then.

Mattresses

• Use a waterproof protector.
• Rotate it head to foot every 3–6 months (flip only if it is two-sided).
• Vacuum and deodorize every few months. Our mattress cleaning guide shows how.
• Use the right base. A worn box spring or wide-gapped slats cause sagging.
• Let it breathe: pull the covers back for 20 minutes in the morning before making the bed.

Three quick tests, one minute total

Then check the cover: yellow patches that stay after a wash, lumps, and any smell when it warms up.

Prefer a score? The Is your pillow expired? quiz asks 8 questions and gives you a result in a minute.

Pillow type by sleeping position

A pillow that was right when new can be wrong a year later because it lost height. If you find yourself folding it or stacking two, that is the fold test failing in slow motion.

How to wash pillows that can be washed

Check the label first. Most polyester and many down pillows are machine washable; memory foam and latex are not (spot-clean only).

1. Wash two at a time so the machine stays balanced.
2. Use a small amount of mild detergent and the gentle or bulky cycle, warm water if the label allows.
3. Add an extra rinse to get all the soap out.
4. Dry completely on low heat with two or three wool dryer balls or clean tennis balls to break up clumps. This can take two or three cycles.
5. Squeeze the center before you put it back on the bed. Any damp feeling means more drying; a pillow that stays damp inside will grow mildew.

Do this 2 or 3 times a year. Wash pillowcases weekly with your sheets; the EPA recommends hot weekly washes for bedding to control dust mites.

Spot-cleaning memory foam

1. Remove the cover and wash it if the label allows.
2. Vacuum the foam with the upholstery tool.
3. Dab stains with a cloth barely dampened in water with a drop of mild detergent. Do not soak or wring the foam: it tears.
4. Blot with a dry cloth and air dry completely, away from direct heat.
5. Sprinkle baking soda, wait a few hours and vacuum to freshen it.

Myths and facts

“Pillows double in weight from dust mites.” This claim is repeated online with very specific numbers, usually without a source. What is well documented: dust mites live in pillows and bedding, and the EPA lists them as an asthma trigger. That is reason enough for a protector and a hot weekly wash.

“A more expensive pillow lasts forever.” Better materials last longer (latex and good down often outlast polyester), but every pillow wears out. Do the tests twice a year.

“Washing fixes a flat pillow.” Washing removes smells and allergens; it does not rebuild broken-down filling.

A case with numbers: the cost per night

A $30 polyester pillow that lasts 18 months costs about 5 cents a night. A $90 latex pillow that lasts 3 years costs about 8 cents a night. Either way, a pillow that gives you neck pain costs more than it saves. (Example prices; check your own.)

Mattress: what to check before buying a new one

• Warranty: many cover sagging beyond a certain depth if the mattress is clean and was used with a proper base.
• The base: a worn box spring or slats spaced too far apart can make a good mattress sag. Check the manufacturer’s spacing requirement.
• Rotation: if you never rotated it, rotate it now and give it two weeks.
• A topper: for a mattress that is supportive but too firm, a topper can buy time. It does not fix sagging.

What to do with the old ones

Old pillows can become pet beds, floor cushions or stuffing for craft projects. Many animal shelters accept clean pillows and bedding; call first. For mattresses, check your city’s bulk pickup, or ask the store selling your new one to take the old one away. Several US states run mattress recycling programs, so search your state’s name plus “mattress recycling”.

Add “test pillows” to your calendar twice a year: our seasonal cleaning checklist already includes it.