There’s nothing worse than a soft, sagging mattress that keeps you up at night while you try to find a comfortable position. This can truly sap your energy at night and make you wake up tired the next morning.
While you do need a certain amount of softness in your mattress, there should be some firmness to balance it out and make it comfortable. There are several reasons your mattress feels undesirably soft, and each one requires its own specific solution to make it more firm and comfortable.
You don’t necessarily have to get a brand new mattress if your bed feels too soft. Instead, try out these 10 ways to make your mattress extra firm!
Use A Mattress Topper
If you’re unable to sleep comfortably due to your soft mattress, using a mattress topper is one of the simplest and most affordable ways to firm up your mattress.
Mattress toppers come in different materials; there are memory foam ones, which have different firmness levels (IFD 12 to IFD 16), and latex toppers can work too. Both materials are temperature-sensitive and supportive.
Change The Box Spring
If you notice that your bed feels too soft, this might be because your box spring is worn out, making it unable to provide adequate support for the mattress. This is often what causes the mattress to feel softer than it should. Plus, a new box spring is less costly than a new mattress, so why not go ahead and buy one?
Consider A Plywood Board
One of the most effective ways to enhance the firmness of your bed is by using a plywood board. Putting a plywood board on top of the slats or box spring can increase support and firmness.
Thanks to the firm piece of plywood beneath the mattress, you get the feeling of a firmer bed. Not only that, but the board can keep unwanted allergens and dust at bay too.
Replace Worn Out Or Damaged Layers
Some mattresses come with more than one layer. The best thing about having this particular type is that you can replace any worn out or damaged layers rather than buying a brand new mattress. You only have to open the mattress, take out the damaged layer, and then replace it with a new one.
Adjust Your Room’s Temperature
The type of mattress you have could possibly be affected by the surrounding temperature. 100% memory foam mattresses are sensitive to temperature; they tend to get softer in warm temperatures and firmer and colder environments. Try to decrease your room’s temperature or keep your window open to help stay firm.
Let Your Mattress Air Dry
Your soft mattress might just be soft due to moisture. In this case, the best option is to leave it out in the air to dry. If you live in an area in which the weather is humid, your mattress can retain water from the air. You can get rid of this excess moisture simply by leaving it to dry in the sun.
Not only will the sun firm up your mattress, but it will also kill harmful bacteria, germs, viruses, allergens, and any mildew that is possibly trapped in it.
Rotate The Mattress
Depending on the quality of the mattress, it’s common for mattresses to start sagging after a few years or even months of use. These sags (or soft spots) may make you feel trapped in your own bed.
Want to avoid this? Regularly rotate the mattress every 3-6 months. This will evenly distribute your weight and prevent annoying bed sags.
Take A Look At The Sleep Trial Period
If your mattress is new but too soft, you’re in luck. A lot of mattress companies put a sleep trial on their mattresses that ranges from 90 to 365 days.
If you’re not comfortable with your new mattress and think it’s too soft for you, you can always return it within the sleep trial period and ask for a refund. Your mattress will be most likely donated to charity by the company or responsibly recycled!
Make Sure Your Bed Sheets Are Straight And Flat
Making sure your mattress and sheet are the same size is very important to maintaining a firm mattress. As you cover your mattress, pull the corners and sides of your bed sheet to ensure that it stays smooth and flat, creating pressure on your mattress. Doing this should help firm up the mattress.
Place Your Bed On The Floor
If nothing’s working, the last resort is to put your mattress on the floor. But bear in mind that you’ll be much more exposed to bugs, dirt, and dust. If firming up your mattress is more important and you don’t mind all of these drawbacks, place your mattress on the floor and enjoy a good night’s sleep.
Final Thoughts
A fairly firm mattress is a must-have for a good night’s sleep, and it’s particularly helpful for those who suffer from back pain or obesity. Before jumping into getting a new mattress when your current one feels soft and saggy, you should first try out multiple things, like using a topper, changing the box spring, placing a plywood board on top of the box spring, and rotating the mattress.
You should also try to prevent any sagging by maintaining your mattress (by rotating it, letting it air dry, paying attention to temperature, etc.). Doing so could save you a lot of money in the long run.
