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If you are struggling to get a good night’s sleep, the problem might not be stress, your schedule or your nightly routine. It could be your bed.People spend about a third of their lives sleeping, yet many rarely think about how old their mattresses, pillows or sheets are — or whether those items are still helping them rest comfortably.The tricky part: Sleep gear does not always come with a clear expiration date.“People used to say every 10 or 12 years you’re supposed to replace your bed,” said Michael Breus, a clinical psychologist and sleep specialist. “Then, somebody came around and said it should be every six or seven years. This has more to do with marketing, I think, than it does with real science.”Instead of focusing on a number of years, Breus recommends paying attention to how your body feels.“If you wake up after having, let’s say, six and a half to seven hours of sleep, and you’re stiff or sore or you feel any pain, and this happens to you three times in a, in a given week, your body is trying to tell you it’s time for a new sleep surface,” he said. Pillows tend to have clearer timelines, largely because they lose structure over time.Foam pillows can last around three years, Breus said, while softer, nonfoam pillows often last closer to 18 months.“Generally, a head weighs about 8 pounds,” he explained. “The structural integrity of these squishy pillows has a tendency, over time, to kind of reduce.”There is also a simple way to test your pillow at home. Fold it in half and hold it for 30 seconds. When you release it, a pillow that springs back into shape likely still has support. If it stays folded, that structure may be gone, and it may be time to replace it.Sheets do not have a clear replacement timeline beyond normal wear and tear, but the material can still affect sleep quality.“Sheets turn out to be a pretty big deal because they can trap heat underneath those covers,” Breus said. “Natural fibers and 300- to 400-thread count seems to be what works well.”Temperature also plays a key role in sleep. Experts generally recommend keeping bedrooms cool.“What I tell people all the time is cooler is better,” Breus said. “Somewhere between 65 and 72 degrees.”And while many people focus on the glow of screens before bed, experts say the bigger issue may be the stimulation.Scrolling on a phone or engaging with content can signal to the brain that it’s time to stay alert, not wind down.Stay connected with the National Consumer UnitGet clear, actionable consumer reporting delivered across platforms.Follow National Consumer Correspondent Allie Jasinski for real-time updates, money-saving tips and behind-the-scenes reporting on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
If you are struggling to get a good night’s sleep, the problem might not be stress, your schedule or your nightly routine. It could be your bed.
People spend about a third of their lives sleeping, yet many rarely think about how old their mattresses, pillows or sheets are — or whether those items are still helping them rest comfortably.
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The tricky part: Sleep gear does not always come with a clear expiration date.
“People used to say every 10 or 12 years you’re supposed to replace your bed,” said Michael Breus, a clinical psychologist and sleep specialist. “Then, somebody came around and said it should be every six or seven years. This has more to do with marketing, I think, than it does with real science.”
Instead of focusing on a number of years, Breus recommends paying attention to how your body feels.
“If you wake up after having, let’s say, six and a half to seven hours of sleep, and you’re stiff or sore or you feel any pain, and this happens to you three times in a, in a given week, your body is trying to tell you it’s time for a new sleep surface,” he said.
Pillows tend to have clearer timelines, largely because they lose structure over time.
Foam pillows can last around three years, Breus said, while softer, nonfoam pillows often last closer to 18 months.
“Generally, a head weighs about 8 pounds,” he explained. “The structural integrity of these squishy pillows has a tendency, over time, to kind of reduce.”
There is also a simple way to test your pillow at home. Fold it in half and hold it for 30 seconds. When you release it, a pillow that springs back into shape likely still has support. If it stays folded, that structure may be gone, and it may be time to replace it.
Sheets do not have a clear replacement timeline beyond normal wear and tear, but the material can still affect sleep quality.
“Sheets turn out to be a pretty big deal because they can trap heat underneath those covers,” Breus said. “Natural fibers and 300- to 400-thread count seems to be what works well.”
Temperature also plays a key role in sleep. Experts generally recommend keeping bedrooms cool.
“What I tell people all the time is cooler is better,” Breus said. “Somewhere between 65 and 72 degrees.”
And while many people focus on the glow of screens before bed, experts say the bigger issue may be the stimulation.
Scrolling on a phone or engaging with content can signal to the brain that it’s time to stay alert, not wind down.
Stay connected with the National Consumer Unit
Get clear, actionable consumer reporting delivered across platforms.
Follow National Consumer Correspondent Allie Jasinski for real-time updates, money-saving tips and behind-the-scenes reporting on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
