Can all mattresses be flipped? Ours only has padding on one side. We've rotated it so our heads are where our feet used to be, but it seems that's all we can really do. And it feels like we need to do something, because it's 5 years old and definitely sags in the middle.

I've heard that, too, @TPB711. I think ours can only be rotated and not flipped. Ours is ~3 years old and starting to show it's age, too...

Thanks for the reminder. Just flipped ours. Whew.

I keep a chart on my computer that tells me when I've done things like flipped the mattress, changed the Brita water filter, changed my electric toothbrush head, washed the heavy bedding, etc. Much easier for me to just check the chart than to attach a label to the mattress.

We have a dumb pillow top so we can't flip it. We are thinking about getting a tempurpedic mattress. Does anyone have any experience with one?

RMF,
Do you check the chart often? It seems like calendar alarms would help. I'm responsible for my buildings maintenance and I set up an alarm to automatically email every tenant every 6 months to check their carbon monoxide and fire alarms. Hmmm. I think I'm going to remind them to turn their mattresses also.

Anita83, I have a tempurpedic clone and every crasher who napped on my bed loved LOVED the give and support of the memory foam. The biggest complaint people have is it is warm and one may feel overheated by middle of the night, but I'm cold blooded so I actually love it. The only time the mattress gets flipped is when I move.

My 2 cents - we've just sent back under warranty a very expensive pillow top mattress because it had an inch and a half of sag after only 10 months of use. Prior to that we had a tempurpedic that had the same problem - premature sagging. It's not the first time I've heard of pillow tops sagging, and in fact just found an article about it: http://sleeplikethedead.com/mattress-reviews-pillowtop.html Wish I'd found that article before we bought one! I'm sure the fact that you can't flip them over due to the design probably contributes to premature sagging, because you're only ever using one side of the mattress. Personally I would never buy those products again (memory foam or pillow top). We've just gone back to a regular, firm, innerspring mattress, so hopefully will finally get a good night's sleep!

I'm not sure spring mattresses should be turned either... but I sure turn my old Ikea foam mattress, while laying some money on the side to buy a good bed this time (hopefully in march).

A big NO to tempurpedic. Ours lost the "memory" completely in four years and I've read people having issues with their tempurpedic mattress going limp and soft in less than a year. Ours was a real tempurpedic, and we are normal weight people. I had terrible back aches for a while before I realized it was the mattress. I always woke up several times a night in pain, and in the morning my back always hurt much more than when going to bed..
Of course I then read about how memory foam off gasses toxic fumes.. Ick. We decided to get an all natural box spring and mattress after that.. with a lifetime warranty. Tempurpedic's 20 year (or was it 15) warranty is a joke because it doesn't cover the softening, which they say is not a defect. As it's supposed to be so healthy for you back
and also approved as hypoallergenic.. I really was disappointed and sorry we ever got one.

I find Google calendar great for tracking things like this. I may have to set mine up to send me an email every 12 weeks to remind myself to do this. I slept on the same mattress without flipping it more than maybe 4 or 5 times from the age of 5 until I was 23, and when I eventually got a new mattress was absolute torture. Hopefully I can avoid that mess again in the future.

Since I keep my mattress in an allergy cover (replaced every 12-18 months), I just write on the cover in sharpie ("This side up: 2/2012") every time I flip it.

I used to sell furniture and mattresses. Honestly, everyone has different needs so you can't just go looking for a mattress because someone else likes it. You have to try them out. I have a memory foam from Simmons that's just like the Tempurpedic but half the price and I love it.

Be careful about flipping and turning as most mattresses today can not be flipped since the top is not the same as the bottom, and some manufacturers don't recommend turning it either, but I think the second one is a preference since it won't do any damage.

To the folks complaining about sagging mattress, CHECK YOUR WARRANTY! I'm pretty sure all mattress companies have a minimum 10 year warranty against sagging defects, and the better brands have 20 year warranties. Call the store your purchased the mattress from or the manufacturer to find out, it's absolutely worth it since they will usually replace the mattress for free or credit you towards the purchase of a new one.

Hope this helps!

Wow this is an eye opener for me! I surely never even thought of having a reminder for things like turning or flipping mattresses. You guys are so roganised! I turn and flip each week when I change the bedsheets. After experimenting with spring and foam mattresses of different densities, I've now settled for something that seems to suit me perfectly: a localised version of a futon on tatamis, except that the "tatamis" are two thick traditional Ghanaian reed mats on which I put a 2in high density sheet of foam. I've never slept better. And it's cheap too! I think altogether it's something like $35.

I know the old rule used to be a simple mnemonic: Spin in spring; flip in fall.

Do all mattresses need spinning and flipping or is this just for spring mattresses? Some mattresses can get pretty heavy.