Mattress Care Guide
Discover expert tips and insights to help you maintain the luxurious comfort and longevity of your mattress. Learn simple yet effective ways to ensure your mattress care provides you with restful and rejuvenating sleep for years ahead.
Caring for your mattress is just as essential as selecting the perfect one. Though often overlooked, a consistent maintenance routine is key to preserving its comfort, hygiene and structural integrity. With the right attention, your mattress can continue to offer exceptional support and softness for many years.
In this guide, Feather & Black’s mattress experts share thoughtful advice on every aspect of mattress care, from how to clean and protect your mattress to how often it should be rotated or flipped. Whether settling into a new investment or maintaining a well-loved favourite, our expert tips will help you protect the longevity of your mattress and elevate your sleep experience with every night’s rest.
Can you sleep on a new mattress straight away?
It’s tempting to dive into a new mattress as soon as it’s arrived, but we recommend waiting at least 24 hours for the fillings to settle and the materials to breathe before sleeping on it. This helps ensure optimum comfort from the first night onwards.
Avoid dressing the bed with bedding or bed linen during this initial period as this can prevent air from circulating and allows any new mattress smell to naturally dissipate. This mild scent is common, particularly with natural fibre mattresses, and will fade quickly in a well-ventilated room.
As the mattress begins to respond to your body’s unique pressure points, you may notice subtle shifts in feel. This is entirely natural and reflects the mattress adjusting to support you in all the right places.
How long does it take to get used to a new mattress?
Even when chosen with care, a new mattress may take some time to feel familiar. When transitioning from an older or less supportive mattress, expect an adjustment period of 30 to 90 days.
A mattress in-store may feel slightly different from the one delivered to your home, as showroom models are softened through frequent use. Once your mattress is settled onto your bed frame and starts to conform to your sleeping posture, its feel becomes more tailored to you.
To ensure complete peace of mind, we offer a 100-night comfort guarantee, giving you the time and confidence to fully settle into your new mattress.
How long should a mattress last?
As a guide, a well-made mattress should last at least seven to ten years. However, the longevity of a mattress is influenced by the quality of materials, the precision of its craftsmanship and the demands of daily use. From the weight and movements of its sleeper to the care it receives, every element plays a role.
Mattresses crafted with natural fibres, such as wool and hemp, tend to offer superior breathability and resilience, maintaining their integrity beautifully over the years.
With thoughtful maintenance from regular rotation, a high-quality mattress protector and careful cleaning, you can extend the life of your mattress and continue to enjoy a consistently luxurious sleep experience.
A refined approach to mattress cleaning
With your new sleep sanctuary settled into pride of place in your bedroom, it’s essential to understand how to maintain a mattress. Implementing a routine of mattress care is incredibly important, yet it needn’t be daunting.
By following just a few low-effort mattress care practices throughout the year, you can preserve the cleanliness, comfort and craftsmanship of your mattress, helping to create a luxurious and restorative sleep environment that lasts.
Rotate your mattress regularly for balanced support
Regular rotation is one of the simplest ways to preserve the comfort and performance of your mattress. For the first few months, rotate your mattress every one to two weeks to allow the fillings to settle evenly. After this initial period, rotating your mattress every three to four months will help prevent sagging, minimise uneven wear and reduce signs of dipping or soft spots.
If you have a Zip & Link mattress, disconnect the two sections before rotating each side individually. For split-tension mattresses, rotate from head to foot while maintaining the correct side for your preferred firmness. These small actions ensure your mattress remains as supportive and inviting as the day it arrived.
Should you flip your mattress?
While flipping a mattress was once standard, not all mattresses require it. Pillow-top and single-sided mattresses are intended to remain in one orientation and should not be turned. However, if your mattress is double-sided, flipping it every three to four months will help redistribute fillings, allowing the surface to wear more evenly and maintain its supportive feel over time.
Some seasonal mattresses feature a warmer side for winter and a cooler side for summer. Flipping your mattress with the seasons, much like switching your duvet tog, is a practical way to optimise year-round comfort.
Always check the care label before flipping and enlist someone to help. Larger sizes, such as king or super king mattresses, can be heavy and awkward to manoeuvre alone. Handling your mattress with care will help preserve its shape and longevity.
Use a mattress protector for comfort and care
A high-quality mattress protector is an essential part of luxury mattress care. At Feather & Black, our collection includes 100% cotton, machine-washable protectors designed to enhance your sleeping environment while extending the life of your mattress.
A protector creates a breathable barrier between your body and the mattress, helping to guard against moisture, dust mites and allergens. They work to keep your mattress hygienic and maintain its structure and comfort for longer, contributing to a fresher, more refined sleep every night.
How to clean a mattress
Caring for your mattress begins with keeping it clean. Regular, gentle maintenance preserves hygiene and extends the lifespan of your mattress, whilst enhancing the comfort it provides.
When cleaning a mattress, we recommend using a soft-bristled brush to sweep away dust, skin cells and debris that naturally accumulate over time. Avoid vacuuming, as strong suction can disturb the integrity of the fillings, especially in hand-crafted or natural fibre mattresses.
For small marks or light stains, we recommend gently blotting the area with a dry cloth. If needed, use a damp cloth and a mild soap solution, taking care not to saturate the fabric. Allow the mattress to dry fully before re-dressing it with linen to prevent moisture retention.
It’s also a good idea to allow your mattress to air out occasionally by opening a window when you change your bed sheets, eliminating lingering odours to keep your space feeling as refined as it looks.
Caring for a silk mattress
A silk-filled mattress brings an unmistakable sense of indulgence to your bedroom, and with the right care, its luxury can be preserved for many years. The Saxton Silk Mattress, handcrafted exclusively for Feather & Black by Harrison Spinks, combines cashmere and silk with 100% natural fibres to offer exceptional softness, breathability, and temperature control.
While it offers elevated comfort, caring for a silk mattress is surprisingly simple. During the first three months, we recommend rotating and turning the mattress every one to two weeks to help the fillings settle evenly. After this period, rotate the mattress monthly and turn with the changing seasons to maintain even support and structure.
Dust and surface fibres should be removed gently on a silk mattress using a soft brush each month. In the event of a spill, absorb excess moisture immediately with a dry cloth. If spot-cleaning is required, use a lightly dampened cloth and a mild soap solution, ensuring the mattress dries thoroughly before use.
Preserve your mattress with expert-led care tips
We understand that a mattress is one of the most important investments you can make for your well-being. That’s why understanding how to care for a mattress is essential, to preserve its refined comfort and ensure it delivers long-lasting support for years to come.
Feather & Black’s lead buyer Rob Cole shares expert insight into the key steps for maintaining your mattress in pristine condition:
“Every mattress in our exquisite collection is meticulously designed and expertly crafted to offer enduring comfort and long-lasting luxury; however, a mattress must be properly cared for to ensure it lasts as long as possible.”
The key to extending the life of your Feather & Black mattress lies in embracing the mattress maintenance tips explained in this guide:
- Unwrap your new mattress and allow it to air out for a few hours
- Once on the bed, leave your new mattress uncovered for at least 24 hours
- Invest in a high-quality mattress protector
- Allow up to 90 days for your new mattress to settle and adapt to your body
- Turn your mattress every three to four months (if required)
- Rotate your mattress every three to four months
- Brush your mattress with a soft brush once a month
- Immediately blot any spillages with a dry cloth
- Allow the mattress to air out each time you change the bed linen.
“As a rule, always check the individual mattress care instructions before embarking on any maintenance and adhere to any specific advice accurately. If in doubt, our friendly customer service team is always happy to help.”
Discover luxury mattresses at Feather & Black
Embracing a consistent mattress care routine is an investment in your long-term comfort and well-being. With expert guidance from our care specialists, you can ensure your mattress continues to offer exceptional support and serene sleep, night after night.
Discover Feather & Black’s exquisite collection of luxury mattresses and experience the restorative power of a beautifully maintained sleep sanctuary, where every detail is designed to enhance your rest. Not sure which mattress size is right for your space? Discover our mattress size guide for a perfectly tailored fit.