All mattresses should not be placed on the ground.
We’ve seen the practice of putting a mattress on the floor come and go over the years, but not all mattresses are meant to be used this way. As a general rule, this year’s greatest mattresses should only be used on a proper bed foundation, and memory foam is no exception. Without a foundation, your warranty might be voided and leave you with no recourse.
Even so, not all mattresses are created equal, and if you have a memory foam mattress, you may want to avoid putting it on the floor, but it’s an intriguing argument.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re doing it for financial, health, or aesthetic reasons; here’s our perspective on the matter…
CAN YOU PUT A MATTRESS ON THE FLOOR?
One of the first considerations you’ll have to make after purchasing a new mattress is where you’ll place it. It’s possible to make your own bed foundation if you don’t want to or can’t afford one of the many options available. To lay a mattress on the floor is obviously easier, but it’s not always the best option.
Memory foam mattresses are especially vulnerable to mildew and bacteria growth when put on the floor, due to the porous nature of the material. When pressed up against the floor of your bedroom, mattresses become unhealthy because they lack the air circulation they need to function properly.
The following are the most significant drawbacks of sleeping on a floor-mounted mattress:
1. It may develop mildew or mold
If you put your mattress on the floor, you’re more likely to get mildew or mold since it’s exposed to the elements. Insects and other creepy crawlies adore the lack of air movement between your bed and the floor, making it an ideal place for them to collect, reproduce, and dig in. When it comes to air movement in and around the springs, a hybrid or an innerspring mattress will do better than a thick all-foam mattress because of this.
2. The mattress will feel hotter to sleep on
A mattress placed on the floor blocks ventilation. As a result, the mattress will retain more heat since there is no way for it to escape other than via the top and sides. For those who are sleep-deprived due to nighttime warming, this might be a problem. Because hardwood and tile floors don’t insulate mattresses, they’re the only form of flooring that won’t keep your mattress warm.
Why would you put your mattress on the floor if you have carpets and sleep hot? If you’re a hot sleeper, we suggest one of the finest cooling mattresses for those who sleep on their stomachs.
3. It can aggravate your allergies
People with allergies may considering laying a mattress on the floor if they suffer from excessive heat during sleep. Why? Because dust mites and other allergens are more likely to build up in a mattress that is placed directly on the floor.
4. It’s an open invitation to bed bugs
You can’t prevent bed bugs from getting into your mattress by covering it completely, but you can make it easier for them by positioning your mattress on the floor where they can easily hop onto it and dig a tunnel under it. It takes a lot of labor to get rid of bed bugs from a mattress, and you may be without your mattress for six months as it sheds bugs.
5. You risk voiding the warranty
Most mattresses in a box come with a 10-year guarantee, but others come with a lifetime warranty as an additional benefit. The guarantee may be voided if the mattress is not placed on a suitable frame, so be sure to read the fine print. Before you move your bed on the floor, make sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions.
WHY YOU SHOULD PLACE YOUR MATTRESS ON THE FLOOR
Many of us will be forced to make this option due to the current state of the economy, which makes dumping the bed frame, base, or platform a logical choice. Others find the idea of a mattress on the ground appealing. Here are several further advantages to sleeping on the floor, as long as your bed is suitable and your warranty isn’t worthless….
It makes soft mattresses firm and supportive
Using the floor to firm up your mattress is a frequent repair for sagging or excessively soft mattresses. If you have any mobility issues or need a lot of help getting up, we don’t recommend doing this.
Putting your bed on the floor helps firm it up if it has grown too soft and you do not yet have the funds to replace it. It doesn’t really matter whether you forfeit your insurance coverage if you do this with older mattresses since you probably don’t have it any more.
Posture, pain relief and cooler sleep
Many people claim that this method improves blood circulation and alleviates back and neck discomfort while also allowing them to sit with improved posture and spinal alignment.
Because hardwood and tile flooring sleep cooler, you’ll be less likely to wake up in the middle of the night because you’re too hot to sleep.
A firmer mattress may not always be the best solution for relieving back discomfort, therefore additional study in this area would be welcome. Studies have indicated that medium-firm mattresses are the most effective for relieving back pain.
TIPS FOR PLACING A MATTRESS ON THE FLOOR
1. Place foam or cardboard beneath it
Unless you’ve got hardwood or tiled flooring, you don’t need to do this. In order to keep you warm at night, you may insulate your mattress by putting a thin layer of cardboard or foam underneath it. It’s best to do this in the fall and winter. Naturally, if you have trouble sleeping because of your body temperature, a cooler mattress might be a godsend.
2. Prop it up once a week for airing
Keep in mind that mattresses put on the floor, particularly memory foam ones, are susceptible to terrible mold and mildew development. For a few hours a week, you may try leaning your mattress against a wall to minimize this. While this may be a nuisance, it will help prevent the formation of mold and mildew. It’s best to do this on the day of your laundry, when you’ll be taking everything off anyhow.
3. Choose the right spot
Try to choose an area that has a lot of natural light and excellent ventilation in your bedroom. Placement in a window has both advantages and disadvantages, since it will be exposed to more moisture and sunshine as a result of its placement. Dust mites may be killed this way, but your mattress will age quicker as a result.
4. Reevaluate your sleeping position
It doesn’t follow that side sleeping on a mattress on the floor will be any more pleasant than side sleeping on a mattress on a bed foundation or frame. In order to keep your spine, neck, and head up proper alignment as you sleep, you may need to try different positions or add a slew of pillows to fill in any gaps. When sleeping on the floor, back and stomach sleepers may not even need a pillow.
5. Keep the floor and your mattress clean
In order to maintain your sleep area clean, a mattress placed on the floor would need additional upkeep. Regularly clean the area under your mattress with a brush or vacuum, dust nearby walls and furniture, and get familiar with the various mattress cleaning methods (foam, hybrid, innerspring or an organic mattress).
What’s the gist of the matter? Mattresses may be placed on the floor, although doing so poses higher health and safety issues. Choose an appropriate location, maintain the floor clean, cover your mattress, and make sure to ventilate and clean it on a regular basis if this is something you have to do.