Most mattresses come with a break-in period of 20 to 90 days, depending on their type, composition, bed frame, and other factors. Luckily, there are steps you can take to speed things up.
For starters, if the mattress ships compressed in a box, allow your new mattress to fully expand. After that, place it in a well-ventilated area and turn up the heat. Meanwhile, see our tips on how to break in a mattress faster for a more comfortable sleep.
Break in Your New Mattress in Simple Steps
Your new mattress may feel rigid and uncomfortable during the first few weeks. That’s perfectly normal.
The same happens when you buy a new pair of leather shoes or gloves. Although uncomfortable at first, they’ll soften up and feel like a second skin as time goes by.
Similarly, your mattress will become softer and adjust to your body’s contours over time.
For example, the Purple mattress has a 21-day break-in period. But if you buy a mattress from Leesa, you’ll have to sleep on it for at least 30 days to break it in.
That said, here are some steps you can take to speed up the process.
1. Let It Breathe
First, unbox your new mattress and place it in a well-ventilated area for up to 24 hours. Leave it uncovered and open the windows. This will allow it to absorb oxygen from the air and expand to its full size.
Note that new mattresses often have a chemical smell. This odor dissipates over time, and you can speed things up by keeping the mattress in a cool, well-aired room before sleeping on it for the first time.
For reference, the average off-gassing period across all mattresses we’ve tested to date is 5 days.
2. Sleep on It
A new mattress can be uncomfortable, but the more you lay on it, the faster it will adapt to your body.
If you find it too rigid, use it along with a mattress topper. Place the topper above your mattress and underneath the bed sheets.
Mattress toppers are typically 2″ to 4″ thick and can be made of memory foam, poly foam, wool, latex, feather, down, and other materials. Thicker models typically provide the greatest impact and can make your mattress feel softer.
3. Apply Pressure to Your Mattress
If your new mattress is made of latex, poly foam, or memory foam, roll or walk on its surface to loosen it up. Alternatively, press it with your hands or place a pile of books on it.
Hybrid and innerspring mattresses have metal coils that can easily get damaged. Therefore, you’ll want to avoid jumping, walking, or rolling on them. What you should do instead is crawl on your hands and knees.
On a similar note, try sleeping in different positions on your new mattress. This way, you’ll put varying amounts of pressure on it across its entire surface. As a result, the materials will settle and decompress in a shorter time.
4. Turn on the Heat
Some types of mattresses, especially those made of more traditional memory foam, are temperature-sensitive. For this reason, they often become softer and more responsive to pressure in warmer environments.
With that in mind, turn up the heat in your bedroom for a couple of days. Just beware that high temperatures can affect sleep quality.
If you tend to overheat at night, increase the room temperature during the day and lower it before bedtime.
5. Double-Check the Foundation & Frame
Sometimes, it’s not the mattress but the foundation or box spring that causes discomfort. Therefore, you’ll need to make sure the bed frame is in good condition and fits the mattress.
Box springs were traditionally required for proper mattress support, especially with innerspring mattresses, but are rarely necessary today.
If you’re not sure how to go about it, check the manufacturer’s instructions or reach out to our team.
6. Rotate Your Mattress
Most manufacturers recommend rotating your mattress every six to 12 months. This practice ensures even wear and tear and may help reduce or prevent sagging.
Rotating a mattress won’t necessarily speed up the break-in process, but it may increase your comfort. Do it every two weeks during the break-in period so the materials settle evenly.
As a final word, remember that some things get better with time. Your new mattress may feel too rigid at first, but it should get softer within a few weeks.
If all else fails, you should be able to return within the trial period window, which can range from 30 nights to one year, depending on the manufacturer. The average trial period across all mattresses tested to date is 160 nights.
