If your mattress is comfortable and gives you good support, (as evidenced by no back aches) I'd keep it. Of course mattress companies are going to do their very best to persuade you that you have to replace a mattress.

There are different levels of quality so I would think that it would be difficult to make a valid claim of exactly when replacement is necessary.

This article says one loses 8 lbs of skin cells per year. But one doesn't lose all of them in bed, and even accounting for the 1/4-1/3 of a day one spends sleeping, there are sheets and mattress pads that one washes which would catch and hold a lot of those cells.

Skin cells shed per year

We have always (50 years) used two double-sided extra-long twins as a king. The present set was new in 2010. The mattress company (Verlo) reconditioned these two years ago for $150 each mattress. Mine is still OK, but my DH's is being replaced this month. We're going up one level on his mattress to get stronger coil springs. I'm 105 lbs. He's 180 lbs. His will be an inch taller than mine, but looks are less important than function. When my mattress fails, probably in another year or two, I'll get the same as his new one. We used to switch our mattresses until I noticed that his was failing faster than mine.

I prefer to use a heavily quilted mattress pad or separate 'topper' over buying a pillow-top that is part of the mattress.

Single-sided mattresses are a good thing for the mattress biz.

Sounds like a marketing ploy. My mattress is 10 years old. It started out over 100 lbs., and I think if I'd shed 100 or even 50 lbs. of skin cells I'd look really scary today--assuming I were still alive!

When the time comes, I will hate to replace this mattress. It was from a small, independent manufacturer that has since gone out of business. I avoided the "S brands," and I'm glad I did.

Marketing ploy for sure and nothing that a good mattress cover and regular washing wouldn't remedy. We have a latex mattress and love love love it.

That is definitely a marketing ploy! Some mattresses last longer than others, depending on a number of variables. I bought a new mattress last year, to replace one that was 16 years old (it was my first and last pillowtop). My new mattress is wonderful for me because it is adjustable, and having my head elevated has markedly helped with my allergies. I paid quite a bit for it, because I got one with no chemicals. I was appalled to learn that they put formaldehyde, boric acid, and arsenic in mattresses as flame retardants! They will still burn, only more slowly. Inasmuch as I do not smoke in (or out of) bed, and have good smoke detectors throughout the house, I am more concerned about the negative effects on my health of spending 1/3 of my time laying on chemicals than I am with the fire hazard.

I just replaced my mattress last year. It was at least 20 years old. I bought the replacement lmatress on line for a very reasonable price and have been very happy with it. It's ll organic cotton and very comfortable.

Having moved old mattresses that didn't have a mattress protector on them, I can say they certainly weigh a lot more though I would say it takes longer than 8 years to double in weight.

I won't have a mattress in my house now without a waterproof mattress protector on it to prevent sweat and body oils from getting absorbed into the mattress.

I'm almost embarrassed to admit this but we still have the mattress set I bought at Marshall Fields about 28 years ago! The bed is super comfortable and has always has a mattress protector plus full set of sheets, and I don't plan on replacing it. But I do admit those 8 year commercials bothered me, thinking I should switch. The reason I haven't is that so many people complain about finding a comfortable mattress, and I don't want to mess up a good thing.

We've had a Select Comfort (now called Sleep Number) mattress for 22 years. Since we can adjust the firmness, it's always comfortable.

My bed is a king sized waterbed frame on which we placed 2 twin sized mattresses...no box springs. Mattresses lay flat on the wood. We've been married 46 yrs so these must be at least 40 years old and are still in great shape. They are covered with mattress pads, then those egg crate foam things, then sheets and blankets. I like a "soft" bed. I have no intention of replacing them.

I think it's hard to sell mattresses because they don't break & need replaced immediately like our appliances do.

Mines a beauty rest & I still love it.

I just replaced mine 2 weeks ago.Mine was 10 ys old. I loved my mattress but it was a king and really too big plus my back was giving me a bit of trouble. Since the new bed I haven't had any back pain or hand pain like I usually do. But then I haven't been doing anything to get it that way either. I got a Scandinavian mattress by Southerland. Its also adjustable with vibration. I got a great deal on it. Mattress

If your having back problems it may be time to replace it.

Sleeperblues, don't feel bad about keeping your 28-year-old mattress. You're the best judge. The unbiased experts agree that older mattresses were made better, with higher quality materials and fewer corners cut.

I meant to add above that I don't think dust mites and skin cells can move very easily through my mattress toppers--a total of 4" of latex and memory foam.

I got a breathable water resistant washable mattress protector at the oreck store years ago. Or maybe it was from qvc and I saw them later at the oreck store. It gets dirty, but the mattress under it has stayed pure white.

The top of the mattress protector is like terry cloth and the underside is like soft plastic. It comes clean in the washer. I have a reasonably thick mattress pad and fitted sheet on top and it's comfy (breathable and not hot).

We sleep on latex, encased in organic wool and cotton.

I think the marketing is directed toward owners of cheap mattresses. The two for $600 type mattress.

I got a new custom made for the rv as soon as we got it since the new one in it was memory foam and I can't do memory foam. So it's just about 1 year old. I replaced my mattress in my bedroom about 2 years ago, the one before it was also custom made with double pillow tops which we did flip regularly. It was probably over 20 years old and was extremely comfortable. The last year it had started showing problems in the pillow tops some separation in the layers but it still looked new because I always have a cover on my mattresses. The new one in the bedroom is custom made by the same person that made my rv mattresses. He will put what ever layers you want and how ever firm or soft. It has a bamboo fabric top that breathes. I have a Cuddlebed mattress pad covering it too. I don't believe in the advertising hype. They came up with that a few years ago and have people falling for it. It's like the one word that doubled the sales of shampoo. One word REPEAT! Wash rinse repeat. 8 years is doing the same for the mattress industry. I will never buy anything but custom made, everything I have had was, and it's so worth it to have it exactly how you want it. And I agree latex whether in pillows or a mattress is a joy.

Mine is 27 years old. I turn or rotate it every quarter. It has always been covered with a protective pad. I added a memory foam topper to it about 13 years ago and replaced that memory foam two years ago. I hate pillow tops because you can't turn and rotate them. The memory foam eventually loses its elasticity and requires replacment, but the mattress seems to be performing just fine.

There are many brands of pillow top mattresses that require flipping. One that comes to mind is local; The Original Mattress Factory.

I have a Seally that's about 6 years old and I better not have to replace it any time soon, I paid and arm and a leg for that sucker! The idea that there's all that dead skin in a mattress is absolutely absurd! What's that saying about a sucker born every minute...I think it was from the Barnum and Bailey circus guys. OK so looked it up, P. T. Barnum said it...supposedly.

That's exactly what we have Brushworks, and I doubt we will ever own a traditional mattress again

I can't flip mine because it's a pillow top & the bottom is just like an old mattress. I didn't know the made double pillow tops. Good idea.

I don't understand the latex thing though. Sounds like sleeping on a condom?

Pawprint, most are 99% rubber, not similar to a condom.

Here's ours.

With Euroslats.

Berkeley Ergonomics

We slept on Original Mattress Factory mattresses for over 30 years. There are no weak links in their mattresses.

I wanted a latex mattress for years. Tried two different ones, and both failed so quickly that my money was refunded (from two different stores). That was more than 10 years ago; today there are more choices in latex, but I still wouldn't know which one is best for me.

Our pillow top mattress has sinkholes where we lay even though I rotate it ( but can't flip it, no pillow top underneath. I sleep great though! I belong to a cleaning type FB group and mattress discussion comes up with skin cells, etc. I haven't tried this yet but will out of curiosity one of these days- they empty their vacuum canisters, strip the bed, then vacuum the mattress. They post pictures of what the vacuum picks up.

Good idea Lisa! I vacuum my mattress monthly but I can't see skin cells or dust mites but I know they're there.

I have a heated mattress pad for winter that is so cozy.

I wanted a latex mattress for years. Tried two different ones, and both
failed so quickly that my money was refunded (from two different
stores). That was more than 10 years ago; today there are more choices
in latex, but I still wouldn't know which one is best for me.

Unfortunately, there are brands out there that offer latex comfort layer over an inferior polyurethane foam (synthetic) and those mattresses usually disappoint sooner than later. Most of the one size fits all mattresses, like Casper, T&N, Lull, etc., are sold by folks who wish to disrupt the business model, and that's okay, if you have a product that delivers what you promise. Most of the one-size-fits-all have at least one weak link, inferior polyurethane foam.

A 100% latex mattress, talalay or dunlop, will not fail before 10 years.

If you visit a Design Sleep store, or one similar, you'll know within an hour which latex mattress suits your body, sleep positions, comfort level, etc.

Mine is 20 years old and still doing good. It has a 25 year warranty. I vacuum mine often. You're supposed to vacuum them. Who doesn't do that? I also flip my mattress about every six months.

Brushworks, I did my research 10 years ago--just ask my kids, who rolled their eyes through my mattress obsession--and the mattresses I bought were 100% latex. But manufacturers differ, and so does latex, apparently.

When my second latex mattress was delivered, the deliverymen advised me not to accept it because they could see it had problems. But it looked okay to me (duh), and I accepted it anyway. Two weeks later, they picked it up and took it out of here.

In my research before buying my mattress, I learned that natural latex is far better (and more expensive) than synthetic or blended latex.

LOL!!! the idea that I would take a mattress companies OPINION/advertising gimmick as advise is INSANE. We purchased a very good double sided pillow top 22 years ago. It is as good as it was the day we bought it. We flip and rotate it every month. The best thing about a queen--its a square. YOU know when YOU NEED a new mattress!!!!

My old mattress was at least 25 years old and still quite comfortable but since DH had passed away , I wanted to redo the bedroom with paint and new furniture. I opted for a twin bed and was hoping I would get another comfortable mattress. I was lucky with that and just love the new one ...going on 3 yrs. now. Went to see the name of it but the papers were zippered up in the box spring cover and too lazy to look for them! Plus it is thicker and therefore higher so makes me feel like I am at a Bed&Breakfast !

It is as good as it was the day we bought it.

Really? Brand new? You must not use it very often.

Skin cells are not the only problems. I'm allergic to dust and dust mites!

We have a king mattress with 2 twin box springs. I ordered encasements for the twins and we bought a new matress. The sales person was shocked we did not buy new box springs! The day the new mattress was delivered we put the encasements on. Then when new mattress came, put on its encasement.

These were not cheap encasements, not like you buy in stores. Got these from the place the allergist recommended. $360.00 for them, but what a difference for me! Also replaced pillows and got encasements for them too.

I have to wash my sheets and comforter every 2 weeks or I am miserable!

Saving up for special mattress pad and comforter, not cheap!

Kathy G in MI

What a bunch of BS….a marketing ploy for certain, and to think that people fall for it doesn't surprise me at all.

In my own experience, our mattress is over 30 years old, and as comfortable as when we got it. My wife washes our sheets and mattress cover twice a month, and I rotate the mattress at least once a year. I can guarantee it is not noticeable heavier that when new, unless I am stronger now than when I was 22 years old!

At our cabin we have my wife's grandparents old box spring and mattress that are well over 30 years old. I sleep like a baby up there too.

I'm almost embarrassed to write that my mattress is about 35 years old. And truly as good as it was new. 100% latex, always with a mattress protector and sheets, of course. Mites can't live in latex.

It doesn't get flipped as often as it should since my husband died 20+ years ago, because it's a king size and difficult for me to wrangle.

If I ever downsize to a queen, I'll get another natural latex mattress. Maybe one of these - a company near me: Holy Lamb Organics