Rotating your mattress is the one bit of care that makes a real difference to how long it lasts, and it's also a condition of our warranty. The schedule is on every product page, but it's worth explaining why it looks the way it does and how to do it without hurting your back.
Quick answer
- New mattress: rotate it every fortnight for the first two to three months while the comfort layers settle.
- After that: every three to six months. Sooner if you feel it starting to dip.
- Single-sided mattress: rotate end to end. Never flip it; the underside isn't a sleeping surface.
- Double-sided mattress: alternate between rotating it end to end and flipping it over.
- This applies to all our mattresses, zoned pocket springs included.
Why rotate at all
You sleep in the same place every night, so the same patch of foam and fibre gets compressed for seven or eight hours while the rest of the mattress sits there doing nothing. Left alone, that patch settles faster than the rest and you end up with a dip on your side and a ridge down the middle. Rotating swaps the heavy-use end for the light-use end, so the whole surface settles evenly.
The first few months matter most. That's when a new mattress does most of its settling, which is why we ask for a fortnightly rotation early on and only every three to six months once it's bedded in.
Single-sided or double-sided? How to tell
Most of our range is single-sided: the comfort layers are all on top, and the underside is a plain base layer that sits on the platform. Rotate these end to end only. If you flip one you'll be sleeping on the wrong side, and it will feel like it. Single-sided models include the Anniversary Pocket, the Spinal Luxury G-Top and the Sense-A-Tech range.
A few of our mattresses are built with comfort layers on both faces, so you can flip them as well as rotate them, which spreads the wear over two surfaces: the Monarch, Posture Plus, Citation Box Top, Windsor Backcare and Windsor Extra Firm. The Citation is a nice case: the wool pillow-top side is medium-firm and the other side is a touch firmer, so flipping it changes the feel.
Not sure which you have? The product page says, and so does the label on the mattress. Or ring your nearest store with the model name.
What about zoned mattresses?
You'll read online that zoned mattresses shouldn't be rotated because the firmer lumbar zone ends up in the wrong place. That advice doesn't apply to ours. Our 3-zone and 5-zone pocket spring mattresses, the Spinal Luxury G-Top included, are designed to be rotated end to end like the rest of the range, and the instruction is printed on each product page. Follow it; it's part of the warranty conditions.
How to rotate a mattress without hurting yourself
- Strip the bedding and pull the bed away from the wall if you can.
- Get a second person for anything Queen size or bigger. Our Queen mattresses weigh enough to be awkward on your own, and 300 mm-deep pocket springs don't bend.
- Lift one end, walk it round in a quarter turn so it's sitting across the base, then take the other end round the rest of the way. Don't drag it by the handles or the border; lift from underneath.
- If you're flipping a double-sided mattress, stand it on its long edge first, then lower it over.
- Check it's sitting square on the base with no overhang, especially if you have divan drawers underneath.
- While it's bare, check the base for anything loose or uneven, and the mattress for stains or damage. It's the easiest time to spot a problem early.
Body impressions are normal; sagging isn't
Within the first couple of weeks you'll see a shallow impression where you sleep. That's the comfort layers conforming to your shape and it's exactly what should happen. Up to about 5 cm is normal and isn't a defect. Rotating keeps those impressions even across the mattress rather than letting one deepen.
A dip that stays when nobody is on the bed, and is deeper than 5 cm, is sagging. If the mattress has been rotated as recommended and kept on a suitable base, that's covered by our warranty. Rotation won't fix it, and neither will a topper. Have a look at the warranty terms and get in touch with a photo.
The rest of the care routine
- A mattress protector from day one. The Tencel waterproof protector is breathable and machine-washable, and it keeps stains off the mattress, which matters because a stained mattress isn't covered by warranty and can't be exchanged under the 100-night guarantee.
- A firm, flat base. Our mattresses are built for a platform base. Slats change the support and speed up wear.
- Wash sheets weekly and leave the bed unmade for an hour in the morning to air it.
- No jumping, and don't fold a mattress to get it round a corner. If a Queen won't go up the stairs, ask us about a slimline or split base instead.
Frequently asked questions
How often should you rotate a mattress?
Every fortnight for the first two to three months, then every three to six months.
Should I rotate or flip?
Single-sided: rotate end to end only. Double-sided: alternate rotating and flipping.
Do zoned mattresses need rotating?
Ours do. Rotate them end to end on the same schedule.
Can rotating fix a sagging mattress?
No. It prevents uneven wear; it can't reverse a dip that has already formed.
Is rotation really a warranty condition?
Yes. Sagging claims are assessed on the mattress having been on a suitable base and rotated as recommended.
Need a hand?
If you're not sure whether your mattress is single- or double-sided, or you think it's sagging, call your nearest store on 0800 276 964 or send us a photo through the contact page.
Related guides: How long does a mattress last in New Zealand? · Returns and warranty · Mattress protectors
