Life extension for mattresses: How to maintain your sleeping comfort!

Life extension for mattresses: How to maintain your sleeping comfort!

In Austria, around 1.4 million mattresses are thrown away every year. This worrying problem is increasingly coming into the public eye, not least due to the “naturally less crap” initiative launched by the city of Vienna. Climate City Councilor Jürgen Czernohorszky emphasizes the importance of quality and care for mattresses and furniture. On the website www.wenigermist.at There are numerous tips on how to avoid waste and extend the life of furniture and mattresses.

But what exactly can consumers do to extend the lifespan of their mattresses? According to the MyDistrict Mattresses should be turned regularly (ideally 1 to 4 times per year) and ventilated well. The use of mattress protectors is also advisable. When selecting new furniture, you should also pay attention to high-quality materials and ease of care. Washable covers and quality seals such as the Austrian Ecolabel or the Blue Angel provide valuable guidance.

Hygiene and care

In a bedroom, hygiene is just as important as the quality of the furniture. It gets exciting when you consider that up to 15 million house dust mites can live in a double bed mattress. These little residents feed on skin flakes and prefer moist and dark environments. To prevent a house dust allergy, we recommend letting new mattresses evaporate in a well-ventilated room for a few days and washing the covers before using them for the first time. Regular professional mattress washing can, in the best case scenario, even double the service life, as environmental advice shows. The Matwash company in Vienna offers a special deep cleaning process that uses degradable surfactants and recycled water.

But what do you do if the mattress can no longer be saved? This is where things often get difficult. Unfortunately, many initiatives do not accept mattresses for hygiene reasons, so disposal via the waste disposal site remains the last resort. In Europe, millions of mattresses end up in landfills or are burned every year, which results in a significant loss of resources. The situation is similar in Germany, where around six million mattresses from private households end up in the trash every year IKEA reported. To counteract this, the Mattress Industry Association, NABU and IKEA are calling for a better recycling strategy to promote a circular economy.

A look into the future

The need to improve mattress disposal and recycling is undisputed. An improved recycling system could not only reduce waste, but also help conserve resources. Countries such as Belgium, France and the Netherlands already have functioning extended producer responsibility (EPR) systems for mattresses. To achieve similar progress in Austria, political pressure and the commitment of all stakeholders are needed so that the right infrastructure can be created for effective mattress recycling.

In summary, everyone can contribute to extending the life of mattresses and furniture. By making conscious purchasing decisions and proper care, you can not only save money on your wallet, but also on the environment. The city of Vienna, numerous advice centers and companies offer valuable support.