Updated at: 10-11-2022 - By: Sienna Lewis

The manufacturer of your new memory foam mattress recommends that you wait at least 24 hours before sleeping on it. Do you spend the first night on your old mattress, or even the floor? Is it possible to destroy a new bed by sleeping on it within a day?

It’s not that you’ll ruin the mattress if you sleep on an unboxed mattress right away; it takes years of regular use to wear down a high-quality mattress. A better reason for the regulation is so that you can have the most enjoyable first night on your new mattress.

What is a Bed in a Box Mattress?

It’s like having a bed within a box. Rolled up mattresses are compressed by machines before being put into boxes for simple transportation—a boxed mattress takes up less room in a delivery vehicle than one that is inflated and flat. When the mattress is unboxed, it needs time to expand because it has been compressed.

A bed in a box mattress is commonly advertised as a foam bed (memory foam, latex, polyurethane), due to the compressibility of the foam layers. Mattress coils do not compress as well as foam, so hybrid and even innerspring bed in a box mattresses are less prevalent.

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The manufacturers can compress and roll up any mattress size, from a twin to a king, no matter what you buy.

Why a Memory Foam Mattress?

One of the greatest mattresses for relieving pressure points is a memory foam one. When you put weight and heat on it, it molds to your shape. With a memory foam mattress, you wake up feeling rested and pain-free since every part of your body is supported.

Why Wait 24 Hours?

The truth is that if you sleep on a quality mattress for a few hours after unboxing, it shouldn’t harm it in any way. For the most part, the restriction is in place to ensure that you have a decent night’s sleep on your mattress, as the bed isn’t at its most comfy when it’s expanding. By delaying for at least 24 hours, you’ll allow the fresh mattress scent a chance to go away.

What Will Happen if you Don’t Wait 24 Hours?

No worries if you can’t wait the full 24 hours to get your order. It’s okay to skip the step when it says to wait. Every time, the maker takes extra precautions just to be safe. When it comes to following directions, consumers must keep in mind that part of the information provided is merely advice. For those who are short on time, it’s fine.

If you sleep on your new memory foam bed within the first 24 hours, the process will go more quickly for you. Memory foam expands more quickly when heated by the body.

Defects in your mattress can only be caused by normal wear and tear from sleeping on it. This will not happen in a single evening. In the event you decide to use your mattress before it’s finished expanding, you may not receive the complete range of advantages that night.. Only until a memory foam mattress has reached its final shape can it deliver a soft, supportive feeling. This is the reason why so many internet businesses provide extensive sleep trials. A customer-friendly sleep trial gives you the opportunity to test out your new mattress before making a final decision on whether or not it’s right for you.

Upon unpacking, you should find a rolled-up, folded memory foam mattress. After 24 hours, it’s totally okay to fall asleep on your new bed.

As soon as you detect any issues with your new mattress after the first 24 hours, you should contact the manufacturer.

So, What Happens if You Sleep on a Memory Foam Mattress Before 24 Hours?

The bed-in-a-box craze was sparked by the invention of memory foam. Most bed-in-a-box manufacturers tout about the benefits of their products. Compressing, rolling, and even folding a memory foam mattress are all options for storing it in a box. Full, twin XL, or a king-sized mattress will all fit in a box.

Prior to sleeping on a brand new memory foam mattress, it is advised that you wait for at least 24 hours. The decision to wait or not is entirely up to the customer. If there are any defects, they won’t be as visible until the memory foam expands, but this shouldn’t slow down the expansion process.

Is there anything else I can say? New mattresses don’t always feel great right out of the box. It will only become better as the expansion process proceeds. After 24 hours, you should have a new bed with what you’ll call the greatest mattress you’ve ever owned.

Why Does My New Mattress Smell?

When you first open a new memory foam mattress, it’s common to notice a smell. At room temperature, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in mattresses decompose and emit a stench known as off-gassing. Within three to seven days, the odor should be gone.

If the first night’s fragrance bothers you, you might want to consider putting a waterproof protection on your mattress. You should be able to obtain a decent night’s sleep thanks to the mattress protector’s ability to contain the stench. Additionally, a mattress covering will help to keep your mattress clean.

CertiPUR-US®-certified memory foam beds help lessen the risk of off-gassing. Using foams certified by CertiPUR-US® reduces the amount of off-gassing.

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Can I Speed Up the Expansion Process?

Do more than just sleep on it at night if you want to get the most out of your mattress. When you get out of bed, roll around and walk around your mattress to get the most out of your mattress. An increase in room temperature may help soften foam as well.

What If My Mattress Doesn’t Expand?

New memory foam mattresses can be a little slow to expand, depending on the quality of the foam you’re using. It’s possible that your mattress is malfunctioning if it hasn’t fully expanded after one week. Reach out to the company’s customer care if you have a defective mattress.

What if the Mattress isn’t Comfortable?

Even after a 24-hour delay, your mattress still doesn’t meet your expectations of comfort. It’s normal for people to need a few days to get used to a new bed. While resting on your old mattress, your body developed undesirable sleeping habits that a new, better mattress will have to address.

You can return your new mattress within the sleep trial period if you are still unsatisfied after a month of use. With a mattress topper, you can alter the firmness of your mattress in the event that you cannot return it. Firmer or softer beds can benefit from the addition of a couple of inches of foam from a mattress topper.

Does My Memory Foam Mattress Need A Box Spring?

We strongly advise against using a box spring with your memory foam mattress. Memory foam mattresses might sag prematurely if the box spring’s inner coils are too far apart. If a memory foam mattress is kept on a box spring, the manufacturer’s warranty may be voided.

A sturdy or slatted platform is the greatest foundation for a memory foam mattress. It is recommended that the slat spacing and thickness be kept to 2.75 inches minimum.

Can I Go To Sleep Right After the Mattress Has Expanded?

There are no limits to how much movement and sleeping on your mattress you can do as it expands. The material’s expansion time will be shortened with continued use of the mattress.

Remember that the mattress will not feel its best until it has expanded to its full size, even if you sleep on it before the 24-hour mark. It’s better to wait a few more nights before contacting to request a return if your first night in your new bed isn’t exactly what you expected. It’s best to wait until the mattress is at least 10 inches tall and the corners have grown to their full size before purchasing it. If you’re still experiencing discomfort after your mattress has fully inflated, it’s time to contact.

Some blogs recommend waiting until the corners of your new bed have fully expanded before putting your mattress protector and linens on it. Our experience has shown that it isn’t necessary to wait for the mattress’ corners to form before getting a good night’s sleep, as you aren’t generally resting on any of the mattress’ corners. In order to keep the corners from expanding, mattress protectors and sheets aren’t tight enough, and they should not affect your bed’s expansion time.

Manufacturers don’t want you to use the bed for 24 hours after unrolling it. There is a 24-hour rule for a reason: to protect the mattress’s foam from being damaged before it is allowed to fully extend.

However, new memory foam has a wider range of applications than old foam. If you roll over it, you won’t do much damage. The foam layers may be defective if the mattress does not return to its normal shape after the authorized expansion period. Exchange or refund details can be obtained by getting in touch with the business directly.

Companies urge you to hold off on sleeping on their beds for the second reason: the possibility of off-gassing. Anyone who doesn’t want to sleep on a bed that smells like chemicals or that’s just out of the box may want to think again before doing so. Off-gassing is a reality even with CertiPUR-US® certified foam mattresses. You won’t have to deal with unwanted odors if you allow your bed to air out for the given period.

How Do I Speed Up the Expansion Process?

The foam is activated by movement, weight, and heat, releasing the substance. By rolling and bouncing around a bit while lying on the mattress and then standing up and walking around the edges, you can get your mattress to expand faster.

My Foam Bed Isn’t Expanding

Mattresses vary in their ability to expand, with some expanding more swiftly than others. You may get the memory foam to work again by applying heat to it.

Sleep on the mattress for a few days and give it a good scrubbing with your feet. As a result, it should grow into its proper shape.

The Mattress Hasn’t Expanded After a Week!

After five or seven days, if a foam mattress hasn’t expanded, it’s most likely defective.

In the unlikely event that your mattress does not expand after a full week of use, you should contact customer support to report a malfunction and begin the return process.

Taking Care of Your Foam Mattress

In order to extend the life of both your hybrid and gel memory foam mattresses, you’ll need to follow a few simple guidelines. A box spring is all you need for an innerspring or hybrid mattress; however, a solid foundation is required for memory foam models. All mattresses, however, need to be cleaned on a regular basis.

Choosing a Foundation

Foam mattresses necessitate a firm, flat mattress base.

Using a flexible box spring base with a memory foam mattress will result in the middle of the mattress sagging, resulting in pain.

Slatted or sturdy bed frames are required for memory foam. Platform beds are a suitable alternative if the slats are fewer than 2.75 inches apart to avoid the foam material drooping; this could cause the mattress to deteriorate quickly and produce indentations in the material.

Cleaning Tips

The coverings of some foam mattresses can be removed and washed in the washing machine. As with any other piece of bedding, you’ll need to spot clean it if you don’t have a mattress cover.

In order to eliminate any loose foreign material or hair, vacuum the mattress at least once a month. The same methods for washing a mattress topper apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between memory foam and gel memory foam?

Gel foam is similar to memory foam in many respects, including its ability to relieve pressure. Because typical memory foam absorbs heat, producers mix cooling gels into their gel foam products.

Is memory foam toxic?

Concerns around memory foam’s toxicities are primarily based on substances that may be included in the manufacturing process. If you’re looking for a nontoxic mattress, search for the CertiPUR-US® or GREENGUARD Gold seal of approval.

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Can memory foam cause back problems?

Because it conforms well to your body’s curves, a memory foam mattress is an excellent choice for people with back problems. However, if you don’t choose a mattress firmness that matches your sleeping position, you could end up with back problems. Back and stomach sleepers require a medium-firm mattress, while side sleepers want a soft to medium mattress.

How long does a memory foam mattress take to inflate?

Manufacturers typically claim that a memory foam mattress will fully inflate in 24 to 48 hours. As each memory foam mattress is unique, this time frame is not set in stone. Some new mattresses may take longer or even less time to set up than others. A mattress protector or topper does not have to be applied after a complete 24 hours. There are mattresses available for the first night, but realize that the bed will feel different on subsequent nights.

Does heat help memory foam expand?

Memory foam has a high temperature sensitivity. Memory foam might appear firmer when placed in a colder environment. The room temperature may need to be raised if this is the case. Warmer memory foam expands more quickly because it becomes more pliable. Expansion might be aided by body heat as well.

How long should you leave a memory foam mattress before sleeping on it?

Your new memory foam mattress should be opened up as soon as possible after delivery. At 90% expansion, you’ll need another 4-6 hours for the memory foam to reach its full potential. Don’t worry if you can’t wait the suggested 24 hours before sleeping on it.

Conclusion

When it comes to cleaning a foam mattress, you now know the rules of the game and have a few tricks up your sleeve. The best foundations and bed frames for foam mattresses are already familiar to you. Check out our other articles if you want to learn more about caring for your new mattress.