How much can your favorite things live in the house, and how often should they be changed?
'09.12.2022'
Source: Delfi decor
We used to use home furniture and different things for quite a long time. The carpet may still remember your school days, and the mattress has already lived longer than most of your relationships, and you don’t even want to think about how many hours you spent on the couch watching TV.
If you find some thing that fits your space, aesthetics and budget, you do not want to part with it. But nothing is forever, writes Delfi decor.
So, how often should you change your furniture and home accessories? This is what the people who create them recommend.
1. Mattress: from 7 to 15 years
On average, a person spends in bed a third of his life - not counting the time you spend reading in bed, scrolling through social networks and watching TV. Therefore, your mattress is one of the most used things in the house. Fortunately, changing it as often as you might think is not necessary.
According to experts, mattresses costing less than 800-900 euros should be replaced every seven years, and models will last more expensive for you for 10-15 years. At the same time, mattresses with thicker foam or latex are stronger and more durable.
But if you started to turn over in your sleep more often, and you wake up lately with body pains, then it’s probably time to replace your mattress - no matter how old it is. This is also indicated by breaks and sagging springs.
However, proper care of the mattress will help extend its life. In addition to turning the mattress at least once a year, you must buy a suitable bedding for a particular type of mattress, solid or lattice.
2. Pillow: 2 to 3 years
The shelf life of the pillow can be from two to three years. Of course, there are some exceptions. Not very high quality pillows can be compressed or crumpled before. If the pillow already looks bad, smells, or has become uncomfortable, change it earlier.
And what makes a quality pillow? Hypoallergenic filler fiber cushions usually provide good support for longer.
If you want your pillows to not lose their shape longer, then get replaceable ones, and while one pair of pillows is in washing or cleaning, use the second one.
3. Sheets: 2 of the year
If you use the same sheets for many years, and they already show signs of time, then it's time to throw them away. Honestly, you should have thrown them away a long time ago.
Sheets usually last about two years, and they should definitely be replaced when you notice that they have turned yellow or become rough.
When choosing a new sheet, pay attention to the quality of the fabric - the higher it is, the better. Experts advise buying sheets of long staple cotton.
It is best to buy several sets of bedding so that you can alternate them. And make sure that you wash your laundry properly - in warm or cold water, and dry at room temperature or slightly higher.
4. Dishes: as long as it looks good and well.
If your plates, cups and bowls do not fall and do not break, they will serve you all your life.
As a student, you could buy cheap, short-lived dishes. But a good “adult” set of tableware has to withstand tens of thousands of dishwashing cycles, as well as plenty of lunches and dinners on the couch.
If you are looking for new dishes, then choose a porcelain suitable for a dishwasher. In general, porcelain is stronger and denser than other ceramics, and this makes it more resistant to scratches, cracks and coloring products.
5. Dining set: from 15 to 20 years
If your table and chairs began to stagger or fall apart, then you should replace your dining set. Better furniture usually serves from 15 to 20 years.
For dining, buy furniture from hardwood, kiln-dried wood, such as walnut, oak, and rubber. This protects the material from future deformations or cracks. The table may have in its design metal reinforcement, which helps to maintain its stability for much longer.
Also, in time, tighten loose bolts and screws in furniture, keep it away from sources of high temperature and moisture, and use coasters for dishes.
6. Sofa: 7 to 15 years
All sofas are different and this makes it difficult to set the expiration date, but you can count on the sofa to last from 7 to 15 years.
The lifetime of the sofa depends entirely on the quality of its design and materials. At the same time, the price and quality of the sofa may not be interconnected.
Nevertheless, there are three key signs that indicate that it is time to buy a new sofa:
- Noise: the sofa creaks or quacks when you sit on it.
- Cushions: deformed, their fabric looks bad.
- Depreciation of the entire sofa: there are gaps and highly visible spots.
When choosing a new sofa, experts recommend spending a little more money on a product with a high-quality frame and fabric. But if you want to keep the old sofa a little longer, then you need to clean and turn over the pillows every few months.
