We spend about a third of our time in bed so it is important that we have a comfortable bed. What’s more, 40 per cent of the population suffer from back pain every year and a good bed can help alleviate pain, as well as stopping back problems in the first place.

What’s more, a study by sleep expert Dr Chris Idzikowski has found that swapping an uncomfortable old bed for a comfortable new one could account for an average of 42 minutes’ extra sleep, which is four times more than is achieved by taking over the counter sleeping pills. But how do you know when your bed needs replacing? Just when you need to by a new double bed?

The average lifespan of a mattress is 8-10 years and, with regular use, it may have deteriorated by as much as 75 per cent from its original condition. What’s more old beds aren’t very hygienic; when we are in bed we sweat and shed skin, all of which works its way into the mattress. In fact in any one night the average adult can sweat up to as much as half a pint to a pint of fluid! That’s not to mention dust mites which make a home in your double mattress, so it is worth changing your mattress regularly for hygiene reasons.

However, the lifespan of the mattress does depend on how often you use it and the quality of the mattress. So, as a general rule, if you or your partner are waking up with aches and pains that disappear over the course of the day, if you aren’t sleeping as well as you did compared to a year ago, or there are any signs of wear and tear on the mattress, then it is time to change it. Browse for a new bed in your local bed shops or at online stores such as Dreams.co.uk.

Another good sign that your double bed has seen better days is if you are sleeping better elsewhere than you are in your bed. And of course if you are starting to feel springs coming through the mattress then it is definitely time for a change.

While the cost of a new mattress and bed frame can seem a little daunting it is worth working out how much it will cost for every night you sleep on it and a good quality mattress will cost no more than pennies per night.