Investing in a mattress is a major decision, both financially and for what it means to your health and well-being. When you do find that perfect mattress, it’s important to do everything you can to keep it in top shape and get the longest possible life out of it. To help with that, here are a few suggestions on getting the most out of your mattress:

• Add a mattress pad. It’s entirely possible your comfort preferences have evolved since you purchased your mattress. But if it still happens to be structurally sound, there’s no reason to waste the money replacing it. To get the comfort you want from a mattress that offers the support you need, adding a foam bedding mattress topper can add comfort and years of life to a mattress you would otherwise replace.

• Be gentle. Because of its soft, springy feel, it’s hard to resist the urge to use your bed as a relaxation or play area with the kids or pets. Even with a thick mattress pad, it’s important to remember that a bed’s only purpose should be to provide a great night’s sleep. Using it in any other way can cause it to prematurely wear down, especially if used roughly. Roughhousing can tear foam, break springs, and puncture air and water-filled mattresses.

• Keep it dry. Nobody would intentionally pour water on their bed or leave the window open during a rainstorm, but given all we have to do on a daily basis, accidents can happen. When a mattress gets wet, it is very hard to completely dry, which can lead to mold and mildew growing in the mattress. It’s a good idea to use water resistant mattress covers and adhere to a personal rule about no eating or drinking rule in bed, just in case of a spill. Many companies will not honor a warranty on a stained or water damaged mattress even it’s only a surface flaw and it fails structurally, so it’s important to keep it in returnable condition.