The setting: Perth’s climate and why it matters
In Perth, we live with a true Mediterranean rhythm: summers are hot, dry, sunlit; winters are cooler, wetter, and softer.
From December through February the days commonly climb into the high 30s or 40s (Celsius), humidity tends to be moderate to low, rainfall nearly absent.
In winter, especially June-July, the nights get crisp, the days cooler (say 8-19 °C for low overnight temps, and up to high teens for daytime highs) and rainfall climbs.
Why this matters for your mattress: temperature, humidity and ventilation shape how your mattress breathes, according to the Sleep Health Foundation, maintaining a comfortable sleep environment relies heavily on temperature and airflow, with the ideal bedroom temperature sitting around 17 to 19°C for restorative sleep, how moisture collects (or doesn’t), how dust-mites and mould might find a foothold, and how you sleep. A mattress is not just a slab you lie on, it is a breathing surface, a place where your body, the air, the fibres, the springs or foam meet. Treat it with the season in mind and you’ll extend its life, comfort and hygiene.
Summer mattress care, December to February, West-Australia style
Summer in Perth brings bright days, strong sun, dry inland air, and that signature afternoon sea breeze, the “Fremantle Doctor”.
Here are summer-specific suggestions, presented in the rhythm of the season:
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Ventilation is your friend
When the day is hot and the room sits unused, leave windows or sliding doors ajar if you can, so air circulates. On early summer mornings the house is cooler; let the fresh morning air move through before you close up in the heat of the day.
When you’re sleeping, if you have ceiling fans or a small fan, use gentle circulation, stagnant warm air against a mattress invites perspiration, increased body-heat transfer to the mattress, more moisture. A mattress can absorb a remarkable amount of body heat and sweat over time.
If possible, strip back bedding, mattress protectors, and allow the mattress to air for a few minutes each morning (before sheets go back on). Even in semi-arid summer air this helps.
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Protect against heat “build-up” and sweat
In summer many of us sleep with lighter covers, maybe no doona or a thin one, examine whether the mattress still functions well with the lighter bedding.
Use a breathable natural mattress protector, one that repels spills and moisture but allows air-flow. Because although summer is dry in Perth, the body still perspires at night, especially if rooms warm up in the evening.
Avoid placing the mattress in direct hot sun (through windows) when unattended. While the structure may tolerate it, long hours of direct high-sunlight can degrade fabrics, cause fading and excessive heat absorption, you want to avoid a scenario where you lie down to a mattress that feels hot to the touch.
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Spot-treat and keep it fresh
Summer often introduces more exotic causes of mattress marks, light spills, sunscreen stains, winds that blow dust and sand in, even barbecues meaning extra fragrance/smoke in the house.
If you spill something: blot immediately (rather than rub). Use a mild, low moisture cleaning spray labelled safe for mattresses, then allow full dryness before remaking the bed. In the dry Perth summer climate drying is faster but you must still ensure no residual damp remains.
Vacuum the mattress surface (remove mattress protector first) at least once a month, this helps remove dust, skin flakes (which feed dust mites) and any sand/grit that might have migrated in (especially if you live near beach/coast).
Consider lifting the mattress off the bed-base (if feasible) for a few hours during a crisp morning window to allow underside ventilation. This helps avoid any heat build-up beneath the mattress.
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Humidity and moisture control
Even though summer in Perth is dry, nights may still carry some moisture (and if you have air-conditioning or evaporative cooling, some indoor humidity may linger). A mattress in a room with closed windows and A/C running non-stop may still trap moisture, so monitor for any musty smell or feeling of “damp underside”.
If you detect moisture build-up (perhaps if the bed base is solid rather than slatted), open up the bedding in the morning and allow the room to air before remaking the bed. Use a small dehumidifier if your home has a known damp-corner.
Avoid placing heavy items on the bed for long periods (e.g., boxes, suitcases) that trap the mattress surface and hinder air-flow.
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Rotation schedule
It is best to rotate your mattress, head-to-foot, every 2-4 weeks. In summer you could schedule the rotation in early December, before the high season of use (or just after the first really hot week) so the mattress handles the heavy season with “fresh” orientation.
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Bedding choices
In summer favour lighter sheets (cotton or linen) which breathe well; avoid heavy velvets, heavy textures which trap heat. A well-fitting mattress protector allows the mattress to do its job, while keeping the surface clean and fresh.
Consider the overall bed configuration: if you have an adjustable base or moveable bed, slight elevation at the head may help circulation rather than a flat bed for some people in warmer nights.
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End-of-summer refresh
As summer begins to ease (late February into March) that’s a great time to do a “deep refresh” of the mattress: vacuum thoroughly, spot-treat any marks accumulated over the busy months, air the mattress (unsheeted) for an hour or two in the morning sun (but not with direct harsh UV for too long) and re-make with corrected bedding. This gives you a clean base heading into the cooler months.
Winter mattress tips, June to August (and the shoulder months)
Winter in Perth is cooler and wetter. The air is less dry, nights drop further. The risk shifts: moisture from rooms, condensation, dampness from rainfall, less ventilation because windows stay closed more.
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Manage cooler nights and mattress temperature
As the nights draw in and the house cools, the mattress will naturally cool down. That’s fine, but you might detect the mattress feels cold to lie on. A simple solution: a thin mattress topper or a woollen blanket layer at the foot of the bed (not directly under you necessarily) helps warm the surface.
Avoid electric blankets or under-blanket heating that injects heat directly into the mattress surface for long periods, heat can build and degrade foam or spring materials over time. Instead, use your bedding to warm you and let the mattress maintain its structural integrity.
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Ventilation and avoiding condensation
Because rooms are more likely to be closed up in winter and outdoor air colder, more indoor condensation can occur. If your bedroom walls have windows that don’t get much sun, there’s a risk of damp or mould creeping around bed edges.
Counter-this by airing the room in the morning for 10-15 minutes, if possible, even if it’s cold, opening a window slightly allows fresh air in and stale, moisture-laden air out. If you have curtains, pull them back during day to allow sunlight to warm surfaces.
Under the mattress, check that the base is well-ventilated, slatted bases help; solid bases may trap damp. If you suspect any lingering damp, lift the mattress and inspect base and floor for signs of mould or damp. Dew-point and humidity are higher in winter: For Perth, winter humidity can average 70-76 % in July.
If you detect the mattress has a “cold” feel or slightly musty smell, it may be time for a professional clean or a deep airing.
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Bedding configuration for winter use
In cooler months, your mattress protector may need to do double duty: clean surface plus some insulation. Consider a thicker protector or a thermal mattress pad (one that fits over the mattress but under the sheet) to reduce heat loss at the body-mattress interface.
And choose bedding layers that allow you to regulate warmth (e.g., a thinner doona plus top lighter blanket) rather than all or nothing. This reduces sweating under heavy layers (which then warms the mattress) and avoids poor ventilation.
If you use a topper (e.g., memory foam pad) in winter, ensure it’s breathable. Some memory foams trap heat, in winter you might like a foam topper for comfort, but ensure it has ventilation ports or breathable cover.
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Rotation schedule
Since winter is less about heavy sweating and more about maintaining consistent shape and support, the rotation schedule should continue throughout the season. When rotating, choose a dry day to move the mattress so it isn’t exposed to additional moisture from damp air or condensation. Rotate the mattress 180 degrees—so the head end becomes the foot end—to ensure even pressure distribution. Regular rotation helps extend the mattress’s lifespan, maintains comfort and support, and ensures you continue to sleep on a well-balanced surface.
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Cleaning and allergy control
Winter often brings indoor-air concerns: dust mites, pet dander, less fresh air circulating. In Perth professional mattress-cleaning services note removing dust mites and bacteria is especially important.
Vacuum mattress surface monthly (or more if you have allergies). Use a mattress protector that is washable. If any spill occurs (say a hot cocoa or tea mishap), treat immediately and fully dry before re-making the bed.
If you’ve had a cold or flu, it’s a good idea to steam-clean (or schedule professional mattress clean) after you recover, those pathogens linger on fibres. Some services in Perth promote deep-steam mattress cleaning to remove allergens.
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Moisture prevention underneath
Since winter nights are longer and heating may be on, check that there’s no “mattress on carpet” scenario where the base sits directly on cold floor, ideally there’s some airflow under the base. If your mattress is on the floor (not ideal), lift once a month and vacuum underneath and let the underside air for an hour.
If you notice any sagging or dipping in colder months, it may indicate that the mattress support is compromised, check bed base, frame, slats for warping due to cooler, possibly damp conditions.
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End-of-winter preparation
As winter eases (say late August into September), inspect your mattress for any damp spots, smells, indentations. Give it a vacuum, spot-treat, and allow a full airing on a sunny morning (even if cool) so the mattress “resets” before the more active months ahead.
Consider rotating at this time to head into spring and summer with renewed support.
General year-round best practice
Whatever the season in Perth, these additional points hold:
- Always use a mattress protector, it keeps bodily fluids, sweat, dust and stains off the mattress core and is much easier (and cheaper) to replace than the mattress itself.
- Don’t let liquids soak into the mattress, even a small spill, if left, may cause internal moisture and build-up of mould or dust-mite habitat.
- Avoid heavy jumping or placing concentrated weights (e.g., leaning a wardrobe on the mattress), the support core thrives when load is distributed evenly.
- When buying a new mattress (or repositioning it), allow it to settle for at least 24 hours with minimal bedding so that any internal adhesives or components stabilise.
- If your mattress is more than 8-10 years old (or the manufacturer recommends replacement at that age) inspect for dips, lumps or loss of support, a season’s difference (summer vs winter) often shows up via different comfort levels.
- If you have heating in winter or air-conditioning/evaporative cooling in summer, check that the room climate is reasonably stable (say 15-25 °C, moderate humidity), extreme fluctuations may stress mattress materials over time.
Final thoughts
Living in Perth, we are blessed with sunshine, clarity, and long nights of stars as well as white beaches and that inscrutable pink sunset. Your mattress is the place where you surrender to sleep, recover your energy, dream and wake. Treat it with seasonal respect.
In summer, pay heed to heat, perspiration, ventilation, light bedding, and fresh air. In winter, pay heed to cold, moisture, air-circulation, bedding layers and dryness.
Rotate, protect, clean, air, these simple acts will help your mattress live and perform its best for years. And by doing so, you’ll sleep deeper, waking each morning to that golden light over Perth’s roof-tops, ready for the day.
If you’re ready to give your mattress the same seasonal care you give your home, now is the perfect time to upgrade to a sleep surface designed for our West Australian climate. At Simply The Best Bedding, our non-flip mattresses are engineered to breathe through scorching summers and hold steady through cool, damp winters, all while supporting your body night after night. If your current mattress is sagging, trapping heat, or struggling with moisture, it’s already costing you comfort and quality sleep. Visit our showroom to try a non-flip design mattress and explore our premium Australian-made range. Choose a mattress built for Perth’s conditions and enjoy cooler nights, cleaner sleep and long-lasting support that helps you wake rested every day of the year.
