WELCOME to Mattress Info.
Helping you find the mattress thats right for you!
No other piece of furniture in your home gets as much use as your sleep set or is as crucial for good sleep. That’s why it’s important to find the right mattress for you. Before you start shopping, prepare by learning the basics.
Mattress comfort is a matter of personal preference. To find the one that best suits you, go to a local mattress retailer and compare the comfort and support of new sleep sets in the store with your old sleep set at home. Try several different ones. Take off your shoes and lie down on the mattress. If you sleep with a partner, be sure both of you try out the new mattresses. It's important to decide on a sleep set that meets both of your needs.
Mattress construction
A mattress is made of three basic elements:
Foundation - The foundation acts as a giant shock absorber, taking the normal wear and tear of nightly use. Foundations also lend added support, durability and, in the case of adjustable beds, flexibility.
Mattress core - The core construction varies with the type of mattress. Whether the mattress is made of springs, air, foam or water, the middle "core" provides support for the sleeper.
Upholstery layers - The upholstery layers wrap around the core to provide surface comfort. A variety of foams and fibers are used to improve cushioning properties and enhance the support of the mattress core.
Sleep set advances
Because of technological advances and medical developments, today’s mattress sets are not the same as those made 10 years ago. Industry research and development has improved mattress and foundation engineering to provide optimum comfort and support. A new sleep set that incorporates these advances can lead to a better night’s sleep.
Information For Your Protection
Know what you’re buying - A mattress made with all new materials is better for your sleep and health. Some mattresses are made with previously used materials. To ensure that you purchase a sleep set made with all new materials, know what the law requires in your state.
Thirty-one states, the District of Columbia and Detroit have laws requiring mattress manufacturers to identify mattresses constructed with new materials.
Be aware that 19 states do not require the identification of materials used in mattress construction. To ensure that you’re buying a product made with new materials, consult your retailer.
Safety Information - Remember to keep matches, lighters and other ignitables out of children’s reach. Kids, mattresses and fire are a bad match.
Don’t store old mattresses in your house — in the garage, basement or attic — because they could pose fire safety hazards.
Six important points to keep in mind while shopping for a mattress:
Support - A quality mattress and foundation will gently support your body at all points and keep your spine in the same body position as good standing posture. When selecting a mattress, keep in mind that your body should be able to relax, with your spine supported in it's natural curve. Otherwise, your muscles work all night and you can wake up feeling stiff and sore.
Comfort - Mattresses don’t have to be hard as a board to be good for you, though some people may prefer a firmer feel. Today, mattresses are built with luxurious new cushioning materials and surface treatments, creating a plusher feel. While these mattresses may feel more plush, the core provides the needed support for your body.
Durability and warranty - Durability refers to how long support and comfort will continue. Like all products, a mattress and foundation gradually wear out. Eventually, you won’t receive the same support and comfort as you did when the sleep set was new. That’s why you shoUK
TIPS FOR BUYING A NEW MATTRESS SET
1. Give Your Current Sleep Set A Thorough Going-Over.
Check for age, condition, support, resiliency and appearance. A sleep set that is eight to ten years old is probably beginning to develop lumps and bumps, hills and valleys and losing support.
2. Get The Scoop On What's Available.
Send for free literature from mattress manufacturers and organizations concerned with proper and healthy sleep. Drop by a few stores that sell bedding and pick up their literature.
3. Choose Stores You Trust.
Shop for your new sleep set in a reputable store, one you know and trust to give you good information, service and top quality. Select a store known for its customer satisfaction.
4. Test Drive As Many Models As Possible.
Wear comfortable clothing and make sure your shoes are easy to slip off. Lie down on each model for several minutes and turn from side to side to check comfort and support in all positions. Take your partner and try out the models together -both should make the decision.
5. Ask Questions And Look For Several Key Attributes.
Make sure the mattress has an innerspring and at least eight inches thick. Sit on the edge and check for support and return to original shape. Check coil counts: full-size should have at least 300, queen-size at least 375 and king- size at least 450. Research indicates that only innerspring mattresses and foundations provide the proper support.
6. Think About Size, Think Modern.
The old-fashioned double bed provides only 26 inches of sleep space for each person. That's about the same amount of space as a baby crib. Today's modem Queen or King mattresses will fit just about any bedroom. The bigger, the better.
7. Buy A Complete Set, Not Just The Mattress.
A good steel wire box spring foundation is as important as a good innerspring mattress. Think of it as a large shock absorber. When buying a mattress, buy its companion the two are designed to work best together.
8. Forget About Comparison Shopping By Model Names.
It's very hard to find the same model names from store to store. So, find a sleep set you like, then see what levels of comfort and support you can get for the same price in another store. But don't forget to compare store services and delivery.
9. Spend As Much As Your Budget Can Afford.
Don't scrimp. Shop for the best value, not the lowest price. Mattress prices are determined by the materials used, the quality of construction and the size. Considering the amount of time you will use a sleep set, the cost is actually only pennies per night. In mattresses, you get what you pay for.
10. The Warranty Is Important But Not The Final Word.
A warranty is for the purpose of protecting you against product defects, not against gradual loss of comfort and support. Don't look to the warranty to tell you how long your mattress and foundation should last.
Important Quick Tips:
Think comfort, support, durability, space and foundation. Test drive thoroughly and spend as much as you can afford.
Some more Buying Tips
Size of the mattress:
The length should generally be the body length plus 15 to 20 cm and 100 cm is the recommended width. For double beds, the width should be at least at 180 cm. Remember the effort which is needed when turning an oversized mattress.
Don’t buy just any mattress!
The first and usually the only thing that can be seen of a mattress is the chic ticking. Ask for mattress-cuts, charts and catalogues containing information about the inside of the mattress.
Don’t buy without testing!
Don‘t buy a mattress from a catalogue. In department stores, you can test the mattress. Take your time for consultation. Preferably, test a mattress in the morning than in the evening. A well relaxed body is choosier!
Hardness of the mattress:
This is primarily a matter of taste. Compare with your existing mattress.
Durability
A mattress is not a purchase for a lifetime. But a mattress should keep its lying characteristics even for years and without hallows and deformations.
For hygienic and bacterial reasons, a mattress should be replaced every 5 - 8 years.
Natural or synthetic?
As to whether you choose your bed accessory based on the functional aspects, or whether you wish to allow yourself a little luxury, or you prefer a natural bed, - this is only a matter of personal preference, and less a matter of quality.
Price: Never save money when buying a bed!
You can buy a mattress in various price ranges. Consider that within 8 years, you will have spent 22'500 hours on this mattress. For beds in daily use, only quality mattresses should be used, and a slightly higher price should be accepted.
Buying A Mattress
Are you tossing and turning night after night? Are you not getting the deep, restful sleep you need because you can't seem to get comfortable? If so, then it may be time to buy a new sleep set. Remember, the average person spends roughly 1/3 of their life sleeping. So getting a quality sleep set is one of the most important investments you can make.
I know that you will find this perfectly nifty cause we hunt down all the important stuff you'll need when deciding on mattresses...whether you want information on traditional coil springs, adjustable, waterbeds, or even the new tempurpedic varieties.
Get all the advice you need so when you do finally add on the wonderful bed linens, comforters, and pillows you'll sleep deep and well like you should!
Why does one mattress look the same as all of the other ones but one costs 100.00 and the other well over 1000.00 ?
How come one bed cracks your spine and another cradles you like a baby..? Does your bed sag all the way to the floor without that particle board on top of the box spring..?
Mattresses and beds and how they fit into the fabric of our lives
The mattress on which you sleep may be where you spend as much as one-third of your life. If you're in poor health, that proportion could be much greater.
Nonetheless, such a large amount of time is spent in the beds we select, so let's make the best choice we can.
There are alot of options you'll want to know about- it's important to be a smart shopper when investing in a bed that will be part of your life for years to come.
Let’s begin with the very first mattresses in a person’s life.
When parents bring home they newborn baby, having a comfortable, safe, and cozy crib mattress is important to helping the baby get a good nights sleep. If the crib mattress is well constructed and comfortable, the child will learn to sleep through the night more quickly -- an event new parents look forward to so they can actually get back to sleeping through the night themselves.
When shopping for a crib or cradle mattress, be conscious of the fact that the baby mattress will provide support to the growing muscles and bones of the child. The baby mattress may be used for two or, more likely, three years before the child moves into a toddler bed. Therefore, quality construction makes a big difference.
Foam mattresses or cribs or cradles are preferred by many parents because they weight less, making changing sheets and turning the mattresses much easier. They are usually filled with polyester or polyether and can be purchased in a variety of thicknesses. It might seem at first glance that thicker is better, but this is not necessarily true.
Density is the point which should be used to compare foam crib mattresses for your baby’s cradle or crib. The idea density is around 1 1/2 pounds per cubic foot, but most manufacturers do not list this information on the bedding labels, so compare by feeling each selection and choose a dense, supportive baby mattress for your little one. The firmer the better.
Innerspring crib or cradle mattresses are the other option for baby bedding. Many parents prefer mattresses constructed this way because they hold the shape during long, hard wear. The number of coils in this type of baby bed mattress is directly related to the firmness and a good rule of thumb is to look for baby mattresses with at least 150 coils so your child’s body is well supported while sleeping.
Choosing a baby mattress for cradle or crib that is the right fit is crucial. If the mattress is too small, the child could get between the mattress and side of the cradle or crib and suffocate. If you can place two fingers between the mattress and side of the bed, the mattress is too small for that cradle or crib. Firm bedding should be chosen for baby beds. Too soft bedding has been linked to some instances of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
The baby mattress covering, the ticking, should be water resistant and you should seek double, or even better triple, laminated ticking reinforced with nylon so the bedding will be resistant to tears, holes, and wet diapers. Select a baby mattress that has plenty of vent holes so that any wetness or odors that get inside the bedding will be allowed to dry and air out. The mattress will not begin to smell stale and have a urine odor if it is well vented and aired out frequently.
After a child grows to about three years of age, it's time to introduce the toddler bed.
A huge milestone in your child's life.
Some parents choose small beds specifically sized for toddlers, but it can be quite practical to simply move up to a twin size bed mattress or daybed mattress which can last for many years. Depending on space available and budget, some parents opt to buy their child a full sized mattress and bed.
No matter which solution is best for your situation, you will want to provide a mattress quality that will survive years of wear and tear. That doesn’t mean that you can’t find an affordably priced selection from a mattress outlet or discount mattress store.
Choose a firm mattress that is well constructed. You may select a open coil sprung mattress, or select a platform bed without the foundation underneath. Choose stain resistant ticking that is well sewn to prevent tears and holes.
You may wish to purchase from one of the well known retail mattress brands such as:
Sealy
Serta
Posturpedic
Simmons
Tempurpedic
Posturpedic
These brands are famous for all ages of course.
Getting back to your child's bed, you might want to add a mattress cover. This can be a waterproof cover if potty training has not yet been perfected. Later, a mattress pad topper or pad can be added to increase that feeling of coziness.
In fact, if you love the idea of memory foam but find the mattress out of your budget, you can enjoy the comfort by purchasing a topper. Good tip there I'd say. =)
Mattress selections for teens and adults are just as important as for the younger family members.
Adult bed mattress sizes range from full size, queen, king size and the even larger sprawling California king.
Waterbeds are still a popular choice- with waveless, semi-waveless, and full-wave choices, the right waterbed flotation mattress is close at hand.
Before you walk into a mattress store and waltz into the jaws of an unscrupulous salesperson, get the facts by following the steps in this how-to.
Make sure the memory foam is of high enough density to support your body properly. The best way to know is to check the package for the density of the foam. Cheap foam is normally 2 to 3 lb. density, mid-grade foam is 3 to 4.5 lb. density and good foam is over 4.5 lb. density. Usually, 5.3 lb. to 5.9 lb is considered the ideal density to properly support the human body. The lighter grade foam won't support you and will quit returning to its original shape after only a few months.
Look for memory foam that is temperature sensitive. The one thing that makes Memory Foam so unique is temperature sensitivity. When you first lay down on a memory foam mattress, your body weight causes the mattress to 'melt away' from that pressure until your weight is spread evenly over the surface of the mattress. However, after you 'settle in,' your body temperature begins to affect the material, causing it to soften in the places where there is increased temperature. This fine tuning is what accounts for the unmatched comfort of the genuine memory foam mattresses.
Read the warranty information carefully. See exactly what will be required of you when you have a warranty issue. Will you be responsible for shipping, packaging, etc.? Most importantly, how long has the manufacturer been in business? A lifetime warranty from a company that's only been in business for a short while is probably worthless.
Check for ample testing done with real people. Many times, testing done in laboratories, without humans, isn't a true picture of what happens out in the 'field.' The human body is unique and it affects materials differently than a mechanical testing device.
Ask for a 'comfort test' period. You should be able to sleep on a memory foam mattress for a short period, to see if you have any issues. A high percentage of people love memory foam mattresses, but a few don't. Know what to expect if you are one of the few. Will you be able to get a refund of all your money? Or is there a re-stocking fee? Will you be required to 'exchange only' with that merchant? If so, make sure they carry a wide variety of products so you'll have lots of choices.
Tips Get a written 'comfort guarantee.' Make sure it's at least 10-14 days or more. If you can take ice, in a zip lock bag, you can verify if the material is temperature sensitive. It will become firmer in the place you put the ice after 5-15 minutes.
There are many tasks which individuals must embark on from time to time and buying a mattress is one such task which must be completed on an occasional basis. Since most people do not frequently purchase mattresses, they may be a bit lost with regard to how they should obtain the best type of mattress for their needs. There are a few tips to keep in mind when shopping for a mattress which may come in handy along the way.
Know What Size Mattress You Need
The first step to purchasing a mattress is knowing what size mattress you will need for your bed. Mattresses often come in twin, double, queen and king sizes. If you don't know exactly what size you need try to look for a tag on your current mattress or determine what size bed frame you have, if it is a new bed. This will lead you in the right direction when buying a new mattress.
Firm or Soft Mattress Type
You should also determine if you are searching for a mattress with a firm or soft consistency. Some individuals who have bad backs opt for firmer mattresses as they provide better sleeping support than softer ones. On the other hand, there are certain people who like nothing more than a mattress which is soft and comfortable. Therefore, try to have in mind what type of mattress consistency you are searching for as this will help to lead you in the right direction when at the mattress store.
Price Range
Some individuals may also be buying a mattress on a budget. Since mattresses can be a bit pricey from time to time you should determine how much you want to spend on the mattress. This too will help you to narrow down the search for the perfect mattress.
Box Spring
When shopping for a new mattress you should figure out whether you are going to use your current box spring or whether you need to purchase a new one along with the mattress. Certain stores will offer deals if you buy a box spring and a mattress. Therefore, figure out if you need one of these and if so, you may be able to get a good deal on the purchase.
Specialty Mattress Store or General Department Store
Once you have figured out what type of mattress you are searching for, the next step is to head over to the store to make your purchase. Mattresses are sold at various retailers. You can go directly to a specialty store which sells only mattresses and box springs or you can go to your local department store which has a bedding section. When trying to figure out where the best place to purchase a mattress may be try calling ahead to the stores to see if they are currently offering any deals on mattress purchases or coupons on storewide items. This will help to direct you to the best retailer when buying a mattress.
Ensuring that you get the most life out of your bed is an important aspect of enjoying your sleep for years to come. These helpful mattress care tips should help prolong the life of your mattress.
Invest in a Bedding Pad: A quality mattress pad serves several functions in prolonging the life of your mattress. A good mattress pad will bear the brunt of your weight and use of the mattress, which will help reduce the wear and tear on your mattress. Mattress pads will also catch stains before they reach your mattress. Replacing a stained mattress pad is much less expensive and much more convenient than replacing a quality bed.
Turn Your Mattress Regularly: To help prevent sagging springs and unsightly sags, turn on a regular basis. Be sure to flip both vertically and horizontally.
Provide Support: Old, busted foundations and box spring sets may not be firm enough to provide adequate support for a high-quality bed. When you replace your bedding, also consider replacing your foundation.
Carry Your Bed On It's Side: Instead of using the handles on the side when you are carrying it, be sure to always carry the bed upright on its side. The handles should only be used for positioning the mattress on the foundation, and can create sags in the mattress if carried by the handles.
Avoiding Smoking, Eating, & Drinking on the Mattresses/Beds: Although it sounds comfortable, avoid eating & drinking on it. If it does get wet, be sure to quickly dry it using a hair dryer or by air drying. Keeping the mattress away from smoke can also help to prolong the life!
Keep Jumping to the Trampoline: Although it's tempting, avoid jumping on the beds and avoid letting others jump on the bed. Mattresses are not designed to withstand the weight of a person jumping on the bed.
|