Mattress Buying Guide

 

Determine If You Need A New Mattress. One question with which we are always approached is, "How do I know if I need a new mattress?" The answer is not always an easy one to answer. You can tell when you need a new car because your old one starts breaking down more often. You can tell that you need a new television if your old one won't turn on. With your mattress, however, such visible, physical signs of needing a replacement are less obvious. In fact your mattress may look as good as the day you bought it, but its not the looks that counts. Mattresses are designed to alleviate the pressure put on your back, shoulders, neck and hips while you sleep. Your mattress should be replaced when it's no longer providing adequate support for any of these critical areas of your body. In order to determine whether your mattress is in need of a replacement ask yourself these questions:

 

1.Is the mattress more then 7 years old?

 

2.Do you wake up with back, neck, shoulder, or hip pain?

 

3.Do you spend more than 10-15 minutes tossing and turning before you can get to sleep?

 

4.Do you frequently experience "dead" legs or arms when you wake up?

 

5.Is your mattress sagging, lumpy, starting to come apart or showing visible signs of wear?

 

6.Have you recently noticed that other beds (at a mattress store, hotel, friend/family member's house) are more comfortable than your own?

 

While the life of a mattress depends on it's material and how well it was manufactured, if you answered "yes" to Question 1, then chances that its time to start looking for a replacement. We should note that a manufacturer's warranty does not necessarily guarantee that your mattress will continue to provide adequate support for the length of the warrantee. Usually a warranty simply means that a mattress manufacturer guarantee's against defects in quality. However, warranties do differ from one manufacturer to another, so be sure to read up on what the manufacturer of your  whatsthebestbed current mattress has agreed to before purchasing a new mattress. If you answered "no" to Question 1, but "yes" to some of the other questions asked, then your bed may be new enough that it's not worn out, but it sounds like its not providing you with enough of or the right kind of support. There may also be special cases that warrant the purchase of a new mattress, such as when floods or damp conditions cause your bed to develop harmful mildew or mold.

 

Once you've determined that you'd be benefit from a new mattress, the next step involves making several key decisions that will help determine the mattress you'll go shopping for.

 

Determine What Size Mattress Is Right For You. Deciding what size mattress you need may be fairly straight forward. If you're simply replacing an existing mattress your decision is frequently limited by the size of the bed frame you're using. If you're looking to purchase a new mattress and frame here are some things you will want to consider:

 

1.How much space is there in the bedroom for a mattress?

 

2.How many people will be sleeping in the bed?

 

3.How satisfied were the people sleeping in the bed with the amount of space they had?

 

4.How much will it cost to upgrade to a larger bed, or how much will saved by purchasing a smaller mattress (not only the cost of the mattress, but also the sheets and bedding)?

 

While mattress sizes can vary some, here are typical mattress sizes:

 

Mattress Name Dimensions (Width x Length)

 

Twin 39" x 75"

 

Twin XL 39" x 80"

 

Full 54" x 75"

 

Full XL 54" x 80"

 

Queen 60" x 80"

 

King 76" x 80"

 

California King 72" x 84"

 

Determine What Type Of Mattress You Need. Beds have come along way since the single coil mattress. Mattresses now include a variety of new technologies and are frequently hybrids of two or more types of material. When shopping for a new mattress there are a couple things to keep in mind. First, you'll want to buy the best value, not the least expensive. An inexpensive mattress may save you money up front but cost you a fortune in chiropractor costs in the future. Similarly, the most expensive bed on the market may not be providing you with the right kind or right amount of support and/or comfort. Second, if you're going to be sharing your bed with someone else, make sure you bring them with you when you go shopping.

 

The mattress you find most comfortable may not be the most comfortable for your partner. If that's the case you'll want to find a mattress you can both agree is suitable, even if it's not your first choice. To properly evaluate each possibility you should lay on the mattress the same way as you'll be sleeping each night. Be sure to lay on the mattress for at least a few minutes. Some of the materials used in mattresses respond to both weight and heat, and can take several minutes to fully adjust to your body. If you move quickly from one bed to another you may be missing out on all a mattress has to offer. Finally be sure to learn as much about the advantages and disadvantages of each mattress material. To give you a starting point we will cover the most significant features of each material below.