HOW TO BUY A MATTRESS
- Assess your current mattress and any sleep issues you are experiencing.
- Research what a quality mattress is. Keep an open mind with new technology. Select some choices you are interested in knowing more about.
- Shop to find the right mattress. Lie down, relax, and do a quick rest test. Take your time. This will be where you will spend 1/3 of your life, so it’s important to get a good feel for the mattress.
- Ensure proper mattress care. Proper support and mattress protecting is important.
With most products, it is pretty obvious when a replacement is needed. If it does not work or shows signs of wear that affect its ability to perform, you know it’s time for a new one. But recognition that the time has come for a new mattress and foundation is not always so obvious. Like your favorite old chair or worn-out shoes, your mattress can still feel comfortable long after it has lost its ability to provide your body with the adequate support and comfort it needs. Because sleep is so essential to our ability to function and feel our best, it is important to evaluate your sleep set on a regular basis. Some signs your mattress has lost it’s support –
- You wake up with stiffness, numbness, or aches
- You get a better night’s sleep anywhere but in bed (like a hotel, the couch, at a family members)
- Your mattress shows visible signs of wear (it’s dipping, has lumps, the interior is exposed, etc.)
- Your mattress is more than 7 years old*
*How long a mattress lasts depends on several factors such as frequency of use and quality of the original set, a mattress set that was used for 5-7 years may no longer give the best comfort and support. Remember that people’s bodies change over time and the need for good comfort and support only increases with age. Therefore, it is a good idea to compare the mattress and foundation you are sleeping on now with new models when you first start having doubts
The warranty on a new mattress and foundation you purchase is not an indicator of how long the product should be used before replacement. The warranty is there to protect the client against any product defect, not against the gradual loss of comfort and support. Moreover, different manufacturers offer different warranties, and you should check with the manufacturer of your mattress for product-specific information.
If you decide to purchase a new mattress, don’t throw the old mattress in the garbage!
Old beds appear in the strangest places – in the bottom of lakes, near the road, in newspaper advertisements. All too often they end up in our cities landfills and sit there. They really don’t have to, but obviously many people do not know what to do with old mattresses!
It is estimated that approximately 70% of old beds will be in circulation, handed down as an inheritance to their children and other family members. This is especially harmful to children. Developing bodies need the strong support of a quality mattress. If the bed is not good enough for you, it may not good enough for anyone else, but don’t throw it away in the garbage.
The best way to get rid of the old bed is to ask the store you purchase a new mattress from to pick up the old mattress. Most stores offer this service when a new mattress is purchased. Many retailers now include this in the purchase price or as part of a delivery fee. MATTRESS SALE actually is a registered drop off point for old bedding, with no purchase necessary. Retailers usually do not throw away the used bedding. It is picked up by a mass-mattress re-seller and recycler that grinds down all of the materials for recycling. What can’t be used is disposed of in a more space-friendly way than having a big mattress sit there for ages in a landfill.