When you consider that you spend about one-third of your life sleeping, selecting the best mattress can be a daunting task. The best mattresses have a tremendous range in types, prices and overall feel. How do you know if you’re currently sleeping on the right mattress? What are the clues to whether you should be looking for a new mattress?

If you wake up sore, that could be a hint. Another hint is if you find you get better rest at hotels rather than at home.

How Long Do The Best Mattresses Last?

The rule of thumb is regardless of the mattress’ warranty, most wear out in ten years. If you work it out in hours of use, you would have slept on that mattress for about 29,000 hours. There are some experts who believe at if you are older than 40, you should consider getting a new mattress every five to seven years because our bodies become more susceptible to pressure as we age. I’m not sure that subscribe to that train of thought, as I believe good rest is a sum of many factors beyond how good the best mattresses can actually be.

Best Way to Shop For The Best Mattresses

This is one place where brick and mortar businesses out shine Internet businesses. You need to check out as many mattresses as you can. I in my personal travels found that the best mattresses at times were not based upon price, but comfort. When my wife and I started searching for a new mattress, as we had poorly selected our previous mattress based more on low price and not comfort. We had looked at some of the best mattresses currently available for the most money and disliked all.

We were not able to properly find the correct mattress until we both tried them out in person. It didn’t come to any surprise to me when I discovered that Consumer Reports recommends lying down for a full 15 minutes in your favourite sleeping position. I would further recommend, if you are married, to lie on it with your spouse. We found that some mattresses to be quite comfortable until we both tried it together. Some mattresses just didn’t feel good when we lied on it together.

Finally to make sure that you’ve made the right choice because it could be one that you will have to live with for several years, ensure that the store has a good return policy. The 15 to 20 minute test is a good test in conjunction to testing multiple mattresses, but sometimes we do choose the wrong mattress for the long term.

Styles of the Best Mattresses

Coil mattresses, at this time, offer the most comfort for many people. Factors to consider when looking at coil mattresses is the density of the coils. A good rule of thumb is the more the coils there are in a mattress, the smaller they are and the more flexible they will be. Selecting a mattress with 680 coils or more is recommended.

If you are heavier then the average person, you may consider fewer, larger coils, as they will be stronger. Mattresses with larger coils are usually found to have roughly 400 per mattress.

Foam mattresses made from memory or latex foam are usually more comfortable, but I believe this to be personal preference. My wife and I found the coil style to be more comfortable then foam. But my cousin recently purchased a foam mattress as he and his wife much preferred this style.

These type of mattresses normally react to heat and body pressure to mold to your body within minutes. It’s great for some people that don’t move around much, but if you roll around like I do, I found it to be uncomfortable whenever I moved.

Some fo the best mattresses come with a cushion top. Here is where styles in construction vary greatly. I found that I preferred having a good cushion top. My wife and I actually choice a cheaper mattress which had a superior cushion top for maximum comfort. As a point of interest, we found that the mattress that we purchased, we liked heads above all the others we had tried. It just was the right fit for us.

Another option when considering the right mattress for you is the emergence of air mattresses. You’ve seen ones that allow you to ‘dial’ in your comfort level. You are altering the air pressure in the inflatable air chambers to provide support. The dual-chamber models that allow two individuals to adjust each side of the bed to their own personal preferences can be an advantage if one partner likes a softer mattress while the other prefers a firmer one.

Finding Bargains on the Best Mattresses

Recently, I needed to purchase a mattress for my son. After I had him select two or three mattresses that he preferred, I took the time to know how much each was selling for. There was a range in prices to be sure. Also, it is best if you are in a position to wait. With the correct circumstances, you could very well save 50% on the price of the mattress of choice. I was able to save over 60% of the price of my son’s mattress because of a fluke rain storm.

We had done our hunting for a mattress. We knew what my son liked and how much they went for. As we were driving home a couple of weeks after our investigation, we were passing through town and we were hit by a fluke rain and hail storm. A mattress store was having a sidewalk sale in their parking lot and they had dozens of mattresses outside that got rained on.

Knowing we had the upper hand, it was very easy to negotiate a much lower price. I simply took the mattress and box spring home and steam cleaned them. They came out perfectly clean and after about 12 hours of forced air drying, they were prefectly dry and without mildew.

Conclusion

Finding out what is really the best mattress for you is an exercise of trying out as many mattress types and styles you can. Considering you are choosing a piece of furniture that you could be spending up to 29,000 hours on, it should be a carefully made decision. Don’t buy the first one you see or the cheapest one, as you will regret it. Try out as many as you can!

I intend to review several of the major manufactures’ best mattresses to give you some idea of what I find and what I think about their comfort and styles.

Please consider leaving your comments on what you discover about what you consider to be the best mattresses available and your personal reviews.

You’ve seen ads on TV and over the web for all kinds of foam mattresses, but have you wondered what do they mean and what is better for you?  There are no “best” mattresses, but putting a little effort into to finding the right foam mattress can reveal the best mattress for you.

Memory foam and latex foam mattresses are often confused or thought to be the same type of mattress.  Though they may have some similar characteristics, they are two completely different materials with two different sleeping experiences.  Choosing a foam mattress should be given a lot of thought, and a little research goes a long way.  This article will discuss some of the main characteristics of memory foam and latex foam mattresses.

Materials and Characteristics

Memory foam is a completely man-made material designed by adding chemicals to polyurethane (PU) to increase its density.  Though it may seem firm to the touch at first, the benefit of memory foam is that it reacts to body heat and softens.  This reaction allows the mattress to mold to your body’s shape, supporting you in the areas that need support, and returning to its original shape once the pressure is removed.

Many memory foam mattresses are built with cooling properties to keep you cooler while you sleep; however, many lower end foam mattresses do not have such properties and do get fairly warm.

Natural latex foam appeals to many people because it’s made out of 100 percent organic, eco-friendly materials.  This is because the latex rubber used in natural latex mattresses are from the rubber trees.  Rubber trees have a long sap-producing life, but when they are no longer producing quality latex sap, they are cut down and often used in the production of quality hardwood furniture and replaced with new seedlings.  Natural latex has high elasticity which will keep the foam at the right density for a long time.  Synthetic latex’s elasticity will decrease over time and sink creating a shorter life.  However, the quality of the latex and use of synthetic, non-organic materials vary between manufacturers and productions.  Do not assume your latex mattress is organic unless otherwise stated.

Another benefit of a natural latex mattress is that it is naturally hypoallergenic.  It resists mold, dust-mites, and other allergens making it perfect for those who have allergies.

Density

Memory foam density is most often measured in pounds per square foot, which means that a mattress advertised at a 3lb density weighs 3 pounds per square foot of material.  Lower end mattresses have a density of 3lbs or lower which doesn’t last as long and have less “memory” retention.  Higher density memory foam is not as expensive as they used to be, offers higher durability, and relieves pressure better due to more support.  Very dense foam up to 8lbs is recommended for people with severe back or hip problems and need the extra pressure relief, but can be quite expensive.  For the budget conscience, high density memory foam is often made as a topper or mattress pad.  But remember, memory foam mattresses feel firmer when you first lie down and soften as they warm up.  If you want the soft feeling when you first lie down, consider a memory foam mattress with a pillow top.

Unlike memory foam, latex foam does have that soft feeling when you first lie down.  There are essentially two types of latex foam processing that determines how resilient your mattress will be to “bounce” back to its original shape.  Talalay processing creates a supple, more resilient mattress, while Dunlop latex processing creates a stiffer feel and doesn’t return to its natural shape as easily.

Thickness

When shopping for both memory foam and latex mattresses, you’ll notice they’re sold by their thickness which is generally between 8 to 14 inches.  However, do not determine your bed’s density by it’s thickness but determine its support.  A majority of quality mattresses are made of several layers (not just one slab of foam) that have layers that can increase the height without affecting the over-all comfort.

When shopping for memory foam mattresses, try to know the thickness of the upper-most memory foam layer or layers as opposed to just the over-all height.  A 12 inch thick mattress may only have 2 inches of actual memory foam which won’t be that comfortable.  A mattress that has two or more layers of memory foam will allow you to sink into the foam a little more without bottoming out to the firmer support layers.  As an example, the Eco Planet 12” Memory Foam Bed by Boyd Specialty Sleep has a total of 5 inches dedicated to memory foam:

• 3” Memory Foam Layer
• 2” Channel Vented Memory Foam Layer
• 1” High Density Convoluted Support Foam
• 6” Channel Vented Foam Spring Support System

The Sky 12” Memory Foam Mattress by Enso Sleep Systems is another 12” memory foam mattress, but it has fewer layers of memory foam which may lead to a firmer sleep and will also offer more support:

• 1” Plush Comfort Memory Foam
• 2” Premium Memory Foam
• 2” Premium Airflow Pressure Relief Foam
• 7” High Density Support Base Foam

Knowing the thickness of the memory foam layers will help you determine how firm or soft your mattress will be. Picking the right one will come down to your preference.  Some people may find Boyd mattresses to be more relaxing, but some may find Enso mattresses are better for supporting their hips.  Testing out many mattresses is the only way to find out what’s right for you.  After years of heavy use, some mattresses will compress, so you will want to make sure your mattress will stay comfortable after the first few years of use.

A latex mattress has layers just like memory foam starting with comfort layers at the top and support layers at the bottom.  Determining the resiliency of the layers is based on the Talalay or Dunlop processing discussed earlier.  A good quality natural latex bed’s natural elasticity will not sag for many years and may last longer than your average memory foam bed.  Investing the extra money in a high quality latex mattress now may give you a longer lasting mattress compared to a memory foam mattress.

Shopping Advice

Like many offers out there, if it seems like too good of a deal to be true, it often is.  Genuine, 100 percent natural latex and memory foam is often misrepresented.  Many manufacturers use fillers like clay to firm up their mattresses, or advertise a bed as memory foam when it is not.  Do your research to find a reputable company, read internet reviews, and never be afraid to call companies if you’re not sure.

When you take the materials, density, and thickness into consideration when shopping for a foam mattress, you’ll end up with the perfect one for you.  Since both memory foam and latex foam mattresses have a different initial feel, it is recommended that you test out both before choosing one over the other.  Shopping online will allow you to compare prices and features easier.  Reading customer reviews will give you a great insight to how well the mattress performs in real world conditions.  Plus, some online stores offer great deals by selling wholesale and offering free shipping.  Take your time when shopping for a new mattress, your sleep and health will depend on it.
- Alaina Young

by Wootang01

Question by Noelia B. Ross: Has anyone ever had bed bugs but never actually seen one in their house or ‘evidence’ of one except for bites?
ive been getting bit for the past 2 months and im losing my mind becuz im not certain of what it is so im pretty sure im probably not dealing with it the best way possible. its not fleas or mosquitos so please dont say that. Ive never seen one in my house, even tho its been 2months of dealing with this. i’ve never seen the spotting they leave behind. SO we put those encasements on our box spring, mattress and pillows, steam cleaned the couch. we removed every stitch of clothing and bedding from the house, cleaned it all and only brought back a couple days worth of clothes and our bedding. then we called the bug guy and he sprayed the whole house for bed bugs and fogged it with some special stuff. the next day after doing all this we got to go back home. i was so excited i thot i was finally going to get a good night sleep. but the next morning i woke up with 3 bites! and my son, who never gets big, had 2. WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON!?!?!?!?! some one just tell me what to do and ill do it. im losing my mind. tell me what to do to get rid of these things.

Best answer:

Answer by Steve Slater
take all your bedding, and clothing out of the house . . . get it professionally cleaned, steamed, whatever . . .

And take it to your new house.

I assume youre living in an apartment, move somewhere new.

Bedbugs are a huge problem in most large cities right now.

If you live in a house, then clean your bedding and clothes, AND throw out your mattresses . . . they can live pretty deep in there too.

Add your own answer in the comments!