Test Your Mattress I.Q.
Bed Basics
The expression "sleep tight" comes from
the 16th and 17th centuries when mattresses were
placed on top of ropes that needed regular
tightening.
The Wall Street Journal reported on February 18,
2000: "The average mattress will double its
weight in ten years as a result of being filled
with dust mites and their detritus."
Ohio State University experts report that a
typical used mattress may have anywhere from
100,000 to 10 million dust mites inside it.
Bed Basics – From
the Better Sleep Council –
www.bettersleep.org
Get familiar with the elements of a comfortable
bed.
INNERSPRING. The most widely purchased type of
bedding uses the support of tempered steel coils
in a variety of configurations. Layers of
upholstery provide insulation and cushioning
between your body and the spring unit. The result
of this basic approach, coupled with
state-of-the-art technology, is a full range of
comfort choices.
Quality tip: You can't judge the quality of a
mattress solely on the number of coils it
contains. A high coil count doesn't automatically
mean it's a better product. It's a combination of
top quality innerspring system and superior
upholstery materials that makes the difference.
FOAM. Solid foam mattresses also offer a wide
choice of "feels". They can be made of a
solid core or of several layers of different types
of foam laminated together. Advanced technology in
polyurethane foams, refinements to traditional
latex foams and the new viscoelastic foams have
added to the choice of comfort, support and
performance.
FOUNDATION. A good foundation (box spring) is as
important as a good mattress. Don't put a new
mattress on an old foundation. When you select the
mattress, purchase its companion
foundation—the two are designed to work best
together. In fact, buying the mattress without its
matching foundation may affect the terms of the
warranty.
Don't Forget The Pillow. Just as your bed should
provide good support for your body, your pillow
should give you the right cushioning to position
your head and neck properly. It should hold your
head in the same relation to your shoulders and
spine as if you were standing with correct upright
posture. If you sleep on your side, you may want a
fairly firm pillow to give your head and neck
extra support. If you sleep on your back, try a
medium-firm pillow to cradle your head with more
"give". And if you sleep on your stomach
(although some physicians caution against this
position), choose a soft pillow to lessen the
strain on your neck.
Other Choices
AIRBEDS. Airbeds are now designed to look like the
familiar mattress/box spring combination, with an
air-filled core providing the support instead of
an innerspring unit or foam core. These designs
also offer a range of feels and typically are
adjustable to suit individual sleepers' needs.
FUTONS. Futons are a popular alternative for those
who need a sofa by day and a mattress by night.
The mattresses must be very flexible, so they are
typically made of cotton, synthetic fibers and
foam in various combinations. The futon is
designed to support sitting as well as
sleeping.
ADJUSTABLE BEDS. Electrically adjustable beds
allow sleepers to adjust the head and foot of the
bed to the most comfortable position. The mattress
and foundation must be specially built for the
flexing motion and can be innerspring, foam or a
combination. Since the flexing causes extra wear
on the mattress, quality construction is very
important. Mattresses not built for this purpose
should not be used with an adjustable bed
frame.
WATERBEDS. The newest waterbed designs are also
built to look like the familiar
mattress/foundation, with a water-filled core
providing the support and layers of upholstery for
insulation and surface comfort. Quality
construction is especially critical when water is
involved, so look for assurance that the vinyl and
seaming are designed for maximum durability.
