The Mattress Guide - Helping You Choose A Better Mattress.

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When was the last time you thought about your mattress? Many of us forget that our mattresses are the most utilized piece of furniture we own. In fact, if you sleep 8 hours a night, in one year you’ll rack up 3,000 hours on your mattress. After 10 years, you’ll have logged 30,000 hours on the same bed. Listed below are a few hints that indicate it’s time to start thinking about renewing your sleep surface.

• •  You bought your current mattress over 8 years ago. The average life span of a quality mattress is 8 to 10 years. Mattresses older than that suffer from deteriorating comfort features and diminished support capabilities.
• •  You wake up feeling more tired than when you went to sleep. Most consumers wait too long to replace their mattresses. If you don’t wake up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated—or if you feel any pain or discomfort—you've definitely waited too long.
• •  The couch feels more comfortable than your bed. Concentrate on the feel of your mattress. Do you feel coils or bumps? Your body needs a smooth, comfortable sleep surface to get a regenerative night’s sleep. Your mattress shouldenable you to sleep through the night with minimal tossing and turning.
• •  Your mattress looks worn and uneven. Inspect your mattress regularly for sags and imprints. If your mattress appears uneven or worn and frayed, maybe it’s time to start shopping. The upholstery layers in all mattresses compress over time. For optimal performance, be sure to rotate your mattress occasionally to extend its durability and renew its comfort. If you "inherited" your mattress from a family member or friend, chances are you need to replace it now.
• •  You’ve taken your mattress for granted. Mattresses are the most used yet most ignored piece of furniture in the house. Pay attention to your mattress. Do you hear creaks and groans? Do you notice the surface sags or indents in certain areas and not in others? The condition of your mattress may come as a surprise, once you take a close look.

Mattress prices range greatly, from about $199 to over $5,000 for a queen set. A good night’s sleep is one of the best investments you can make, so buy the best mattress you can afford. Keep in mind that most of us spend asmuch as one-third of our time in bed. Your investment will cost just pennies per night over the next 10 years! In fact, a $1,000 sleep set costs about 27 cents per night (based on a 10-year life).

A good box spring is as important as a good mattress! It acts much like a large shock absorber, taking a lot of the nightly wear and tear, and it contributesto your comfort and support. Don’t put a new mattress on an inappropriate box spring. When you select the mattress, purchase its companion box spring. The two are designed to work best together.

The Better Sleep Council advises consumers to buy the highest quality bedding they can afford, then replace old bedding every 8-10 years. After these many years, even the best bedding may no longer provide the comfort and support you deserve.

Focus on finding a sleep set that satisfies your comfort preference first, then your quality preference. To do so, always shop wearing comfortable clothes and shoes that can easily be removed for lying down. Take your time and don’t be shy. You can’t judge support and comfort by sitting on an edge or lying down for just a few seconds. Lie on the bed the way that you sleep, and if you sleep with a partner, try shopping with them so you can decide together. Shop at a store that you know and trust, and offers services you desire. Read as much information about the sleep set as is available. Remember, buy the best bed that you can afford. You can always find “bargain bedding,” but it’s no bargain if you can’t get a good night’s sleep

The design and manufacturing of bedding has changed dramatically—even over the last few years! Innerspring technology has improved, new “comfort” upholstery materials have been developed, and comfort choices have been expanded to give consumers a greater selection! Today’s box springs are more durable, with steel spines and “working” torsion modules to maximize your mattresses comfort and support.

The best way to really know what you’re buying is to experience a top-quality pillowtop, then firm, then plush sleep set. Determine the comfort you prefer. If you like the comfort and price, the store services and possible financing options, you can make your purchase at the first store. If you decide to shop another store, find out what you’ve seen. Know the type of sleep set and its significant features, such as the type of innerspring unit, key comfort layers, type of edge support and significant features of the box spring.