More Mattress info

 

It’s worth trying mattresses before you buy. Mattresses can cost up to £3,000, the average spend being about £500. Don’t rush into your purchase. Consider the following and you’ll sleep soundly.

A study published in medical journal, ‘The Lancet,’ in 2003, found that a very firm mattress isn’t always best for bad backs and that a moderately firm one may be better.

There’s no definitive medical answer to what’s best. Don’t be lured by adverts claiming ‘the ultimate solution to back problems’.

Try before you buy
Buying online may be cheaper and more convenient, however, if you can, it’s best to try a mattress before you buy. Wear comfortable clothing and remove your outdoor gear. Lie on a mattress for at least 10 minutes in positions that you normally sleep in.

Don’t let sales assistants influence you – they can’t decide comfort for you. If the bed is for two, shop together.

Sit on the edge – it should be firm, not saggy. Don’t shop for beds when you’re tired as they’ll all feel great.

If you’re buying a memory foam mattress, relax in one position, then move into another. Was it easy or did you struggle to move? If the latter, you might find the mattress will restrict your movement too much, especially in cold weather when the foam will be harder.

If you put your new mattress on a slatted base then make sure the slats are no more than 6cm wide or more than 4cm apart. This ensures sufficient ventilation, but prevents the mattress sagging through the slats.

Mattress and Base
Manufacturers encourage you to buy the mattress and base together. This is a good idea if you’ve had your old base for many years.

If you buy them separately, or are going to keep your old base, measure carefully to make sure they’re a good fit. Dimensions can vary so don’t rely on a new double mattress being exactly the same size as your old one.

Roll-ups
Some mattresses come vacuum-packed in a handy cotton bag. These ‘roll-ups’ are a welcome innovation as you can take one home with you instead of waiting for delivery.

Guarantee
Most guarantees will not cover the gradual wear and tear that leads to loss of support.

Certain things you do can render the guarantee meaningless. Ensure you ask whether there’s anything in particular, such as removing labels or using a base other than a recommended one, that would invalidate the guarantee.

The number of springs is less important than how it’s constructed. A good mattress can last 8-10 years, as long as you look after it. Here’s some advice from the Sleep Council on how best to care for your mattress.

Protect it with covers
Use washable mattress and pillow covers to protect your bedding from stains. Buy them in a purpose-made ‘barrier’ fabric if you have a dust allergy.

Give it some air
Throw back bedclothes in the morning and leave the bed to air for 20 minutes to allow body moisture to evaporate.

Turn it regularly
Unless you purchase a ‘no-turn’ mattress then ensure you turn your mattress over and end to end every three or four months and every week for the first three months. This helps upholstery fillings to settle down more evenly.

Ban bouncing
Don’t sit on the edge of the bed regularly and don’t let the children bounce on it.

Unwrap it immediately
Don’t leave any plastic wrappings on a new mattress as this could lead to rot.

Keep it clean
Vacuum the mattress and base from time to time.

How to remove stains
Use a cloth with mild detergent and warm or cold water to tackle stains. Never soak a mattress.

Most mattresses have a distinctive chemical smell when you first unpack them. From chemical smells to spring density, we will highlight what you need to know when buying and using your new mattress.

Odour
Most mattresses have a distinctive chemical smell when you first unpack them and some can be particularly smelly. Leave your mattress to air for a week before use and the fumes will disperse.

Handles
Handles help with flipping, turning and positioning. Many new mattresses don’t need to be flipped over but they may still benefit from being rotated head to foot a few times a year.

Padding
Spring systems are usually padded with man-made polymers but some may contain natural fibres such as horsehair or wool. More layers aren’t always better – the support from the springs is more important.

Spring density
The number of springs is less important than how they’re constructed. ‘Which?’ magazine has tested mattresses with densities ranging from 440 to 1,085 springs and found wide variation in support.

Washable covers
Some sprung mattresses come with a removable cover, if not you can buy one separately.

Listed below are the 6 main types of mattress structure. You won’t always find a simple distinction between these types in shops as mattresses are increasingly made from a combination of materials.

Open coil

This is the cheapest type of mattress, made from a single looped wire. All springs are connected and move as one unit. If you are sharing a bed it is likely that you may be disturbed by your partner moving around in the night. The coils wear out more quickly than the springs in a pocket-sprung mattress. In a shared bed you’re likely to end up rolling together as the responsiveness of the coils decreases .

Continuous coil

This is made from a single length of wire ‘knitted’ into a series of interwoven springs, linked vertically rather than horizontally. They feel more responsivethan the springs in an open coil mattress

Pocket Spring
Pocket-sprung mattresses are much more responsive to pressure variations and offer more support than continous-sprung and open coil systems. In these mattresses the springs are sewn into individual fabric pockets and are not connected. This enables each coil to respond individually to the weight applied to it; depressing one spring won’t  affect others, giving you support where it is needed. They are particularly good if you sleep on your side as the pocket springs can respond individually to the varying ammounts of pressure exerted along the length of your body, ensuring that your spine is supported in the correct position. They are ideal for couples, if you move around alot in your sleep your partner is less likely to be disturbed.
Memory foam

These mattresses are topped with a layer of temperature-sensitive viscoelastic material (memory foam). They’re good at relieving pressure on painful joints but can sometimes take a bit of getting used to. Memory foam is affected by room temperature so you might find it cold and hard when you first go to bed. The foam reacts to body heat, moulding to your shape. This can make it difficult for you to move or get out of bed. It also reduces air circulation around your body, making the mattress feel warmer. Many people find this helpful in winter. It is a useful feature of the material as you can’t use an electric underblanket with memory foam. You may feel too hot in summer.

Pure foam or latex

These can be a good option if you’re allergic to house dust mites.

Mattress ‘toppers’

These add a layer of memory foam or extra padding to your existing mattress. However, they can be as expensive as buying a new mattress and won’t provide more support if your old mattress is already sagging.