HSN Homepage > Home Decor > HSN Bedding Guide > Mattress Buying Guide
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
» shop mattresses |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
How to Buy a Mattress
Your mattress could be the most important large purchase you’ll ever make. Think about it. Most people spend a third of their lives asleep. Restful, quality sleep is essential because sleep influences productivity, emotional well-being and overall wellness. Good sleep begins with a supportive mattress.
When Do I Need a New Mattress?Other more subtle signs you need to buy a mattress are: if you wake up still feeling tired or achy, if you sleep better in hotels than at home; or if your mattress is five to seven years old. Buying a mattress is an investment, so you might be surprised that your seven-year-old mattress is at the end of its lifespan. It makes sense when you think about its daily wear and tear. For example, if you sleep 7 hours a night, your body has put pressure and stress on that mattress for 17,885 hours! Comfort and support understandably weaken as the mattress ages. Other reasons to get a new mattress at this time are because your body’s needs change as you grow older and your existing mattress becomes soiled by nightly perspiration. So don’t settle for a saggy, bumpy, lumpy mattress with lackluster support. Look to this mattress buying guide to know how to buy the mattress of your dreams. Mattress TypesInnerspring mattresses - open coils or springs are layered between cushy padding called comfort layers or upholstery layers. Some innerspring mattresses feature individually wrapped coils for a more custom fit and less disturbance from partners who move in their sleep. Innerspring mattresses are the best-selling types today and usually the least expensive. Memory foam mattresses (visco-elastic foam mattresses) - first used by astronauts to withstand G-force pressures, memory foam is firm, high-density polyurethane that responds to body heat and weight. A memory foam mattress actually contours around you as your body temperature warms it. Memory foam mattresses eliminate pressure points by evenly distributing body weight. They are hypoallergenic and offer natural body alignment. Not all memory foam mattresses feel the same and some people have trouble adjusting to how they feel. Latex foam mattresses - are rubber tree-based, hypoallergenic mattresses that contour to your body, alleviating pressure points. Unlike memory foam mattresses, latex foam mattresses are not temperature-sensitive and come in a variety of densities. Like goose down, latex has a breathable quality that keeps you warmer when it’s cool and cooler when it’s warm. Latex foam mattresses are also antimicrobial and dust mite-resistant. Some latex foam mattresses can be synthetic or a synthetic and natural latex blend. Synthetic latex is created in a lab, but made of the same chemical compound as natural latex, without the impurities. Inflatable mattresses - have air chambers so body support is completely adjustable. Inflatable mattresses are designed to mirror spring mattress size, feeling and features – some even have built-in pillow tops. Mattress ConstructionCoils - the springs in a mattress. Coil count is the number of coils. A mattress with a high coil count is more supportive than one with a lower coil count. Those with restless sleep partners prefer higher coil counts because there are more coils to absorb movement. Coil gauge is the thickness of the coil wire. Most mattress coils are between 12 and 15 gauge. Coils with low gauges are thicker and will feel firmer than mattresses with higher gauge coils. This feature is less advertised than coil count, but can be helpful for comparison shopping if you already know the coil gauge of a mattress you find comfortable. Upholstery - the soft layers that make the innerspring mattress comfortable. Upholstery includes mattress insulation, cushioning, quilting and ticking. Insulation - fiber or mesh that lies on top of the mattress’ coil springs and prevents padding from interfering with the coils. Cushioning - also called the middle padding, is the main contributor to how a mattress feels. Cushioning can be made out a wide assortment of materials and will determine the durability, comfort and cost of the mattress. Tufting - how the mattress cushioning was stitched into place – also determines these qualities. Quilting - the top padding that gives the mattress a surface texture and lets it breathe. Quilting is commonly made of polyurethane foam. Some mattresses have polyester batting to make the quilting even softer and help dry perspiration. Pillow-top and Euro-top are quilting types. Ticking - the protective outer cover of the mattress. Ticking is usually made of polyester or cotton-polyester, but high-end models may use exotic materials. The mattress’s stitch pattern says a lot about how it feels because this is how the ticking is attached to the quilting. Large stitch patterns indicate the mattress will be soft, and tight stitch patterns tend to feel firmer. Sleep style• Mattresses for back sleepers should have enough cushion to mold to the curve of the spine and support the back. • Mattresses for side sleepers should have a plush surface to distribute body weight and minimize pressure points. • Mattresses for stomach sleepers should be firmer to keep the spine naturally aligned Mattress FirmnessThe best surface is purely subjective and personal preference should be your guide when choosing a mattress. Some people like the total-body support offered by a memory foam mattress, while others find it constrictive. Some prefer a squishy pillow-top and some people like the firmness of a minimally padded mattress. The choice is really up to you. Firm mattresses - have the least amount of cushioning and/or quilting and are the most resistant to mold to your body Plush mattresses - includes soft comfort layers to minimize resistance. Skin that has lost elasticity becomes more sensitive to pressure points and could benefit from a softer surface. Pillow-top mattresses - the thickest, softest type of innerspring mattress. Multiple layers of extra foam, cotton or wool are sewn into the quilting and create a “sink-in” feeling. Euro-top mattresses feel very similar to pillow-top mattresses - the difference is how the quilting is attached to the ticking. Both styles will compress over time and cannot be replaced. Mattress Size
Additional mattress size tips: • Couples should choose a queen size mattress or larger so they have enough personal space without disturbing each other with their movements. • Additional layers of cushion have made today’s mattresses taller. They used to be 7 inches thick, but now it’s common for mattresses to have depths of 14 or 16 inches. If you currently own an older mattress, be sure to get new sheet sets with deep pockets when you buy a new one. Mattress CareHere are some general tips on how to care for your new mattress. Recommendations and warranties vary, so please follow the guidelines set by your mattress’ manufacturer. • Routinely rotate your mattress from end to end, top to bottom unless your mattress instructions specifically state it is a no-rotate model. Rotating will prevent body indentations and prolong the mattress’s life. Do not flip the box spring. • Protect your investment from stains with a machine-washable mattress pad. • Use a strong, quality bed frame that can support the box spring and mattress. • Regularly vacuum the mattress to remove pet hair, dirt and other debris. Do not dry clean and do not soak the mattress with water. • To preserve the coils, avoid sitting on the edge of the mattress in the same place all the time.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
» shop mattresses |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
next