FAQ

FAQs ON MATTRESSES

Q. How can I tell if I need a new mattress?
A. 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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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 should enable you to sleep through the night with minimal tossing and turning.
4. 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.
5. You´ve taken your mattress for granted.
   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.

Q. How much should I spend on a new sleep set?
A. Mattress prices range greatly. A good night´s sleep is one of the best investments you can make, but stay. Keep in mind that most of us spend as much as one-third of our time in bed.

Q. Should I replace my box spring when purchasing a new mattress?
A. Yes! 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 contributes to 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, and meet the new U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission´s Flammability Standard, 16 CFR Part 1633.

Q. How long should my sleep set last?
A. The Better Sleep Council advises consumers to buy the highest quality bedding they can afford, then replace old bedding every 8-10 years. After this many years, even the best bedding may no longer provide the comfort and support you deserve.

Q. How do I shop for a mattress?
A. 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.

Q. Should I compare my old sleep set to sleep sets available today?
A. No, 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 and torsion modules.

Q. How do I compare today´s sleep sets?
A. The best way to really know what you´re buying is to experience a pillowtop, then firm, then plush sleep set. Determine the comfort you prefer, then compare your comfort preference in three qualities - top of the line, mid-range and budget range, and understand the differences. This comparison helps you make an informed decision. If you decide to shop several stores, 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.

Q. Can my children use my old mattress?
A. Children should have a comfortable, supportive mattress to get the deep restorative sleep their bodies need to grow. If your old sleep set was uncomfortable and lacked support, then it probably won´t help your kids get a good night´s sleep either.

Q. Why are there so many different quilting designs?
A. The quilting design helps determine the firmness or plushness of the sleep surface. If a quilting design is small and close, the bed will tend to feel firmer; if the design is large and spread out, the bed will usually feel more plush.

Q. Should I be concerned about bedding height?
A. For consumers who don´t want the extra height that comes with today´s bedding, most factories offer a "Low Profile Box Spring," cutting the height of the box spring by up to 4.5 inches. A low-rise bed frame can also reduce the overall height of your mattress surface.

Q. What are the dimensions of traditional bedding?
A. These are standard finished product sizes. Actual size may vary by model, generally within a range of ± ½ inch to 1 inch.

• Eastern King: 76" x 80"
• California King: 72" x 84"
• Queen: 60" x 80"
• Full: 53" x 75"
• Twin: 38" x 75"
• Crib: 28" x 52"

Q. I am interested in a queen- or king-size bed, but the access to my bedroom is limited. How can I get a large bed through tight quarters?
A. King-size foundations and split queen box springs come in two pieces for easier access through narrow halls. Most of the new mattresses can be bent up to 15 degrees without damaging the innerspring.

Q. Why are some of today´s beds so thick? My sheets don´t fit!
A. Today´s mattresses are manufactured with much more upholstery padding and comfort layers than in days gone by! Many consumers prefer the plush and ultra-plush comfort that these thick mattresses provide. You can find deep-pocketed sheets under our Soft Goods tab.

Q. What kind of support/frame is necessary for bedding today?
A. Use a sturdy bed frame. If your mattress is a queen or king set, make sure that your frame has the extra center support needed to prevent bowing and sagging. This is required to ensure complete warranty protection for your sleep set.

Examples of proper bed frames for queen- and king-size bedding:

Q. How and why do I rotate my bedding? How do I avoid body impressions in my mattress? How do I maintain consistent comfort feel throughout the life of my bedding?
A. We recommend that you rotate your mattress on a regular basis to refresh its comfort. Mattresses contain many layers of upholstery padding to increase their comfort life and support performance. Body indentations can be a normal occurrence in new mattresses, and indicate that the upholstery layers are conforming to a person´s individual body contours. To help minimize body impressions, mattresses should be turned occasionally throughout their life. For convenience, we have illustrated below the best method.

Q. How do I care for my mattress?
A. Keep your mattress clean. We suggest using a mattress pad. Look under our Bedding tab for Pads & Covers. Don´t allow your mattress to get wet. Protect it from water or other liquids. Don´t use dry cleaning fluid of any type on your mattress. These chemicals could damage some of the comfort and upholstery materials.

Q. How do I clean my mattress?
A. Keeping your bedding clean is simple with the use of a protective mattress pad. Vacuuming is the only recommended cleaning method. If you must clean a stain, use mild soap with cold water and apply lightly! Don´t ever soak a mattress or foundation, and don't use dry cleaning fluid of any type on your mattress these chemicals could damage some of the comfort and upholstery materials.

Q. What´s the difference between latex and memory foam?
A. Latex differs from memory foam in its elastic, open-cell structure that recovers from pressure immediately. Memory foam has a slower recovery time. Latex is a very supportive, yet conforming material. Memory foam is very conforming, but requires high-density foam as a base to provide support.

Q. Does latex sleep "hot"?
A. No. Latex doesn´t sleep hot, because its open-cell structure allows it to breathe.