How to Select a Mattress

Since the average mattress lasts about 10 years, buy the best you can afford. Here are guidelines.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bed Linens
• Beds
• Mattresses

1. Try out several mattresses before you make your decision.

2. Look at the warranty. Most premium mattresses come with at least a 10-year warranty. Note that many warranties are voided if the mattress has been stained or soiled in any way.

3. Wear loose, comfortable clothing when shopping for a mattress so you'll be comfortable lying down.

4. Think about whether you'll be sharing your mattress and how much room you need before you decide on a size.

5. Read labels to see what the ticking is made of. Quality ticking will be a cotton blend or damask, but ticking can also be a synthetic such as polyester or even vinyl.

6. Take off your shoes and rest on the mattress. This is the only way to tell if the padding is going to be comfortable.

7. Roll from the center of the mattress to the edges to see if the support is the same at all points, and check to see if the mattress has extra support around the edges where you would sit.

8. Buy a mattress with handles that are attached to the inner springs. They'll be less likely to break off.

9. Check the coil count. Coil construction and quality varies from company to company, but coils should start at 300 for a full, 375 for a queen and 450 for a king. Ask about the diameter of the coils. The wider, the sturdier.

10. Purchase a mattress and box spring (the foundation for the mattress) in one set, as they work together as a unit. (Low-profile box springs are also available for those who prefer a lower bed placement. These are roughly 3 to 4 inches lower than traditional spring sets.)

Tips & Warnings

• Beds come in six different sizes: king (sometimes called eastern king), 76 inches wide by 80 inches long; California king, 72 inches wide by 84 inches long; queen, 60 inches wide by 80 inches long; full (or double), 54 inches wide by 75 inches long; twin (or single), 39 inches wide by 75 inches long; and twin extra-long, 39 inches wide by 80 inches long.
• Try to bargain for the best price. Shopping for a mattress is similar to buying a car in that there is often room for negotiation.
• Pillow tops add an extra layer of padding to the top of the mattress but tend to sag more quickly than thinner padding on mattresses.
• Hard mattresses don't necessarily offer the best support. If a mattress is too hard, it may add uncomfortable pressure to your hips and shoulders.

[kims3003]

on 8/10/2009 well written and good info.

[AbbyNormal]

on 6/27/2008 Good article.

[natoma520]

on 4/4/2008 for more helpful info on how to select a mattress, check out www.factsaboutmattresses.com

pretty helpful and relatively unbiased

on 9/3/2006 These are harder to find, but if you like a pillow top you get the longest wear from a double sided pillow top because you can flip the mattress.

on 1/16/2006 I bought a new mattress that has a fairly thick pillow top on it. It is too soft for me and makes my back hurt. My tip is: buy a mattress that is slightly more firm than you think you need. You can always by a foam pad to put on top to make it more soft, but if it's too soft; you can't make it more firm.