How to Select the Best Quality Mattress
Mattresses often look and feel very similar, so identifying a quality mattress can be a difficult task. Complicating things further is the fact that high price does not always indicate high quality. A high-priced mattress might be the same quality or lower quality than a lower-priced mattress. Being that people spend an average of six to eight hours per day in bed, learning how to identify a quality mattress that will provide years of comfortable sleep is very important. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Instructions
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Know different types of beds. Innerspring mattresses are the mattresses most of us know and sleep on. In fact, they account for more than 80 percent of existing mattresses; however, there are also specialty mattresses such as memory foam mattresses, latex mattresses, air mattresses, waterbeds, adjustable beds and dual-purpose beds such as futons and sofa beds. Such factors as your need, age and heath will determine if you need a specialty mattress.
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Ask the sales representative about coil count. Mattress coils are metal coils that support a person as she sleeps. Generally speaking, the higher the coil count, the more firm the mattress, but such things as gauge, working turns and tempering also affect mattress comfort and durability.
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Ask about coil gauge. Coil gauge refers to a coil's thickness. Thick coils create a more durable and firm mattress.
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Ask about working turns. Working turns refers to how tightly a coil wraps. The more tightly a coil wraps, the firmer the mattress will be.
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Ask about tempering. Tempering refers to the process of heating and cooling metal coils, and it affects firmness. Double-tempered coils, for instance, are more durable than regular tempered coils, and this extra durability helps the coils retain their shape over time.
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Decide between pocketed coils versus continuous coils. Pocketed coils provide additional comfort because the coils are separate. When your spouse moves, you are less likely to feel jostled. Continuous-coiled mattresses are constructed with the coils linked by heavy-gauge wire, which improves durability and allows for increased coil count.
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Read the information about the inside upholstery. The inside of the upholstery is composed of insulation between the coils and cushioning outside of the mattress. Cushioning can be made from a variety of materials such as latex, foam, cotton or silk.
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Ask about tufting. Tufting is a fancy word for stitching and affects durability. Hand-stitched upholstery, for instance, increases mattress durability.
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Examine the outside of the upholstery. Technically, quilting is still inside, but it is the topmost part of the mattress. Quilting might just be a flat cushion across the cushioning, but it is also available in pillow- and Euro-tops, which add additional cushioning and durability to the bed.
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Examine the ticking. Ticking is the mattress cover, which is the skin of the mattress. Look for cotton blends, silk or linen. Make sure to ask how the quilting is stitched to the ticking.
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Examine the stitch pattern. Large stitch patterns within the ticking are soft and comfortable. Tight, narrow stitching is much more firm.
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Tips & Warnings
Although the foundation is not actually part of the mattress, it can significantly impact mattress durability and comfort. Durable box springs or torsion modules can keep your mattress from sagging prematurely. If box springs are not desired, simple wooden slats or a single, diagonal crossbar is needed to support your mattress.
For queen-sized mattresses, make sure the frame has a minimum of five legs supporting the mattress. For king-sized mattresses, make sure the frame has at least six legs. Frames without the right number of legs can make your mattress sag.
