Once you start thinking about buying a new mattress for your bed you’ll probably notice, they are everywhere! Without doubt, there are probably as many billboards, TV and radio commercials advertising beds as cars these days – All banging their own drum about why their mattress is the right choice for you!
Here are some top tips to help you get a good perspective on what’s important and what’s not.
1 Don’t Believe the Hype
Gimmicks are virtually part of twenty-first century advertising tactics, and even though most of us know that, they still work! That’s all very well when it comes to soda-pops and takeaways but not with something as important as your mattress. Labels such as “medically approved” should be taken with a pinch of salt unless they are NHS approved beds (UK). That’s not to say some companies do actually spend a great deal of time and energy researching to make their mattresses well-suited for people with certain medical conditions. The bottom line here is to find out exactly what they mean by “medically approved”.
2 Orthopaedic Mattresses
There are “orthopaedic mattresses” available and what this actually means is they have certain features that suit particular health conditions (lower back pain, neck pain etc). While doctors and physiotherapists are not professional mattress makers they often have some good, impartial advice with regards to what to look for in an orthopaedic mattress. Do your research and find out what features are best suited for your health condition.
3 Old Wives Tales
One of the biggest old wives tales around is that a hard bed is good for bad backs. Research actually suggests that a medium firm mattress is best for lower back pain. Probably the most important factor for a good night’s sleep is comfort. What is very important is that the mattress is supportive and comfortable, and this is primarily down to personal preference. Do not just buy the hardest bed you can find simply because you think it’s going to be the best for your back. If you do, it could be a very long time before you get another good night’s sleep and that is a sure-fire recipe for disaster.
4 Check Warranties
Most quality mattresses have a ten year warranty. Ask about the warranty. Using a waterproof mattress cover is a must really, because even something as simple as staining can void a warranty. Therefore, it’s important to take care of the mattress.
5 Mattress Toppers
A mattress topper can add extra comfort (particularly for heavier people) as well as go some way to protecting the mattress. If your budget is tight and perhaps you cannot stretch to a new mattress this is a good option.
6 Buy the Best you Can
A shop that specialises in mattresses is invariably the best place to shop. Most will stock the top brands which are the best option if the budget is available. Often, they will have special offers and sales where you can grab a bargain. Make sure you shop around.