Happy Housekeeping: Home And Garden Tips

Since most furniture stores sell mattresses and box springs as sets, you may have just assumed that you’ll need to buy a whole new bed if your mattress wears out. However, purchasing a brand new bed set can be very expensive. If the frame of your bed is still in fairly good shape and you aren’t planning to change the size of your mattress, it might be to your advantage to forgo purchasing a new box spring along with your mattress.

Some things to consider about your current box spring

If your current bed set is over five years old, it’s important to evaluate the box spring thoroughly before deciding whether or not to keep it. Does it still support the mattress evenly or does it sag in places? Have you been able to give it a thorough cleaning recently? Unfortunately, if you’ve been sick or unable to clean the bed properly, it could be harboring a host of nasty pathogens.

As a result, you may experience an increase in allergies and illness. Even though your box spring doesn’t come into direct contact with your body, it’s important to remember that it’s still composed of fabrics that can harbor bacteria. Therefore, if you haven’t been able to properly clean this part of your bed – or if it’s showing serious signs of wear – it may make sense to purchase a new model as part of a set.

Cost factors

Of course, wear and tear should be the most important factor in your decision to purchase a new mattress or mattress and box spring set, but cost can also play a crucial role in your decision. If you need to buy both a mattress and box spring, it’ll be cheaper to buy both as a set. However, if you can get away with just buying a new mattress, you’ll be able to spend much less upgrading your bed set.

How a mattress and box spring work together

Most manufacturers recommend purchasing a mattress and box spring together. Among other things, while they are developing and testing mattresses, they use box spring models of their own manufacture to test them on. As a result, when they optimize each model, it’ll be with these constraints in mind. This is also important to consider when you are testing out a new mattress. In some cases, when you get home and put the mattress on your existing box spring, it may feel completely different.

At first glance, you might think that the box spring for your bed set is less important than the mattress. However, it’s important to realize that the box spring provides support and helps to balance the flexibility of the mattress. Unfortunately, the box spring wears out just like a mattress and can harbor pathogens just as easily as other parts of the bed. Therefore, it’s important to consider these factors – along with your budget – when shopping for a new mattress. You may find that the extra money you spend on a new box spring will be well worth it in the long run.

If you’re going to spend money on a new mattress, you’ll want to know how long it’s going to last. After all, spending hundreds of dollars only to have your new mattress fall apart is guaranteed to prevent you from getting that undisturbed sleep you were aiming for. Unfortunately, reading a list of mattress construction materials may not give you the kind of information you need about the long term durability and comfort of a mattress. Even if you’ve purchased a similar brand of mattress before, you might find it difficult to assess the quality of newer offerings.

Compare Warranties

When you’re looking at different types of mattresses, it’s important to take note of any warranties offered by the manufacturer. First, find out what parts of the mattress are covered. You might find that one warranty covers damage to the springs, cover and frame of a mattress, while another covers only the springs. Next, check out the length of the warranty. If you’re planning on using the bed for five years, try to locate one with a warranty at least that long.

You’ll also want to learn about what types of repairs are covered, and under what conditions you may be charged for labor. Even though you may think of a mattress as being far less complex than an automobile, mattress manufacturers are aware of certain wear patterns and other characteristics associated with their product. As a result, studying the warranty information may give you some indicators of what types of problems you might have with your mattress once the warranty expires.

Springs and Mattress Construction

When comparing mattresses, it’s important to take note of how the springs feel. For example, if you feel around the edges of a spring, and can find where it cuts off, you might want to reconsider your choice. These sharp edges may eventually cut through the mattress covering, causing you a great deal of discomfort. You should also see if you can feel for points where the support wires connect to the springs as these can represent weak points in the mattress construction.

Surface Fabric

Even if you’re a neat and tidy person who never eats in bed, mattress covers can and do become soiled. However it happens, chances are you’ll want to be able to clean the affected area. Unfortunately, though a mattress may look beautiful with shiny thread or metallic embroidery, this can make it very hard to remove stains. Therefore, when shopping for a mattress, ask about how to clean the cover and how easy it is to remove stains.

In addition to weighing the comfort and price of a mattress, you’ll also want to get an idea of how durable it is. By comparing warranties, you can get some ideas about how each manufacturer gauges their product. It’s also important to do what you can to assess the construction quality of the mattress, especially if you are buying one with springs. Doing a little extra leg work before your purchase a new mattress can save you a lot of time and hassle in the long run!

Every year, thousands of people purchase mattresses, only to find that their new mattresses are as uncomfortable as the old ones. You can avoid this problem by assessing your personal needs before you go to the store. Depending on your tolerance to certain aspects of a mattress, you may find that you need to purchase a specific type, rather than simply shop based on brand name or price.

Pressure Sensitivity

While many people assess the firmness of a mattress, few think about how this will affect sleeping posture. For example, a box spring mattress that’s too soft may wreak havoc on side-sleepers – the last thing you want is to try and arrange your body around bedsprings just as you’re trying to fall asleep! On the other hand, a mattress that is too firm is bound to feel like a board, and leave you wondering how you will arrange your knees and shoulders. The best way to assess your pressure sensitivity is to lie on a number of mattresses at the store to determine which is most comfortable for you and your sleep style.

Tolerance to Springs

Some people just hate box-spring mattresses. While the springs provide flexibility in a mattress, they also have a tendency to be in all the wrong places – so you could spend hours looking for a position where the springs aren’t poking into your back. It’s important to know if you have a low tolerance for springs before purchasing a new mattress. There are plenty of alternatives on the market today, including adjustable bed mattresses – so don’t feel that you’re trapped if you don’t like springs.

Back Support

Without question, your back needs the proper amount of support while you’re sleeping, since mattresses that are too soft or too hard can aggravate existing back problems. Today, there are a number of mattresses available that can be adjusted to fit the shape of your back. While these mattresses may be more expensive, you might find that you sleep more comfortably on them. For a low cost option, try purchasing a memory foam cover that “remembers” the shape of your back. If you find this helpful, consider it a sign that your next mattress should be one that adjusts to fit your back.

Mattress Odor

Surprisingly enough, the way a mattress smells can make it very difficult to sleep on. In particular, if the mattress has a strong vinyl odor – or does not air out well – you probably won’t be able to sleep well. Therefore, before purchasing a mattress, you may want to smell its surface carefully to make sure it does not have a strong vinyl or chemical odor to it. Even a mattress that does not have much odor in a store can accumulate a stronger odor in an enclosed space – like your bedroom. When in doubt, find a different mattress.

Before looking for a new mattress, it’s especially important to identify your personal needs and sensitivities. Even if you think that your old mattress needs replacing because of worn out springs, you might want to consider why and how the springs are causing you distress. In some cases, it might be best for you to purchase a different type of mattress, rather than find yourself unhappy with the new one a few months down the road.