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9 Mattress Myths Debunked

by David Keam

Buying a new mattress (watch related video) can be as confusing as buying car insurance. Comparing features and price from brand to brand is challenging because there are so many variables. Inner spring or latex, organic or natural, euro-top, pillow-top or luxury-plush – the combinations are endless. And because buying a new bed isn’t a frequent purchase (thank goodness!), the learning curve will always be painful.

 Being able to sort through the clutter of information in the mattress industry and hone in on what matters to you – a GREAT night’s sleep – will help you make an informed purchase. Before you visit a mattress retailer, arm yourself with a healthy dose of common sense and learn the difference between myth and truth.



Being able to sort through the clutter of information in the mattress industry and hone in on what matters to you – a GREAT night’s sleep – will help you make an informed purchase. Before you visit a mattress retailer, arm yourself with a healthy dose of common sense and learn the difference between myth and truth. (watch related video)

Myth 1. Replace your mattress every 8 years.


The Better Sleep Council recommends replacing your mattress every 7-10 years, depending on comfort and support. The truth is that the life of a mattress varies wildly, which may depend on your body size and how you sleep as well as how you take care of it and how often you rotate it.

Think of your mattress as performance gear for sleep. Just like supportive, well-fitting running shoes can help prevent injuries, a supportive mattress can deliver healthier, more restorative sleep. You’ll know when it’s time to shop for a new mattress based on how you feel when you wake up.

Myth 2. A firm mattress is the best mattress for your back.


To minimize pain and discomfort and help your body relax into healing, regenerative sleep, you need a mattress that conforms to your favorite sleeping positions while supporting all areas of your body. Conformability and support are equally important.

In general, mattresses fall into three categories.

Soft mattresses conform to your shape but fail to deliver uniform support across your entire body. Medium firm mattresses deliver equally on conformability and support and alleviate pressure point pain in most people. Very firm mattresses offer solid support but little (if any) conformability, which can lead to pressure point pain.


Myth 3. The right mattress will prevent tossing and turning.


Babies start rolling over in their sleep at around 4 months of age and by adulthood we’re moving as much as 75 times a night – whether it’s a simple twitch or a full-out roll. We move during the night to alleviate pressure point pain and to reduce stress and strain on our backs and joints. A supportive mattress will reduce how much you move at night by providing pressure point relief, which will allow you to slip into deeper, healing REM sleep. (watch related video)

Myth 4. Your new mattress should be a perfect fit from the first time you sleep on it.


Most people need at least a month to adjust their bodies to a new sleep surface. Considering how long we spend in bed in a 24 hour period, it’s no wonder that our muscles and joints retain a memory of how to find the most comfortable spot on the mattress. Does that mean you should only buy from a mattress retailer that offers a comfort guarantee? Not necessarily. If you’ve done your research, shopped around and spent time testing a variety of mattresses, your body will still take time to adjust but it will happen.

Myth 5. A mattress should be flipped every few months to keep it in good condition.


Most mattresses today are one-sided, which means they should never be flipped. So, how can you ensure maximum enjoyment of your mattress and reduce body impressions?

Rotate every two weeks for the first two months. Rotate your mattress monthly for the first 6 months and quarterly after that. Sleep in a variety of positions and places on the mattress so the entire surface compresses evenly. And remember that body impressions are normal up to 1 ½ inches and not a structural defect. The upholstery materials are conforming to the weight and shape of your body, which is a good thing. (watch related video)

Myth 6. Buy a mattress with the longest warranty possible.


Mattress warranties do not refer to the comfort life expectation of your purchase. The warranty covers defects in workmanship and materials. Just like many products used with extreme regularity, you’ll notice wear and tear before you reach the end of the warranty. (watch our Warranty video)

When buying a new mattress, read the warranty carefully even though there’s very little difference in the terms and conditions of warranties from manufacturer to manufacturer. It’s good to note that transportations costs (to and from the store) are usually not covered in the case of repair or replacement. As well, a new warranty is normally not issued when the mattress is replaced.

Myth 7. It’s against the law to remove the law tag on your mattress.


The warning against removing the law tag of your new mattress tag can be intimidating. The truth is that once you’ve bought the mattress and it’s in your home, you can do whatever you want with it. But if you ever need to file a warranty claim, that law tag needs to be attached to the mattress because it contains critical information that will help the manufacturer process your claim.

Before you visit a mattress retailer, arm yourself with a healthy dose of common sense and learn the difference between myth and truth.

Myth 8. You don’t actually need a mattress protector.

Mattress covers are designed to cover (and sometimes encase) a mattress to protect it from daily wear and tear, shielding it from dust, shedding skin, allergens and spills. But a mattress protector can also help maintain a consistent temperature in the microclimate of the bed, reduce tossing and turning. Some can even improve the comfort-level of the mattress. A good mattress protector adds life to your mattress by keeping sweat out of your mattress. (watch related video)

Mattress protectors also protect your mattress in a financial way. Regardless of where you buy your mattress, all manufacturers require that your mattress be free from soils and stains if a warranty claim is filed. In other words, a dirty mattress voids your warranty. Why so strict about stains? Because of health concerns for people who work in mattress factories – think of diseases transmitted through bodily fluids – stained mattresses (regardless of what caused the stain) can’t be returned for service and/or replacement.

Please take our advice and buy your mattress protector from the company that sells you the mattress. Sure you can save 10 bucks from Amazon but not really you lose your insurance program and your mattress replacement program. The cheapest and best place to buy your mattress protector is from your mattress retailer.

Myth 9. Every mattress is for every customer.

Its really simple. If you are a larger person, you need to buy a better mattress. If you weight more than 210 lbs., your sales person needs to talk to you about natural foams like latex or foams that are above 3 lbs. per sq foot. The myth that a larger person can buy a $1500 mattress on sale 365 days a year for $750 and not have it fall apart in one year or 3 is the biggest myth in the industry. If you are a larger person come and see us at Best Sleep and we will make sure you get the right mattress for your size and health needs. 

(a must watch video - The Most Important Question!)

Rest well & wake up ready to go!

Hungry for more sleep info? Dig into these other popular posts:

Tips on Buying Your New Mattress

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*This blog sourced from Restonic.com (with additions from Best Sleep)

https://restonic.com/blog/mattress-myths-4876

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