How to Test a Mattress Before Purchase
There is no proven scientific way of finding the right mattress, so the best advice is to try it out. The following guidelines were provided by Wikipedia.com.
Testing a mattress:
- The prospective buyer should lie on it at for least ten minutes, trying different positions.
- Lying on the back — If a user slides his/her hand under the small of the back, and it is very easy and his/her shoulders and hips are uncomfortable, the mattress is too hard. If there is no space between the user's back and the bed, it's too soft.
- Rolling over — If it takes a lot of effort, then the bed is too soft. If it is uncomfortable for the user's hips and shoulders, it's too hard.
- The user should test the mattress on the type of base that it will be used on.
- If the bed is for two people, both users should try it at the same time.
What to look for:
- The mattress should be designed to conform to the spine's natural curves and to keep the spine in alignment when lying down.
- It should have perimeter edge support. Usually, this will be a heavy gauge border rod, however, in some high end models, a high density foam encased spring unit will provide firmer edge to edge comfort and support.
- It should be designed to distribute pressure evenly across the body to help circulation, decrease body movement and enhance sleep quality.
- It should be designed to minimize the transfer of movement from one sleeping partner to the other. The Marshall coil and viscoelastic memory foam designs achieve this better than traditional coil systems.
- On a same size mattress, more coils of a lower gauge (thinner) may give better support and last longer than fewer coils with a higher gauge (thicker). A good warranty, 15 years being the best, will ensure your lower count-higher gauge coil mattress is of lasting quality.
Please use the above guidelines and the resources on this site to choose the appropriate mattress for you situation.
Most Popular Articles:
A foam mattress that is made today is a little different than what was made years ago. They still fit any bed frame, but I remember my sister buying foam mattresses that were completely synthetic foam through and through. They just don’t make those anymore. They didn’t hold up
Read more . . .
We've all been there. First, we spend a sleepless night, tossing and turning. Then we spend the next two days with body aches, sore from head to toe. The effects of a bad mattress can be serious.
Then we face the daunting prospect of shopping for a new mattress. This task can
Read more . . .
Air mattress pumps are crucial to making your air bed functional. Sometimes they are sold with the bed. Often, you’ll have to buy a separate one. This article will provide a number of tips for selecting which air mattress pump you need.
What kind of pump should I buy?
This is the first
Read more . . .