A Beginners Guide On Buying A Mattress

Buying a mattress need not be as meticulous as buying a new car. For total greenhorns about mattresses, be assured that you do not have that many details to study and get familiar with.

For our focus, the innerspring mattress, you do need to arm yourself with enough information about it before shopping. You have to know what important things there are to consider and those that can be ignored. It will come in handy, too, in dealing with fast-talking store clerks.

Durability
In the last ten years or so, there had been significant improvements in the manufacture of mattresses. Durability is almost uniform nowadays among the many brands. This is one area you need not fret too much.

Firmness
You have to test out this one yourself. Make sure that the firmness is consistent all throughout the mattressÆ body. This is also to know if you are comfortable with that firmness.

Materials
Know how the mattress is made, the materials used, and the construction methods employed. Expensive mattresses usually have damask ticking, thicker padding, higher coil counts, and a cushion sewn into the mattress.

For innerspring mattresses, sagging is caused by padding, not by the spring coils. When comparing mattresses, look for thicker padding.

Size
Some of the five sizes to chose from are Twin (39 by 75 inches), Full/double (53 by 75), Queen (60 by 80), King (78 by 80), and California King (72 by 84). Ideally, a larger size bed is good for couples.

Support
If your mattress is too soft, your spine and neck is not supported. Chances are, you will develop a sore neck or back after continued use.

Appearance
The color, fabric, and pattern are simply to assess the quality of the materials. Your mattress is covered with sheets most of the time, anyway.

Ticking
This is the outermost layer of your mattress. The materials are made usually of cotton-polyester blends, plain polyester or vinyl. (Vinyl is used on cheaper models.)

Quilting, top and middle padding
A few layers of padding made of foam are attached to the ticking. The middle padding may also include garneted cotton.

Insulated padding
This is the padding on top of the springs to prevent them from being felt.

Coil count
The premium models have 400 or more coils and those with lower numbers are the lower-end models.

Box Spring
This could be a wooden frame covered with boards, a wooden frame with springs, or a metal frame with springs. Ideally, buy the mattresses and box springs as a set.

Buying tips and others
Department stores, store chains, and furniture boutiques usually allow you to test the mattresses out.

Make sure you can return/exchange your mattress without fees, should you not be satisfied. Some stores have added charges you don't normally know until after something goes wrong.

Many stores renege on their promises of delivery within 24 hours. Make sure they deliver on their promise.