How to Buy the Best Mattress for You

by: Mitch Endick

This mattress site is designed to help you buy the best mattress for you, for your money. In order to intelligently choose the correct mattress set, you need to know mattress facts.

Long ago, innerspring mattresses were so large that most were made by small local factories. In fact, forty years or so ago, we didn't even have standard mattress sizes. Many local mattress manufacturers built their own sizes, kind of a mattress tower of Babel. That's why you need to check what size mattress that great antique headboard and footboard at the flea market takes. You may find yourself having to order a very expensive special size bed. Happily for all concerned, manufacturers eventually landed on twin size mattress, twin size extra long mattress, full size mattress, full size extra long mattress, queen size mattress, king size mattress and California king size mattress, as the standard sizes. But getting back to the story, many of the local mattress manufacturers closed and mattress factories were pretty much located in the states where their mattresses were sold, and made in the USA. However, and unfortunately, those large, unwieldy mattresses that were too large to be imported are now coming in from China by the boatload. Most of these mattresses are squeezed by thousand of pounds of pressure to fit into small boxes, only to spring ever larger when they are opened. I say unfortunately because Americans need the jobs. So please ask for mattresses made in the USA!

A good place to start checking out mattresses might be by construction.

Mattress construction ranges from high end luxury mattresses to cheap discount mattresses available at discount mattress stores. The high end of mattresses generally have euro top and pillow top construction. This would refer to the top of the mattress having an extra flap with additional cushioning material which gives the mattress an even higher profile then normal. Then we have the nicely quilted middle priced mattress. Finally we have the smooth top mattress which gets it's name from the lack of quilting on the top of the mattress. No quilting lowers the price of the manufactured mattress and thus the consumer gets a cheap starter bed. Generally the smooth top mattress has very little to no padding and sleeps poorly.

This mattress site is designed to help you buy the correct mattress for you.

There are several national brands of mattresses. Most national mattress brands will give the consumer excellent product for their money. The top three brands are the three S's: Sealy Mattress (Sealy Posturpedic Mattress), Simmons Mattress (Beauty Rest Mattress) and Serta Mattress. We also have many other good mattress brands including Tempur-Pedic Mattress, Spring Air Mattress, Stearns and Foster Mattress, Kingsdown Mattress, Englander Mattress, Sleep Number Mattress, Restonic Mattress, and King Koil Mattress. Additionally, there are literally hundreds of smaller, very good old fashioned quality, localized mattress manufacturers out there and they would love your business.

There are also several national mattress retailers and regional mattress retailers out there that offer great mattress deals. Keep an eye on the special deals from Mattress Discounters, Mattress Giant, Mattress Warehouse, Denver Mattress, Original Mattress Factory, Mattress World, Banner Mattress, City Mattresses, 1-800-Mattress, Sleepy's Mattress, Mattress Gallery, Mattress Mart, Dial A Mattress, Mattress Outlet, and Mattress Discounters.

A review of mattresses must touch on mattress firmness. Some people swear by a firm mattress or extra firm mattress for the back. You also have medium mattresses and soft or plush mattresses. These days, most of the premium mattresses tend to be thick, extra soft beds. You can decide which is best for you by hopping on the mattress at the store and trying them. Please take you coat and shoes off and get comfortable. Some stores offer a 30 day comfort guarantee which does give some peace of mind. A mattress that is too hard may give you pressure point pains on your hips. A too soft mattress may develop crushing and body impressions and be hard on your back because an eventual sling effect. You need to find a mattress that is just right for you.

One thing I should mention is the mattress box springs.

The box springs act as a necessary foundation to span the frame for a good bed set-up. Lately, some discount beds have been using a foundation in place of the box springs. The foundation looks the same as the box spring but it has no springs. Generally, the foundation or box foundation either has a hard surface or it may have a bit of foam on the top for some cushioning. It is generally used as a cheaper box spring substitute. Your mattress will not last as long on this foundation and your mattress will have a firmer board feel on it. Additionally, many times these foundations are built with very thin wood and can tend to break with energetic mattress use or kids jumping up and down.

There are many types of mattresses available. The workhorse of the category is still the innerspring mattress. We also have memory foam mattresses, futon mattresses, air mattresses, foam mattresses, latex mattresses, latex foam mattresses, and of course waterbeds and softside waterbed mattresses.

No discussion of mattresses would be complete without a mention of mattress pads or mattress covers. The pad protects the mattress from stains, lets additional air between the mattress and sleeper and also often adds additional soft characteristics to the mattress. Some popular mattress pads are the memory foam mattress pad, heated mattress pad, magnetic mattress pad, electric mattress pad, foam mattress pad and many other specialty mattress toppers.

Hope this helps,

About the Author

Mitch Endick
www.oufurniture.com