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Did you know this?… If your mattress is 5-7 years old, it might be time for a new one!
But before you spend a fortune on a new mattress, here’s an interesting tip from ShopSmart Mag:
If your mattress is 8 years old or older, it’s probably time to get a new one, especially if you aren’t sleeping as well as you used to. In a survey of 5,900 ConsumerReports.org subscribers who had bought a mattress within the last 5 years, nearly 75% said they slept better on the new mattress. Price didn’t matter. Most were happy whether they chose top-of-the-line or bought a budget-friendly model. The secret to satisfying slumber shopping: Spend at least 10 minutes lying on each mattress before making your choice.
That Advice Came In Handy…
For the past couple years, my wife and I have been suffering from inadequate sleep. We’ve been tossing and turning, waking up with aches and pains, and often just giving up only to go watch some late night infomercials.
With various bent springs and sadly sagging stuffing, the problem was pretty obvious. We had waited too long to replace our old mattress. The only problem was our budget wasn’t going to allow us to spend $1,000 or more for a replacement mattress. Instead, we went looking for a sale and settled on a middle-of-the-road mattress to meet our needs.
Before we bought our new mattress, we did a lot of research. Following are some tips to help you make an educated selection when the time comes to replace your mattress…
#1 Beware of a “comfort guarantee”.
Name brand mattress manufacturers won’t accept a “returned” mattress. If you send it back after a few days, the store may be reselling it.
#2 The number of coils doesn’t matter.
It’s just a sales ploy. Instead, it’s the gauge of the wire in your inner spring mattress that determines stiffness or springiness.
#3 Wool batting is naturally fire retardant and dust mite resistant.
Just make sure it isn’t chemically treated, because that removes the natural oils that are the reason behind these characteristics.
#4 Not replacing the box spring defeats the purpose of buying a new mattress.
The two are designed as a matched set working together to support the load. Keeping the old one (or placing a sheet of plywood between them) prevents the set from working together. Besides,new flammability standards went into effect in 2007, so fire safety standards may be compromised if you put a new mattress on an old box spring.
#5 If a store will negotiate the price, then they were overpriced to begin with.
The minimum price allowed is set by the manufacturer of the mattress. Most reputable large stores set their mattress prices at that level up front.
#6 You can save money buying on the Internet, but you need to do your research.
You need to match specifications with a local store model in order to confirm it really will work for you before ordering. By doing it right, you can save quite bit of money.
#7 When you go mattress shopping, wear comfortable loose clothing.
If you could get away with wearing your pajamas, it would be ideal! The whole point is to match as closely as possible the conditions you normally sleep in. Also, take your favorite pillow with you as well. Making the experience seem “just like home” is the whole point when you’re mattress shopping.
As we age, our needs change. Just because a certain brand or model of mattress served you well in the past doesn’t mean it will work for you in the future. You spend a 1/3 of your life in bed, so you should take the time to try different types of mattresses to make sure you find the perfect combination for you.
In our case, my wife and I found a suitable replacement mattress at a large discount store. It was their midd
le of the road model and is a vast improvement over our old mattress.
How To Recycle Your Old Mattress
Do remember to dispose of your old mattress properly.
Many stores include free removal of the old mattress set when they deliver the new one.
If a particular mattress store does not, then contact your local recycling center and find out where you can send your old mattress for recycling.
More Great Mattress Tips
- How To Choose A New Mattress
- 5 Reuses For Old Pillows
- Bedbugs: How You Get ‘Em & How To Get Rid Of Them
- How New Is That New Mattress You Just Bought?
- Hampton Inn Pillows – Yep, You Can Buy Them!
- What Does Your Sleeping Position Say About You?
I’ve been involved in RVing for 50 years now — including camping, building, repairing, and even selling RVs. I’ve owned, used, and repaired almost every class and style of RV ever made. I do all of my own repair work. My other interests include cooking, living with an aging dog, and dealing with diabetic issues. If you can combine a grease monkey with a computer geek, throw in a touch of information nut and organization freak, combined with a little bit of storyteller, you’ve got a good idea of who I am.
