Do you know how old your mattress is? That’s an important question because, like every other major purchase in our home, a mattress isn’t meant to last forever. The optimum duration would be around eight years. If you’re starting to have trouble sleeping or waking up with a sore back, then it might be time to replace that old, saggy mattress. As an added bonus, that mattress probably weights ten pounds more than when you bought it. That would be ten pounds of skin cells, dust mites and bug carcasses that you’re now sleeping on. Now are you convinced? If you’re ready to replace your mattress, then consider these helpful buying tips to pick your next mattress:
Use The Internet, Set A Budget
As with all things in life, your mattress purchase will require you to set a budget and research prices online. Actually, if you haven’t bought a mattress in eight years, then you might be shocked at some of the prices. Have no fear because everything is negotiable. Plus, once you’ve tried out a mattress in a store (highly recommended), you can always come back to the Internet and order it online at a better price.
Pick Your Type
Memory Foam? Sleep Number? Firm? Plus? There is a lot going on in the world of mattresses. It won’t take you long to become a mattress expert. Here’s short version: Memory foam or Tempur-Pedic is a mattress that will mold to the shape of your body. It’s as close as you can get to sleeping on a waterbed without actually sleeping on a waterbed. A sleep number bed lets you make adjustments in the firmness by using inflatable air pressure chambers. These are the beds that let you recline up and could even have separate settings for the person you’re sharing that bed with.
Go From High End To Low End
Now armed with some information, it’s time to take a few mattresses for test drives. Go to a big show room and ask to try the most expensive mattress in the joint. This is the high end of sleeping luxury. You might spend five minutes on this mattress and want to blow your entire budget. However, use this to set the bar. Start working your way down the mattress ladder until you land on the perfect pick for your comfort and your budget. It’s out there!
Dress For Sleeping Comfort
As you try out your mattresses, consider what you’ll be wearing to bed. It won’t be bulky sweaters and jackets. This doesn’t mean you can wear your pajamas to the mattress store (or maybe you can). However, you want to try out the mattress with the least amount of layers between you and that potential comfort.
Check The Return Policy
After trying out all the mattresses in the store and finding your perfect pick, you could get it home and discover it’s horrible. Relax. Mattresses are lot like shoes. It takes a few “sessions” to get it to fit right. If after three weeks it’s still uncomfortable, then you might need to return it and start all over again. Don’t feel embarrassed. It’s more important that you get the right mattress for a good night’s sleep.
