New Mattresses
By on Apr 03, 2008
By Marcia Luke
Even if the lifespan of your average mattress maxes out at 10 to 12 years, look for other signs you might need a new sleeping device. Are you feeling tired and achy most of the time? A general sense of fatigue or tossing and turning in the night could mean your mattress is wearing thin. While numbness or pins and needles in your joints can indicate that your mattress is poking you in all the wrong spots.
According to Eric Solomon, sales manager at Sleep Country Canada, if you're in the market for a new mattress remember to avoid the "harder the mattress, the better the support" mentality. This isn't always the case.
"Think firmness on the inside and comfortable padding on the outside," says Solomon of when you go try out the many different beds in a showroom. The padding that rests on top of your mattress may seem cushy and weak, but really it's insulating your body from the hardware of the mattress. To find the perfect combination of firm and soft, you must consider back support, privacy from the motions of your partner, and pressure points that may irritate your body.
"Back support is the most important factor when choosing a mattress, then comfort," continues Solomon. "Mid to upper level mattresses offer more comfort and support and are better for you in the long-term."
"Many customers come in [to buy a new mattress] after coming back from vacation. When they have a chance to sleep in a different bed, they realize how bad theirs has become," he says.
Now, let's face it, a mattress won't fix all your problems but it can help with a number of them. On a better bed you're sure to see an improvement in back pain, stress, fatigue, and body aches.
Always remember that jumping and standing on your bed is damaging (hear that kids).Avoid eating and spilling food or drinks on your bed. Invest in a mattress pad to protect your bed from accidents, since these come off the bed as easily as a sheet for washing. Some bed models require flipping and rotating your mattress periodically so that it wears evenly and doesn't sag in the middle after time. Find out if your mattress requires any special attention. The best thing that you can do with your new mattress though, is sleep.
