Most people replace mattress and box spring sets
approximately every 10 years.It is
important to replace the box spring and purchase a box spring that is designed
to work with the new mattress for fit reasons and strength reasons.New mattresses that are padded with memory
foam, and memory foam mattresses that feature the material throughout, are much
heavier than older mattresses that only featured light weight convoluted foam
and cotton and polyester quilt fillings. Because of the additional weight, old style wooden framed box springs
cannot properly support most new mattresses, so new mattresses and box springs
are often sold as sets.
Once the new mattress is delivered, the owner is often left
with an old mattress and box spring that need removal.Many mattress companies will remove the old
mattress and box spring set, often for free, though sometimes for a nominal
fee.Some companies donate gently used
mattresses to charities with which they have built relationships.Others simply dispose of the old mattresses
via landfills or special mattress recycling companies.
It used to be quite easy for an owner to sell gently used
old mattresses to resell shops and thrift shops.Barring that, many charitable organizations
used to not only accept donations of gently used mattress sets, but would even
schedule complimentary pick up of the items. Most of the time, a receipt for a charitable donation was given,
allowing the owner to write the old mattress off on taxes.In recent years, thrift shops have stopped
accepting used mattresses and box springs, many charities have done the same,
and many newspapers and Internet sites do not allow listings that seek to sell
used mattresses.It used to be so easy;
why is it now so hard to be rid of an old mattress?
The answer is bed bugs. Bed bugs are tiny parasites that feast on human and animal blood in the
middle of the night when all are asleep. The worst part is that they are wonderfully skilled at hiding, and their
minute size allows them to hide in the tiniest of crevices (including the seams
on a mattress).They are nearly
impossible to be totally rid of, professional pest control is usually necessary
once bed bugs entire a domicile.Once
nearly eradicated from most industrialized countries, the last decade has seen
a major resurgence in bed bug infestations.
All it takes is one infested item to enter a building.Within a few weeks, nearly every apartment in
a building will have them.Bed bugs are
most common in places where there are lots of people, such as apartments and
large cities.Hotels are particularly
susceptible because of the number of travelers that go through.
In order to help combat bed bugs from spreading, and thus
possibly spreading disease, state legislations have enacted laws that limit the
transfer of used mattresses and box springs. In most states, charities and businesses that reuse old mattresses must
follow strict guidelines on sanitizing them first.For many, the cost just isn't worth the donation.
Because it is difficult to find a way to be rid of a used
mattress, consumers should plan in advance how they will remove the old
set.Scheduling a pick up time with a
local charity is a great option if the used set is in good condition.However, the path of least resistance is
often to have the company that delivers the new mattress remove the old one.
Let's face the facts- if we're getting enough sleep, we're spending a third of our lives in bed.
That means it's more than worth it to commit a good amount of time into researching and shopping so you end up with the best mattress and bed possible. You will continue to reap benefits in terms of quality of sleep for many years, and if you choosy poorly, you'll have to live with it for seven to ten years.
When you go shopping for mattresses for your home, you'll want to wear comfortable, non-revealing clothing so you can get nice and physical with the contenders. Wear shoes that are quick to get on and off, and if you want, bring your pillow.
Try to relax into a nice king-sized mattress. Close your eyes, tell the salesperson to leave you in peace, and try to imagine yourself sleeping there. Try different positions, try actually napping. If a salesperson is making you feel nervous, this isn't the place for you to get your new bed.
Go ahead and try out some memory foam mattresses- but keep in mind that just because it's the state-of-the-art right now doesn't mean that you necessarily need one- some people prefer them, some do not. Listen to what your body is telling you.
We've all heard of the tempur-pedic mattress, but exactly what is a
memory foam mattress, how does it work, and why do people like them?
Generally, any good foam mattress will not just be made of cheap packing
foam or what have you- they are made of very specifically produced latex or
viscoelastic memory foam, which is highly reactive and conforms to any shapes
impressed upon it. That shaping quality is what makes them capable of fitting
the body better than a saggy spring mattress.
Another perk of these types of mattresses is that they tend to be more
hypo-allergenic than other forms of mattress, and are a great choice for people
with allergies and or sensitive skin.
One thing that is tricky about memory foam mattresses is the rangei n quality
they present- there are definitely mediocre foam mattresses, just as there are
fantastic ones. To some extent, this is true of any mattress, but foam is
slightly more 'high riak' in the sense that really great foam mattresses are
fantastic, the best out there, but mad ones tend to be pretty terrible and
clay-like. If you're trying to go for a bargain with a foam mattress, you might
be disappointed.
Used beds and mattresses turn up in the oddest places – in the bottom of lakes, by the side of the road, in the classified ads of the newspaper. Clearly, people don't know what to do with old mattresses! It estimated that nearly 70% of old beds stay in circulation, handed down like heirlooms to children and other family members. This is especially harmful for children, whose active, developing bodies require the support of a good quality mattress. If the bed is no longer good enough for you, it's not good enough for anybody else; throw it out. Here are two ways to get rid of an old sleep set:
1) Ask the store where you bought your new mattress to pick it up when they deliver the new set. Many retailers today offer this service as part of your purchase price or for a nominal fee.
2) Call your local municipality, sanitation department or garbage collector. They usually have provisions for picking up larger items, but you may need to make arrangements in advance. If you find the condition of the old mattress embarrassing, do as many others do and send it off with an old, fitted sheet to serve as cover-up!
You may have heard somewhere that hard mattresses are better for your back, but don't be fooled. That is a lame excuse for hotel owners and people who like camping. Everyone needs a differing amount of softness, and most of us require quite a bit of spinal support from our mattresses.
The problem is, softness and support are not the same thing. A memory foam mattress can be very supportive without feeling too soft. Or it can feel like clay. Or you can have a hard bed that's super supportive, or one that's not.
The best way to tell if you're getting the support you need is to lie back on the mattress, place your hand under your lower lumbar vertebrae. If you don't feel the mattress pushing back on your hand from that position, you're definitely not getting enough support. If you're a side sleeper, try the same trick with your hand at the curve of your waist.
Also important is to make sure you have a good pillow for support. You can conduct a similar test with the curve of your neck as you rest it against the pillow.
In general, you want your entire spine to be in its natural alignment as you sleep, without twisting or bending too sharply.
Mattresses
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