Best Mattress

Certain types of mattress covers are gaining popularity in this context. Let us try to go through some of them.

Magnetic Mattress Covers: Thousands of tiny magnets are woven into the quilted cotton cover. It cosily drapes every inch of your body. Some say one night on this magnet covers is equivalent to a nice little massage in an exotic spa! These super strength mattresses are said relieve a vast majority of pains caused wear and tear. 

Woolen Mattress Covers: These mattress covers insulate your body in the cold, which is, of course, obvious. But besides this, they also are considered great or that soft, tender feel. The warmth of these bedcovers reminds you of mother's womb. It is often recommended for those suffering from insomnia or sleeplessness.

 More than three-fourths, almost ninety percent of users of woolen mattress covers report a more restful sleep in these woolen mattress covers. Woolen covers absorb moisture. Satisfied users say that they no longer toss and turn all night long!

Baby Mattress Covers: Provided with waterproof material, these mattresses keep the baby's bed dry and are a great help when it comes to cleaning. Mattresses have been associated with SIDS. Nowadays, taking this serious issue into consideration, baby mattress covers are devised to guard the safety of the baby and prevent crib death.

Allergy-free mattress covers: From asthma to itching, allergens from mattresses can cause severe suffering to allergy patients. Resistant mattress covers control the allergens and are specially created to avoid such misfortunes.   

 
Memory foam mattress covers: Memory foam mattress covers trace the contour of the human body. They work on the principle of memory foam mattresses. When a person sleeps on it, the foam adjusts according to the body shape when the person leaves the bed; its "memory" helps it return to its original shape.  This is the closest one can come to gravity-free state. The memory foam mattress covers claim lot of health benefits like relief from leg pain, back pain, neck pain etc.

It must be stated that not much research is proven and every one of these benefits is debateable, but still the fact remains that many of the users of these mattress covers vouch by it. Mattress covers going beyond their utility value have arrived. 

Banner Mattress

We have been buying from banner mattresses from the time I can remember. There is very interesting anecdote related to banner mattress.

My mother had gone to checkout banner mattress with my Aunt Cynthia. Aunt Cynthia had a date with her then boyfriend, Tony. As Tony was an Italian and my grandma didn't approve of Italians, they had to meet furtively. My mom acted as their cover. They would go to some place together. They would meet Tony there.

 Tony would leave with Aunt Cynthia while my mom roamed the street. After an hour or so, Aunt Cynthia would return to the same place where she would join my mom and return home.

Today, their mom had wanted them to go and look at the Banner mattresses that were all becoming a rage with their relatives. As everyone in their family had one, their mom wanted to know what the hype was all about.

Tony and Aunt Cynthia found an ideal chance to meet. Poor mom was left back at the store. Not knowing what else to do, she started looking around. "Looking for Banner Mattress", asked the most handsome sales-boy she had ever seen. Too nervous to speak she just nodded her head. "Let me show you around. By the way, my name is Nick" the next hour passed so fast my mom didn't know how time flew!

Nick told her not only about banner mattress and its features, but also ran her through history of banner mattresses. Banner mattress had started in 1926 by Ross and Ann Scorziell in Toledo, Ohio. Several decades later banner mattress moved to San Bernardino. In '60s it made supplied Harris Department Store. And steadily it grew from year to year.

Banner mattress was not exactly romantic talk but at the end of their conversation, my mom knew she was in love. As time went Tony and Aunt Cynthia broke-up. But my mom and Nick grew closer. Banner mattresses had brought love into my mom's life so it always held a special place in her heart.

But didn't my dad mind? No, my dad, Nick totally agreed with my mom...  

Mattress Set

In an age when appearances do matter and everyone looks as much into the aesthetics of a thing as much as its practicality, should mattress sets be far behind?  Mattress sets are being recognized as an important item while decorating houses. Mattresses come complete with mattresses sets that go with your mattress, be it in looks or material.

If you intend to use your old mattress set for the new mattress, make sure that the dimensions, the condition of spring box etc are right. Often, one gets a discount when mattresses are bought with their sets. Be on the lookout for such good bargains.

Make sure you have the right frame to go with your mattress set. A mattress set by itself can be of little or no use if the support is not right. Consider the sturdiness and the dimensions well before finalizing on a particular mattress set frame.

Foundations or mattress sets can be of the following types:

Wooden Frame with springs

Wooden Frame with boards

Metal Frame with springs

Check for its sturdiness before purchase.

Mattress pads are an essential part of mattress. They protect the mattress and increase its life. Mattress pads prevent stains, water, moisture and even fire from harming your mattress. These mattress sets with mattress pads are available. 

It is of essence that you buy the right mattress set to get optimum benefit from the mattress. You may also take the help of an interior decorator to be absolutely sure of your choice. Mattress sets are a very important part of your home. If you can spend freely on your bookstand or settee, you should not grudge few extra dollars on the right mattress set.    

Once you have bought the mattress set, maintain it well. Clean it regularly. Vacuum it and dust it. Check for any signs of damage.

A mattress set can at times outlive the mattress if taken proper care of. Like everything else, mattress sets too respond to that tender love and care. Pamper it. Pet it. And the mattress set will respond to your attention. Spend a little effort on it and it will payback manifold by giving comfort to your body and lending beauty to your room.      

Best Mattress

"Perfection is all in the mind"

This is one of my favorite quotes. If you are speaking of mattresses, this quote is particularly true. A mattress that is absolute perfection for one need not be perfect for the other. The definition best mattress differs from person to person. So this piece of writing is not aimed telling which mattress is the best mattress but it aims at helping you choose for yourself the best mattress for you.

There are different kinds of mattresses based on their property. These are as: 

1. Sprung mattresses: Sprung mattresses are of two types

a. Pocket Sprung Mattress

b. Open Sprung Mattress

2. Orthopeadic mattress: these are the mattresses which could be chosen for their  
   "medical benefits." 

3. Foam mattresses: They are for those who like their mattress to be soft, snug etc. 

 
While selecting the best mattress, keep in mind the reason why you need a mattress. For instance f you want to change your mattress owing to complaints of backache, neck pain etc, you could select the best mattress from the range of mattresses available in the health category.

To choose the best mattress, sort out the qualities you are looking for in the mattress. You could make a list of things you wan. Example of a list could be-

Your budget: the amount of money you have set out for the mattress.

Kind of comfort expected: That is, do you want it to keep you warm, or do you want a mattress that is cool and dry? Do you want it to be firm or do you want it to be soft? Do you wish for a mattress that has Orthopaedic benefits?

Lifespan: Do you want a mattress that lasts really long or is it enough if it survives for a years?

Space: Take into reckoning the space you have for the mattress. Accordingly choose if it will be queen, king or full etc.

Core: Do you have any specifications for the kind of core the mattress should have? Should it be made from air, water, foam etc.?

Now that you have the criteria for selecting the best mattresses, shortlist the names of the companies that provide the mattresses to meet your needs. With this list in mind, go visit the relevant mattress stores. The best mattress can be chosen only after the final litmus test- sleeping on the mattress. Yes, every "How to select the best mattress" guide book will tell you that the best way to decide will be by lying down on it and actually experiencing it. After this it is one small step to the cash counter town the best mattress.

Kingsdown Mattress

The dark circles around my eyes were becoming as big as saucepans. It was ages since I last help. I know I lead a stressful life and a peaceful night is essential for a fresh me the next day.  I am a call centre executive. These days my sleeplessness had made me so irritable that customers had started complaining.

Soon, I was summoned into my PO's cabin. I told him I was stressed out and needed a break, although I did not explain why I was stressed out. He was sympathetic. He asked me to take few days break and sort things out before I got back.

I knew what my problem was. It was my mattress. The current mattress was well past its prime and left me tossing and turning all night long. I had to buy a new one. I remembered reading a review on Kingsdown mattresses ages ago and the name had stuck. I had to start my mattress search somewhere; I decided to start with Kingsdown mattresses.

I went to my nearest dealer and started making enquiries. Boy! These people sure had a range of products to select from. I was clueless what to look for. Thankfully the salesman was more knowledgeable than I was. He knew his Kingsdown mattress out and out.

After listening to my problem, he suggested Kingsdown Body System Mattress. It had been scientifically designed for problems like mine. I tried stretching out on it....i was close to heaven. The salesman also suggested Kingsdown gold crown sleeping beauty pillow tops to go with it. I thought he was just looking for more business, but decided to give it a shot anyway. Let me tell you, I never realised what I had been missing in life before I tried these!

Now several months have passed since my purchase of Kingsdown mattress. My career is back on track now that I get my eight hours shut-eye. I've not once regretted my decision to buy Kingsdown mattress. If you have been reading this article and storing away this information for future reference, I hope that you remember the name of Kigsdown mattress... Just like I did.    

Queen Mattress

After three years of sharing an apartment with my three roommates, I was finally moving out into my own apartment, it couldn't have been too soon. Not that I did not enjoy the company of my roommates, but at times one does crave a little privacy. It was time to decide on a mattress. There was only one condition I had- it should not aggravate my allergy problems.

Angelina, my best friend was helping me decide. She was doing a course in interior decoration and mattresses were her hobby. One look at my new bedroom and she said, "It has to be queen mattress. It just has to be a queen mattress. Anything else would be an injustice to this room."

So now we had two things to look for- queen mattress and anti-allergen mattresses. I should not have been a very long search, as Angelina knew everything there was to know about mattresses, but she was very finicky. When she said queen mattress, not just any queen mattress would do!

I told her to forget about the fabric and the embroidery; no one would notice what was beneath the sheets, any way. But no, the decorator in her would just not listen to by perfect logic! So we hunted the town for the perfect queen mattress.

No queen mattress was just right- either the color was not correct or the embroidery not good enough, or the fabric was just plain old cotton... And if everything else was fine, it was not fireproof! Just when fireproof queen mattress had got into our criteria, I do no not know.

Finally we found it- 40% cotton and the rest polyester, damask ticking, specially designed to prevent collection of allergens, soft, free from heat retention, noise etc, washable, delicately hand-crafted, lovely light purple in color...a queen mattress fit for the queen. It was second hand because the previous owner wanted a bigger mattress. She had used it only for 2 months! At $120, we couldn't have hoped for a better bargain.

I was terribly excited and very, very happy. But nothing could compare to the look of sheer contentment on Angelica's face. This queen mattress was everything that she was looking for. She had the look of a treasure hunter who had found a treasure after years of hard work!  

Englander Mattresses

Call me a freak but I have a thing for NATURAL stuff. I go out of my way to avoid any kind of synthetic stuff. My sandals are from South Asia, made of genuine bamboo, my clothes are 100% cotton, I use an herbal soap...you get the picture.

I don't know if I am wrong but I every time I buy something that is natural I feel I have done mother earth a tiny service. I also feel that if it is natural, it will be better for me in the long run. 

Therefore, it was no surprise that when I started looking for mattresses, "natural" was the most important criteria on my list. Someone suggested Englander mattress. It seems that they made 100% rubber mattresses.

I inquired around, found out more. I liked what I heard. The latex mattresses were petroleum-free. Englander mattresses were high-quality mattresses. Everything from the steel to rubber used was top grade. It was easy to maintain and comfortable in all climates.

I had one little problem- my girlfriend was allergic to latex. When I went to the store I wanted to know if there was a way I could buy an Englander mattress that both of us could use. The storekeeper informed me that most people who were allergic to synthetic mattresses were not allergic to natural latex. I had to check this out with my girlfriend's doctor. He agreed with the storekeeper. My girlfriend would meet no harm on Englander mattress.

Next, came the try-out time. I must tell you that even before trying my mind was made. Even if Englander mattresses were the most uncomfortable mattresses, I would be buying one. Englander mattresses were made from natural rubber and that is all that mattered to me. But the good news was that I had to make no compromise!

Stretching out on the Englander mattress, I felt as if I was sleeping on feather! It was so comfortable. Not too firm, not too soft, just right! It did not take long for me to sign on the dotted line.

Englander mattress had everything I wanted in a mattress, and then some more. Natural rubber, superior quality, anti-allergic property, longevity, maintainability, comfort, value for money... Englander mattresses had it all.  

Englander Mattresses

I've been going through a lot of consumer complaints on mattress outlets. Reading case after case of people deceived by these huge mattresses outlets can be a heart breaking exercise.

Although I have no legal background, and cannot advice the readers on what action to take in case they have been cheated, I am compiling a summary of the complaints I came across. I hope this will prove as a warning to all prospective consumers who want to buy from mattress outlets.

Bills and warranty:

Many mattress outlets are Grade-1 frauds when it comes to bills and honoring of warranty. Take the case of Josephine. Her salary did not afford her a good quality mattress. Her back demanded one. She therefore decided to buy one on installment. The mattress outlet promised her interest free contract for one year if she paid her installments on time. 

She paid her bills religiously. At the end of the she received a mail saying she owed the mattress outlet $160 as she had not paid any of her bills on time! Even after she showed them her bank statements, mattress outlet did not relent. They had made false bills for the transaction and there was no way Josephine good fight the rich mattress outlets!

A similar case was that Bob. He had purchased a mattress from the town's leading mattress outlet. He had got the warranty for 15 years. A week after he made his purchase, the spring started to give complaints.

When he approached the mattress outlet with complaints, they said that since his mattress warranty and bill were on separate papers, they had no reason to keep up the warranty. They said there was no way to know that the warranty was for this particular mattress!

Damaged/substandard goods:

Cases of mattress outlets delivering damaged goods and not taking them back are so numerous that I don't know which cases to select.

Take Mike for example. He had tested the mattress several times at the mattress outlet before placing an order for it. But when his "firm" mattress was so soft that it felt as if it had been slept in for ages! The mattress outlet flatly refused to take the mattress back or replace it.

Steve had ordered mattress from a well-reputed mattress outlet. When the mattress arrived, he noticed stains on it. When he asked for a replacement at first they refused. When finally they did agree to replace, the charged $50 extra for service charges and $20 for transport!

Mattress Spring

After several years in mattress business, I realize that the level of ignorance about mattress spring is very high. Let me try to help you understand the mattress spring better.

Thickness: Many properties of mattress cause and promote comfort but thickness is not one of them. All the talk about thicker mattress springs being more comfortable is just a marketing gimmick. They want business, the have no unique selling proposition, so they increase the thickness of the mattress spring. As simple as that.

Back pain: I am not sure of this. I have heard some claim that mattress springs relieve pain and yet others that they are no help at all. If your pain is caused by mattresses that are very soft or alternatively those that are too hard, the mattress spring could be of help.

Spring quality: There is not much difference, if there is any difference at all, between spring used in mattresses of one set of manufacturers or others. There is no scientific method by which a normal customer might check the quality of spring. If your mattress spring feels comfortable when you try it, you should buy it. That is the only advise I can give.

Inner spring and Box Spring: Apart from the reason that they are both used to give comfort, there is no actual relation between inner spring mattress and box springs. They do not complement each other, nor do they affect each other negatively. They both function separately hence the decision whether to use one or other or both is up to you.

Pillow tops: Almost all manufacturers provide pillow tops to go with the mattress spring. There are others who use egg-crate foam instead. I have heard several medical complaints from those who use egg-crate foam, so if you ask for my opinion, I would say go with the pillow tops. If you need that extra bit of comfort, you should not grudge that extra bit of money.      

Coil count: Coil count is important. The number of coils can make the difference between a comfortable mattress and an uncomfortable one. While looking at number of coils in your mattress spring remember that the coil weight may vary and so the number of ideal coils can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

Mattress World

The mattress world is a world unto itself. It works like a chain. The manufacturer, the distributor, the researcher, the consumer and the government form various links in this mattress world.

The first in the mattress world is the manufacturer. The manufacturer decides what kind of mattress he wants, the amount of money he is going to invest, whether needs a new kind of product, if so, is he going to invest in research.

A researcher might come in at this stage in the mattress world. There can be two types of researches depending on its nature. The two types of researches are the market research and the product research. Market research involves studying the market needs, the current market scenario, the potential competitors etc.

The product research looks into the quality of the product, the available range of products available, based on the market needs it sees what improvements can be made to the products etc. 

Sales and marketing are next in the chain in mattress world. Produces good has to be marketed. Various communication means such as advertisement, media, public relations, events etc can be utilized to create awareness of the product. The company simultaneously approaches the distributors and dealers to stock and sell mattress. The dealers and distributors have to be coached about the different characteristics of the mattress, its benefits and how it is different from the mattresses of other brands. 

Finally, there  comes the most important link in the chain of the mattress world, consumers. The consumers too are reached through media, advertisement, public relation exercises and events. All the innovative research in product development helps the mattress chain.

 A good distribution chain has to be in place when the customer asks for the particular brand of mattress following the communications. Now comes the turn of customer feedback to the manufacturers through the distributors, the researchers or directly, thus completing the chain in mattress world.

Mattress accessories like mattress pads, customer service centers, the transport network, the human resources team, the IT department etc are also closely collected to the mattress world.

The mattress world is fascinating, dynamic and ever evolving. From the conception of a mattress to its consumption, every mattress in the mattress world goes through his inter-linked stages. And to think that all we have to do is lie down and sleep on it!

American Mattress

"American Mattress- living the great American dream". Scratch. Scratch.

"American Mattress- the mattress with a soul". Scratch. Scratch.  

"American Mattress- America sleeps on it" Scratch. Scratch.

They were all terrible! I was doing a course on Advertising copywriting and had to come up with taglines for American mattresses and so far not one was up to the mark.
I had been working on it for three hours now. But this work was not like in real agency. In real ad agency they would give us briefs about the company. Since I had no information on the company a little bit of research would do me good.
I learnt a little. American mattress was 15years old. A family-owned business, it had gained tremendous respect over the years. It genuinely believed in customer satisfaction.

I was looking for the one point in American mattresses that would distinguish it from the rest. I felt I had found. There was so much written on the customer care of American mattresses that I decided this was going to be my point.

American mattress, at least according to all the reviews I read, treated its customers royally. This was rare in the field of mattresses where every other person was looking for ways to cheat the customer. The quality of their goods was excellent too, but that was something everybody said. If I had to say something new about American mattress, besides its high standards, affordable price, great track record, 15 year's experience, it would have to be its customer service.

Now that I had my angle, I had to work on the difficult part- the line. After reading about American mattress, I wanted something that did justice to them.

"American Mattress- where customer is the king"... Ok, but clichéd. It had to be original.

"American Mattress- we put you first"...couldn't I come up with anything original?

So I tried on and on. Nothing seemed just right.

"American Mattress- where you come on top"... I had it! I had my line. I loved the fact that it could convey two things- since it was a mattress, you naturally came on top. And the second meaning was that you, the customer came on top for American mattress.

I submitted my assignment and guess who got an A+? I realize the value of research... and Thank God American Mattress had such a good reputation.

American Mattress

"But mom, I need a new mattress!!!" said my 12-year-old son, Jeremy. These days it was never "Mommy", it was always "Mom". My son was growing up.

As I noticed, he had become taller too. He was right, he did need a new mattress, the old one had become way too small for him. 

I had a talk that night with my husband, Terry. He agreed. We decided a full size mattress would be the best option. Jeremy would grow further and this would see him safely through the teens. Terry promised to make enquiries the next day.

Next evening Terry brought a manual on full size mattresses. Although considered double beds, full size mattresses are 53 " in width and about 75 " in length. Ideal for my growing Jeremy, not fit for an adult.

We now had to decide on the style. We wanted to go for full size mattress set. Terry had a few short-listed.

1. Black Beauty Mattress Set: Full size mattress set that came with a comfortable pillow top. The damask top was made of good quality cotton.

2. Ambassador mattress set: This promised the softness of pillow top, was plush like a pillow top and therefore one did not need a pillow top.

3. Full Odessey Mattress Set: Hard word like "visco elastic" "memory cell". This full size mattress set was great for spine.

4. Full Danmask Pillow Top Mattress Set: It came with a wooden box spring that gave the mattress room to depress when one slept.
5. Full Mirage Mattress Set: this full size mattress set had "perimeter edge guard" which gave more sleeping surface.

Boy! We were confused. We decided to leave the decision on our son. We took him to the outlet and asked him to decide. One look at the Ambassador and his mind was made. "That is my full size mattress", he said, pointing to it. "Are you sure", Terry asked. "Very sure", came the reply. We bought the mattress set. As we left I asked Jeremy what made him choose this particular full size mattress. "That's simple. It was the best looking". So much for our research!    

Sleepys Mattress

Going to the mattress outlet or warehouse was the last thing I wanted to do. Don't get me wrong, I'm not inherently lazy but there's something about "shopping" that just doesn't suit me.  I hate the whole process- dressing up, going to a warehouse, finding a good sales person, making polite small talk, selecting a mattress while someone looked on...

I would much rather make up my mind by researching over the net, call up a store, place my order and pay my bills over the net. Ah simple! It was while searching for this kind of an outlet that I came across Sleepys mattress.

Sleepys mattress had a telemarketing section. If I went by the reviews I read, Sleepys mattress was an excellent place to buy from. They did have a good track record; I could not come across any complaints of foul play. When using telemarketing for purchase, one has to be particularly careful, as there are numerous cases of fraud. It was in this arena that Sleepys mattress seemed particularly attractive. No record of fraud meant I could hope for a fair deal.

Sleepys mattress had a good selection of mattresses to choose. From Simmons to Sealy to Serta all major brands were featured at Sleepys mattresses. I had a rough list of the features I desired in a mattress. Sleepys mattress had at least four kinds of mattresses that matched my needs. I had to call the customer care to make up my mind.

The person who spoke to me at Sleepys mattress was extremely cordial and knowledgeable. She patiently listened to my requirements and suggested a mattress for me. I placed my order and prayed for the best.

There is always an element of risk involved when dealing my way and I would not recommend my style of shopping to anyone. I knew Sleepys mattress had a good reputation but there was also the possibility that there existed unhappy customers, I just had not come across them.

I was waiting anxiously on my porch when the mattress arrived. Sleepy mattress had delivered on time. Now I had to find out if the mattress was the same standard as advertised. Everything seemed in order.

After one year on the mattress, I have not yet come across a reason to regret having purchased at Sleepys mattress. I think if you have purchase mattress through telephone, Sleepys mattress would be a good place to begin.

KING KOIL MATTRESS

My grandfather is a stickler for tradition. He has been buying the same newspaper from the same store for ages now, his father did the same. He went to the same school and university that this grandfather and father went to, so did my mother, and his grandson, me.  Everything from toothpaste to cement had a history in our house.

I was not too surprised, therefore, that he wanted me to buy only King Koil mattress...my family had been buying King Koil mattresses for decades now.

King Koil mattress was started in 1898 by Samuel Bronstein. Although I have no evidence of it, I am sure that my great grandfather would have bought mattress from him!

There was no point in arguing with my grandfather, although I did try. I told him about all the latest innovations in the world of mattresses. I told him how I was sure that such an old firm like King Koil mattress could not possibly have moved with the times. All the talk fell on deaf ears.

He would not even let me select my mattress when I was leaving home, how on earth was I going to lead an independent life? I felt like burning down King Koil mattress. Worse still was the fact that my mom refused to interfere. Grandfather and I argued every night. It was no longer about mattress. It was a clash of generations.

After one particularly stormy session, my mom came into my room. She asked me if all this argument was really worth it. Why didn't I just checking Koil mattress out with my grandfather. If I didn't like it, we could think of an alternative. I could see the sense in what she said. I agreed to check it out.       

Next morning we set out to check King Koil mattress out. I had my mind set against liking it. When I arrived at the outlet, I was surprised to find a modern place. The mattresses looked were all the latest models. There had been substantial innovation in the century or so of King Koil mattress. King Koil mattress believed in moving with the times. It worked with doctors and produced clinically best goods.

I must say, I was impressed. I found myself a mattress I liked. I did realised that old did not really mean substandard, it could mean wisdom and experience. King Koil mattress was like my grandfather in many ways- traditional and top grade.

I was very happy with my purchase. Not only because Kin Koil mattresses had given me an extremely nice mattress, but also because for the first time in days grandfather and I looked eye-to-eye. For the first time in days I saw my grandfather's happy smile.