Myths & Real Facts About Mattresses

Allergies

• It is a fact that mites are crawling all over your mattress as you read this and that these mites are feeding on dead skin cells that have settled into your mattress. As they feed, they also excrete waste; it is this waste that, when breathed in, can make you sneeze. Sneezing is a reaction by antibodies in your nose, produced by your immune system, to this waste. These antibodies fight the foreign proteins contained in the mite excretions, prompting you to sneeeze and expel them.

Sleep Comfort

• Many back problems can be alleviated with a mattress that is best suited to how you sleep. For instance, if you often sleep on your side, then a mattress that is soft and allows you to sink into it a bit will be better for you, as it will accommodate itself to your spine, ensuring that it lies straight. If, however, you prefer to sleep on your back, then a firmer mattress will be better at supporting your neck and spine and keeping it straight.

Washing Your Bed Sheets

• It is a common myth that by simply washing your bed sheets regularly, you will prevent or contain mite infestation in your mattress. This is true of your bed sheets but you must do much more to protect your mattress. It is almost essential that you use a mattress protector as this will prevent dead skin cells from settling into your mattress and becoming fodder for bed bugs. However, if you don't own a mattress protector, you can very easily vacuum your mattress and then clean it with a low-moisture cleaning agent to deodorize it.

The More Coils the Better

• Consumers are often trained and programmed to get the most for their money, and the coil count in a mattress is no exception. It is often believed that the more coils a mattress has, the studier and more supportive it is. However, this belief is a myth. As long as your mattress has at least 312 coils, then it doesn't matter how many more it contains over that; it won't necessarily be more comfortable.