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Issue Date: May 6, 2007
Need2Know
Expert tips on buying a mattress
It's time to replace your old mattress. But the variety of choices -- and costs -- gives you nightmares. "The selling of sleep has become huge business," says Tod Marks, senior editor and mattress expert at "Consumer Reports" magazine. "When you can't sleep, it affects your life, and the easiest thing to blame is the bed." What mattress shoppers need to know:
Know it's time. Robert Hayden, a Georgia chiropractor and spokesman for the American Chiropractic Association, uses this test: "Lay a yardstick on your mattress and see if it touches all the way down. If it doesn't, that's a gap where it's not supporting you."
Take a test-drive. Don't just sit on the mattress -- lie down with your spouse for at least 10 to 15 minutes. And be sure to toss and turn, says Alan Hedge, professor of ergonomics at Cornell University and contributor to Spine-health.com.
Stick to your budget. "Consumer Reports" says all but the cheapest mattresses support you and hold up just fine. "Expect the list price to be at least $800 for a queen-size bed," Marks says.
Compare, negotiate. "Take notes on the mattress you like [coil count, surface padding, price]," and ask retailers for their best price, says Craig Welch, president of What's the Best, a company that posts online buying guides.
Verify the guarantee. Most retailers allow you to try a mattress at home for 30 to 90 days, but read the fine print, Welch says.
-- Frappa Stout
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