The Mattress Expert

From too soft to too firm. Latex mattress topper for comfort that lasts.

Nancy writes:

We recently returned a Sealy Posturepedic Pillowtop as it was much too soft and non-supportive for my lower back. The store delivered a S&F last week and I still feel like I am sleeping on cement each night. I ache all over when I wake up in the morning. Such extremes! Is there 

something that would be more middle of the road? We loved our previous bed: Sealy Plush Touchdown from 17 years ago. We hated to replace it but it had developed some bothersome impressions and sagging. My lower back situation is the result of back labor. The physical therapist has given me a series of stretches and exercises but I also need to avoid a too-soft bed and heavy lifting. Thanks so much for your thoughts and time. This is a most helpful, interesting site.

Nancy

 

Hi Nancy,

There are a couple of pieces of good news. First, the firm mattress will provide your back with much better support that that soft pillowtop and last a lot longer, which is also a much better value.

And, what you have is easily made comfortable. Add a 2" layer of soft Talalay latex. Latex is the highest quality upholstery material available and it too, will last a very long time and is also an excellent value for long term use. We use one at home and there is nothing more comfortable. Here is the link to the that latex topper. 

You can order it on line. Delivery is free and there's no sales tax.

Soft Talalay Latex Mattress Topper

 

Thanks, Pete

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 (PST Hours 9am to 5pm, Daily)
Email: [email protected]

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Free Delivery Nationwide....NO SALES TAX.

 

Featuring: Simmons Beautyrest, Pure Bliss & EverEden Latex Mattresses, All-Natural Latex Toppers

All Brand New, Factory Fresh to You.

Stearns & Foster Chasity Ultra Firm Mattress, latex & no memory foam.

Jocelyn writes:

 

Hello there!

I was wondering if you might be able to answer a question for me.  I just purchased a Stearns and Foster Chasity Ultra Firm King size mattress.  I was told by the salesperson that it is not made with memory foam, but rather latex foam.  Do you know if the latex foam used in this mattress is free of chemicals?  I am trying to figure out if there are any toxic chemicals in this mattress.  If there are then I plan on cancelling my order.
Thank you for your help in advance!

Jocelyn

Hi Jocelyn,

That model has zero memory foam. The latex layer is just above the coils and not near the surface. The latex, itself, is synthetic latex...not natural. Synthetic latex is a molecular clone of natural latex and there are no toxic chemicals used in making it.

There is poly foam in that and almost every innerspring mattress. Poly foam is a petro-chemical based product. In the 30+ years I've been doing this, I've only met 2 people who were poly foam intolerant. Unless it isn't properly cured, it is a reasonably safe product. Improperly cured poly foam is evidenced by a strong noxious odor....a rare occurrence.

The only all-natural mattress is latex, but that is not true of all latexes.

I have a friend with that same mattress. It's the best that S&F makes. He uses a soft all-natural Talalay Latex mattress topper with that for more surface comfort....

...just like the one shown here: 

 

Soft Talalay Latex Mattress Topper

Thanks, Pete

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 (PST Hours 9am to 5pm, Daily)
Email: [email protected]

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Free Delivery Nationwide....NO SALES TAX.

 

Featuring: Simmons Beautyrest, Pure Bliss & EverEden Latex Mattresses, All-Natural Latex Toppers

All Brand New, Factory Fresh to You.

 

Does a New Mattress Need a New Boxspring?

Juliana writes:

 

What is the importance of buying a new foundation/box spring when buying a new mattress?

Thanks, Juliana

 

Hi Juliana,

Unless you are using a platform bed or adjustable bed base, your new mattress warranty will be void if you put it on an non-matching boxspring.

If you have an "old" boxspring, it will have weeks spots that the new mattress will conform to, which will cause the mattress to lose its shape quickly.

 

If your boxspring is only a couple/few years old, you now enter a grey area in making this decision. Under these circumstances, there are things to consider.

1) Your boxspring is likely to be fine and doesn't need replacing.

2)  It's difficult to prevail in a mattress warranty claim. (Factories will use any loop hole they can to not replace a mattress, which are all listed on the warranty card. I suggest you read it).

 

If you have purchased a plush or pillowtop mattress, you can almost be assured of needing that warranty.

If your mattress is firm without a pillowtop, putting it on a reasonably newer boxspring is a good gamble, as you aren't likely to need to avail yourself of the manufacturer's warranty.

Thanks, Pete

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 (PST Hours 9am to 5pm, Daily)
Email: [email protected]

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Free Delivery Nationwide....NO SALES TAX.

 

Featuring: Simmons Beautyrest, Pure Bliss & EverEden Latex Mattresses, All-Natural Latex Toppers

All Brand New, Factory Fresh to You.

Mattress used directly on the floor...good for staying fit.

Glenn writes:

 

I have a Stearns & Foster mattress set and I ordered a heavy duty frame 

for it. In the meantime, is it OK to put the whole thing on the floor; 

I don't want to risk ruining the mattress with improper support.

Glenn

 

Hi Glenn,

Absolutely. The purpose of the frame and boxspring is to support the mattress at a convenient height. There is no better support on than the floor.

As an aside, if you'd like to stay in shape without additional exercises or memberships to a gym or fitness center, put your mattress directly on the floor, foregoing the boxspring and the frame altogether. After a couple of weeks of getting up from and down to a mattress that low, you'll feel better an be more fit.

 

http://themattressexpert.com/what-you-need-to-know-before-purchasing-a-mattress-2/#Helpful Tips

Thanks, Pete

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 (PST Hours 9am to 5pm, Daily)
Email: [email protected]

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Free Delivery Nationwide....NO SALES TAX.

 

Featuring: Simmons Beautyrest, Pure Bliss & EverEden Latex Mattresses, All-Natural Latex Toppers

All Brand New, Factory Fresh to You.

Equivalent retail model to the Sealy Vinagrette 600 hotel mattress

Matthew writes:

My wife and daughter recently stayed at the Brown Palace in Denver. They said that the mattress was wonderful. I called housekeeping at the hotel. 

They identified the mattress tag as a Vinagrette 600. What are the specs for that hotel mattress? Is there a close model available to the general public for purchase?

Matthew

 

Hi Matthew, 

Model names for hotels and retails are different everywhere. This makes it difficult to shop. I believe you'll find the specifications of this Sealy Posturepedic model to be very much the same as the mattress your wife and daughter experienced. http://www.homemattresscenter.com/p-646-sealy-posturepedic-joyce-street-plush-tight-top.aspx 

The price you'll see, following that link, is it. Delivery is free and there's no sales tax. You can expect to spend twice that if you buy directly through the hotel. 

Thanks, Pete

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 (PST Hours 9am to 5pm, Daily)
Email: [email protected]

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Free Delivery Nationwide....NO SALES TAX.

 

Featuring: Simmons Beautyrest, Pure Bliss & EverEden Latex Mattresses, All-Natural Latex Toppers

All Brand New, Factory Fresh to You.

S&F plush latex mattress, too soft for a bulging disc.

Nancy writes:

Hi -

I purchased the Stearns & Foster Villa Daniela Latex Luxury Plush at Macy's about a year ago.  

Thought a new bed with help with some back issues, but never got more than a couple of good nights sleep since I've had it.

Granted, during this time, I was treating my back at the chiropractor, so definitely already had issues.  I just got diagnosed with a bulging disc and I'm now wondering if this is the right bed for me?

Hard to tell if it's because of my back problems this bed was never comfortable, or whether the bed was making things worse?

Any advice would be appreciated.  

Thanks, Nancy

 

Hi Nancy,

The Daniela plush, is likely to be too soft for your condition. The top of that mattress is cushioned with a couple of inches of polyurethane foam, which isn't as resilient as latex.

Bulging discs are the precursor to herniated discs if the discs don't get enough firm support.

The best thing for you to do is to flip your mattress over. You will then be sleeping directly on the firm latex core, which will be a lot better for your back.

It's a cinch that you won't find that side as comfortable as the top. If so, add a layer of latex to soften it, but be careful to not soften it too much...just enough to relax your muscles, which will allow you to sleep more deeply. We normally recommend 2 " of soft talalay latex for that job. First, see how well you sleep. For the sake of your bulging discs, use only as much soft latex as you need. If it seems that you won't need much, then go for the 1.5" of soft talalay latex.

Here is the link to the latex toppers. You can order on line or by phone. Delivery is free and there's no sales tax.

 

http://themattressexpert.com/talalay-dunlop-latextoppers/

 

Thanks, Pete

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 (PST Hours 9am to 5pm, Daily)
Email: [email protected]

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Free Delivery Nationwide....NO SALES TAX.

 

Featuring: Simmons Beautyrest, Pure Bliss & EverEden Latex Mattresses, All-Natural Latex Toppers

All Brand New, Factory Fresh to You.

Latex mattress needs a soft latex topper for hip pain & fibromyalgia

Wendy writes:

I bought a king latex matress 3 years ago direct from a factory. Although I ordered the softest core, the mattress always felt too hard. I've added both wool and temperpedic-type foam toppers. I still wake up with hip pain (I have fibromyalgia). I weigh about 140 lbs and my husband is about 155. The mattress I bought is described as "... latex mattress offers a 5 1/2 inch solid Talalay core plus 2 more inches of soft 22 ILD Talalay latex on one side quilted to 1.5" of wool blend on both sides giving you a choice in firmness depending on which side is up. Add in a beautiful cotton damask fabric and you've got, in our opinion, the finest mattress money can buy. This mattress is 10" thick and weighs about 170 lbs. in the king size. 
Is it defective? Do I need a different kind of mattress? Appreciate any advice. Thanks, Wendy

 

Hi Wendy, 

You'd do much better to get rid of the memory foam toppers you're using and get a latex topper. You sink through memory foam, making them useless for comfort.

Keep the mattress you have and add a layer of soft Talalay latex to the top.

We carry a Soft Talalay Latex Topper...much softer than your 22 ILD. At your weight's, I'd suggest the 3" model for the greatest degree of softness.

Here is the link to those toppers. You can order one on line or by phone. Delivery is free and there's no sales tax.

Soft Talalay Latex Mattress Topper

 

 

Thanks, Pete

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 (PST Hours 9am to 5pm, Daily)
Email: [email protected]

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Free Delivery Nationwide....NO SALES TAX.

 

Featuring: Simmons Beautyrest, Pure Bliss & EverEden Latex Mattresses, All-Natural Latex Toppers

All Brand New, Factory Fresh to You.

Stearns & Foster Estate Twila mattress with a latex topper.

Joe writes:

Hi Pete,
I've been reading your blog posts with great interest. Compared to what I encounter when I go shopping, you seem to be the only person making any kind of sense of all this.
My wife and I had a terrible experience with a Tempurpedic mattress and had to send it back. I got headaches from it right away and my wife's asthma worsened immediately after it was delivered. You're right about it being a dangerous product.
My parents have always had Stearns & Foster mattresses and swear by them. After spending a number of hours reading your blogs, I noticed that you used to recommend, regularly, the Stearns & Foster Twila in luxury firm with a 2" soft latex topper, but haven't done so for about a year. And, I don't see them on your website. Would you mind telling me why? After all that I've read, it sounds like the perfect fit, as it has no memory foam and my parent's approval. (They are buying this for us). 
We are average size, young and reasonably fit, with no physical ailments, other than my wife's asthma.
I would love to buy one of these, "sleep systems", as you call it, in king size. And, I'd like to buy it from you.
Quite frankly, your opinion is the only one I trust.
Can you help me with this? 
Thanks, Joe

Hi Joe...and thank you,
It was a year ago that Tempurpedic bought Sealy, of which S&F is a part. 
I hated the thought of promoting a product that would contribute to the coffers of the Tempurpedic company, given their blatant disregard for the health and well being of the consumer.
At that point, there were only a few models in the S&F line that had no memory foam in them and I knew it was just a matter of time before that would no longer be the case.
The new S&F line has been introduced and is available at all the major department stores and large mattress chains.
However, you are in luck. Your timing, in fact, couldn't be better. The Sealy factory we deal with happens to be their one and only remaining franchise. As such, they have always been the last to produce the new lines that have come along.
So, for the next few to several weeks, I can still order for you a Twila. 
The Twila, as you must have read, has the best specification of their older line, using some latex and no memory foam.
Joe, all it will take is a phone call. Give me a ring and I will hook you up with a brand new, freshly made S&F Estate Twila in luxury firm with a 2" all natural Talalay latex topper.

http://themattressexpert.com/talalay-dunlop-latextoppers/

Thanks, Pete

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 (PST Hours 9am to 5pm, Daily)
Email: [email protected]

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Free Delivery Nationwide....NO SALES TAX.

 

Featuring: Simmons Beautyrest, Pure Bliss & EverEden Latex Mattresses, All-Natural Latex Toppers

All Brand New, Factory Fresh to You.

A new mattress for a large person, back & leg pain‏

M. writes:

Greetings Pete;
I really need your help to find a new mattress to purchase.
Last year I had back surgery in which all five of my lumbar vertebrae had the back portion of the bone cut out and removed. As a result I can only sleep on my side with a posture cushion (pillow) between my lower legs to help keep my spine in alignment.
I only sleep for about two and a half hours at a time when cramping in my thighs causes me to get up and walk around before I can go back to bed. My pain medication causes dizziness so I have to sit on the edge of the bed for a while before I can stand up.
I'm 5'7" and weigh 240 lbs. Could you please advise me on the best mattress that would help me. I appreciate your expertise and any advise that you can offer me.
Thank you, M.

Hi M.

Before we get into the mattress part, I'd like to share something with you concerning your medication.

While it's nothing as dramatic as your surgery, I had fallen off a ladder, at about 10' and landed on my back...tearing many of the muscles. The pain was unlike anything I could have imagined.

At first, the pain meds were narcotics and made it difficult to function. During this time, I awoke one morning with a bad headache. I decided to take 3 extra strength Excedrin for the headache and planned to wait a little while before taking the meds for my back pain. Unexpectedly, 20 minutes later, the headache was gone and so was the pain in my back.

In another episode, when I had pulled my back out, I refused the narcotic meds and was given a dose of 1600 mgs of Motrin. That too, killed the pain.

I mention it, only because I know how difficult is is to live with some of the stronger pain meds that are commonly prescribed.

 If we can align your spine without having to use a pillow to do it, you should be able to sleep longer without interruption. This will certainly make life a better, which in turn would speed up your healing process. 

A mattress that provides firm contouring support will help with your alignment. It will have to be firm enough to support your weight. And while it will contour to you some, the firmness needed for support won't be comfortable enough for the deep and length night's sleep I know you're looking for.

To make you comfortable at the surface, relieve your pressure points and relax your muscle...all of which aid to promote a deeper night's sleep...you will need to add a layer of latex to the mattress.

 

The strongest mattress on the market, that provides contouring support, is the Simmons Beautyrest Black. The firmest of them is the Bray model.

With the degree of spinal damage, softness is not your friend. My normal latex topper recommendation is for soft Talalay latex. But, given your condition and size, you'll do better with a 2" layer of Dunlop latex. It'll give you a decent amount of surface comfort without being too soft.

 

(Due to a line change and an increase in business, Simmons is currently running 4 weeks or so for delivery, rather than the normal 2 weeks. They say this is a temporary situation and should be back to normal delivery times soon).

 

Here are links to both products. Delivery is free and there's no sales tax. 

 

http://themattressexpert.com/mattress-brands/simmons/beautyrest-black/

 

http://themattressexpert.com/latex-toppers/

 

 

 

Thanks, Pete

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 (PST Hours 9am to 5pm, Daily)
Email: [email protected]

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Free Delivery Nationwide....NO SALES TAX.

 

Featuring: Simmons Beautyrest, Pure Bliss & EverEden Latex Mattresses, All-Natural Latex Toppers

All Brand New, Factory Fresh to You.

A Soft All-Natural Talalay Latex Mattress Topper for Fibromyalgia

Gina writes:

Good morning Mr. Cancelli.
After reading the information on your website, I went to the local
store to try some of the beds.
I am a side sleeper and I have recently developed fibromyalgia.
This causes me to get pain at my pressure points and wake up
every couple of hours. I currently have a stearns and foster plush
mattress. I have added a mattress topper (memory foam) and this helps
only a very little bit, but certainly not enough. I think I need a super soft surface.
Are you able to assist me with a recommendation?
Thank you in advance. I'm looking forward to finally getting an
uninterrupted nights sleep. Gina

 

Hi Gina,

 It seems to me that you don't need a new mattress. to address your fibromyalgia, you only need to soften the surface of the mattress you have.

Even though you found some relief with your memory foam topper, it falls far short of doing the job you had hoped it would do.

What will help you and help you dramatically, is a latex mattress topper, specifically a 3" soft all-natural Talalay latex topper.

For those living in pain, it's a game changer. You find many positive remarks about the latex toppers. But for some, it's absolutely life changing.

The comfort of latex is unmatched by anything else and it lasts a very long time. 

My wife and I use one at home. Our Talalay latex topper is 5 years old and is still like new.

Here is the link to them. It's the perfect solution for relieving pressure point pain.

 

http://themattressexpert.com/latex-toppers/

 

Thanks, Pete

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 (PST Hours 9am to 5pm, Daily)
Email: [email protected]

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Free Delivery Nationwide....NO SALES TAX.

 

Featuring: Simmons Beautyrest, Pure Bliss & EverEden Latex Mattresses, All-Natural Latex Toppers

All Brand New, Factory Fresh to You.