Mark writes:
Hi Pete,
What is the best type of mattress?
I've asked this question of many different people in the mattress business and rarely get the same response from any two of them.
I've already been stung, a few times, by following all the hype in the TV commercials I see and by listening to the advice of salespeople, who clearly have a personal agenda.
Nothing I've purchased in the last 5 years has lasted for more than a year.
Granted, I'm a big guy, (6', 225 lbs), but not so big that it's impossible for me to find a mattress durable enough to remain comfortable for more than a year.
I've begun to regard the mattress industry, and the people who work in it, with the same degree of disgust as I did with used car salespeople years ago.
I've spent several hours, (usually in the middle of the night), reading your advice on your blogs and website, and hope against all hope, that I've found the one honest person left.
So I ask you, what's the best mattress...one that will last long enough for me to get my money's worth?
Your time is greatly appreciated, Mark
Hi Mark,
Your assessment of the mattress industry is correct.
I sold my first mattress 45 years ago and was happy to work in an industry that strove to offer high quality mattresses that lasted for 10-20 years...even those mattresses that were among the least expensive.
Value for the dollar had always been there.
Manufacturers used to compete with one another in terms of quality...each trying to outdo the others to make a better mattress.
Years ago, a factory rep would come to the stores and pitch their products to the salespeople...pointing out the features of their mattresses, the benefits they provided, and why theirs was a better product and a better value.
Today, it's all about what sells easily and no talk of quality exists in their salespitches.
What happened to you comes as a huge surprise and disappointment to those who are stepping out of the mattress time warp....those with mattresses that are a dozen years old or older...before everything started going down hill.
The "Corporate Greed" that has affected many of our national industries, hit the mattress industry about 12-20 years ago...slowly, at first, going from two-sided mattress that you could flip, to one sided mattresses.
Along with the now half mattress, came the marketing hype, advertising that "You didn't have to flip your mattress anymore"...leading the consumer to believe that nothing else had changed.
In further attempts to deceive the public, the warranties were lengthened from 10 years to 15, then to 20, to 25 and to Lifetime.
As you may have noticed, those warranties are basically, worthless.
It was shortly after the mattresses went one sided, that they began using, in their mattresses, the diabolical product that allowed them to extend those deceptive warranties and suffer no consequences from them. That product is memory foam. It's the reason why you've had the issues you've had...the same issues that millions of people are having.
Memory foam is a temperature sensitive product that softens as it warms from your body heat.
It allows you to sink into it, which feels fine at first, but becomes less than fine within only months of purchase, as it quickly loses its support and comfort.
The diabolical part is that it will return to its original shape when you get off of it...so that you will hardly ever prevail in a warranty claim that requires a sustained impression of 1.5", 2" or 3", depending on the manufacturer.
Memory foam has many negative side effects.
It sleeps hot, you can change position without waking up, and it's difficult to get out of the bed.
These negative side effects are merely the annoying ones. There are also dangerous ones.
Memory foam consists of many chemicals, some of which are toxic.
When you mattress containing memory foam is delivered, it has a bad odor, which the sales people in the stores will tell you will go away if you air it out.
Benzene and formaldehyde are but two of the several toxic chemicals used.
The side effects range from headache to burning eyes to bleeding sinuses.
The toxic fumes attack your respiratory system.
God help you all, but especially those who have breathing problems, like asthma or COPD.
You have to understand that we are now talking about an industry, that cares so much for the profit boon they have been experiencing, that they are willing to sacrifice your health for their gain.
However, you should all be used to it by now. That's how they think.
You'll object, at first and for a while, but then those who remember what it means to buy a quality mattress will die off and all that will be left are those who heads are full of their deceptive advertising...their propaganda.
Ever since the mattress industry started going bad, we've been working toward cleaning up our little corner of it. We've rid ourselves of most of the name brands, which were the first to betray the consumer...playing off of their decades old good reputations.
The only one we have left of them is the Simmons Beautyrest, because of the value in their coil system and because the memory foam they use is plant based...not as temperature sensitive and not toxic.
In fact, my wife and I home tested a Beautyrest for 4 years....then gave it to our son and his wife, who have had it for the last 4 years.
We used a latex topper with our Beautyrest mattress, which has saved the mattress from premature wear and has provided surface comfort that is extraordinary...surface comfort that has lasted all these years without change.
Your question was, "What's the best type of mattress?"...and I apologize for taking so long getting to the answer, but it was important for you to know why you had experienced the problems you had.
It's important for you to know that you're dealing with an industry that has, basically, turned on you...with name brands that have been sold to investors, that can no longer be trusted to make a quality product.
The best upholstery material on the planet is latex. There's nothing new about that.
Latex was first discovered in the 1880s and was introduced as a mattress material in the 1920s.
Latex comes from the sap of the rubber tree. You may remember the term "Foam Rubber".
There are many latexes out there today.
Some, like the original Dunlop latex and the later Talalay Latex, are available all natural.
Since becoming more popular in recent years...actually delivering on all those promises that the makers of memory foam made...and fell far short on, lots of other types of latexes have become available.
Synthetics and natural latex with fillers, like clay.
Yes. Even in the world of latex, you have to be careful of what you're buying.
Generally, you only have to beware of latex made in China.
The fillers they use cause the latex to wear quickly.
The giveaway is the price. Chinese made latex is much cheaper...in quality and price.
The best type of mattress is an all natural, chemical free, filler free, latex...like in the old days.
We have acquired several lines. The best known and most popular is Pure LatexBLISS. Their line consists of 2 sections...their "Natural" line, which is a blended latex consisting of 70% natural and 30% synthetic latex. (Synthetic latex is a molecular clone of natural latex. No harmful chemicals are used to make it).
My favorite is Natura, a Canadian company using natural latex...and at a decent price point.
Latex is expensive because it's expensively made...unlike memory foam that is cheap to make and scammed as expensive.
Not everyone can afford an all latex mattress. Nor, is an all latex mattress right for everyone.
An excellent quality mattress, a much better value, and the one we sleep on, at home, is:
The Natura of Canada Greenspring Ultra Plush.
The support comes from an Individually pocketed coil system that is better than most...using stronger coils and a high coil count. The surface comfort comes from 3" of Natural Talalay Latex.
We've had this mattress for 4.5 years. It is, still, in like new condition....despite the fact that each of us are over 200 lbs.
It provides excellent support, comfort and longevity....everything you're looking for.
Here is a link to that mattress:
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You'll delight in the comfort of natural wool, latex and plant-based foam while you enjoy the support of our 5-zoned coil unit.
themattressexpert.com
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Despite the "ultra Plush" designation, this mattress is NOT too soft.
Latex is far more resilient than anything else...comfy, but not too soft.
This mattress comes with white glove delivery, which includes set-up and removal of your old mattress.
The prices, shown, are complete...including delivery and tax.
VERY IMPORTANT:
Keeping your mattress clean and dry will increase longevity.
Use our Organic Cotton Waterproof Mattress Protector.
Thanks, Pete
Phone: 1-856-874-6894
Email: themattressexpert@live.com
Website: http://themattressexpert.com/
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