The Mattress Expert

Confused! Back Pain and Numbness on My Mattress.

Denise writes:

 

Hi Pete,

I ran across your website today as I was researching for my next mattress purchase. I am so confused! 

There are so many brands to choose from, so I thought I would just seek your input instead. :)

 

I am 61, 5'6", and around 260 pounds. I have lower back pain, and have knee joint pain. 

I usually have pressure points on my hips and shoulders. 

Sometimes, I get numbness in my arms and fingers, which goes away when I shift positions. 

I am mostly a side-sleeper.

 

I want to purchase a king-size bed, but can you please direct me to the type of bed I need? 

I don't like to sink into a bed, but I did sleep once on a Holiday Inn Simmons Beautyrest "Dream Bed"

That's what the hotel called it - and it was very comfortable. 

The bed in my second bedroom is a Sleep Number.

I don't find it to be the best sleep consistently - sometimes good, sometimes not.

 

What type of bed do I need? Thanking you in advance for any input you can provide!

Denise

 

Hi Denise,

When you consider that all of the name brands, brands you could trust for quality at one time, have been sold...now upholstering their mattresses with memory foam, and that many of the other brands are also upholstering their mattresses with memory foam, this whole business of buying a mattress becomes a lot less confusing.

Memory foam is the worst upholstery material ever invented.

To make a successful purchase, you must avoid any mattress that has memory foam in it. That narrows your choices, considerably.

 

Memory foam is a temperature sensitive material that softens as it warms from your body heat. 

The heavier parts of your body sink, while your arms don’t, causing that numbness in your arms and fingers.

Memory foam sleeps hot, causes back pain to worsen, and off gasses the toxic chemicals from which it’s made...attacking your respiratory system....a health hazard, as well as a poor-quality products.

 

Your sleep number bed is a bag of air, providing inadequate support and, it’s upholstered with memory foam.

 

Simmons Beautyrest mattresses, made for hotels, have no memory foam in them.

These are not available at any retail stores.

You can only get them through a hotel, but they charge a premium price for them.

Still, they don’t wear well under a person your size, as the coils are weak.

 

The mattress I’m recommending uses the same type of coil system as the Simmons Beautyrest, with much stronger coils and a higher coil count.

What’s more, the upholstery is Natural Talalay Latex, which is and has been the highest quality upholstery material for the last 100 years.

 

Here is a link to The Natura of Canada Greenspring Ultra Plush Mattress

https://themattressexpert.com/liberty-ultra-plush/

Liberty Ultra Plush | The Mattress Expert Liberty Ultra Plush. Home → Liberty Ultra Plush . Greenspring Liberta Ultra Plush. Order Here. Ensure better health and well being with the Liberta Ultra Plush Mattress…(aka: Lily, Laurel, Liberty). 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. Twin themattressexpert.com

This mattress has no memory foam 

White glove delivery is free and there’s no sales tax.

Delivery includes set up in your bedroom and removal of your old mattress.

 

 

 

We recommend using a waterproof mattress protector with every mattress.

Keeping the upholstery materials clean and dry will extend the life of the mattress.

https://themattressexpert.com/bedding/gotcha-covered/

 

 

Thanks, Pete

Phone: 856-874-6894

Website: https://themattressexpert.com/

Email: pete.themattressexpert@gmail.com

Sealy Plush Mattress at the Venetian Hotel.

Thomas writes:

 

Hello Pete,

Thank you for your blog and responses to people questions.  

I have a question about finding the Sealy Venetian plush mattress that you find at Venetian hotel in Las Vegas.  

I read a past blog you had posted.  The link that you provide is no longer active or working.  

Do you have a new recommendation or link of where I can purchase the same mattress?

Respectfully, Thomas

 

Hi Thomas,

For a couple of years, or so, after Tempur-Pedic purchased Sealy, hotel grade mattresses were still available at retail stores.

That is no longer the case.

Sealy mattresses made for retail stores are upholstered with memory foam.

Sealy mattresses made for hotels are upholstered with polyurethane foam, which was how they were made prior to Tempur-Pedic taking them over.

 

You cannot buy a hotel grade Sealy mattress at any retail store.

You can only buy them through a hotel.

 

Thanks to the efforts of one of my readers, I have the contact information you need to do just that...shown here:

 

*******************

 

Sharrie Bumgarner

Hospitality Guest & Employee Purchases

Tempur-Sealy Corporate Offices

One Office Parkway at Sealy Drive

Trinity, NC 27370

 

Direct Line: 336-861-3768

Toll Free: 1-866-438-7378

Email: sharrie.bumgarner@sealy.com

 

******************

 

 

 

We recommend using a waterproof mattress protector with every mattress.

Keeping the upholstery materials clean and dry will extend the life of the mattress.

https://themattressexpert.com/bedding/gotcha-covered/

 

 

Thanks, Pete

Phone: 856-874-6894

Website: https://themattressexpert.com/

Email: pete.themattressexpert@gmail.com

Buying a Simmons Beautyrest Mattress from a Hotel.

Curtis writes:

 

Hi Pete, 

I ran across your blog and read some of the articles. A few things i really had not thought about.

> 1. Buying a mattress used in a hotel chain.

        Specifically, that the mattress was designed for part time use and not daily use.

> 2. Body perspiration decreases life of mattress

> 3. Materials used.

 

With that said, we bought a Westin Heavenly bed some years ago after staying in a Westin Hotel. 

We still love the mattress but it is now past its time and has indentations in it (an has for years). 

In the last year, or so, we loved the bedding at the Even and Holiday Inn Hotels as well as the Kimpton’s all IHG hotels. When I asked hotel staff at the Even about the mattress, I was told the Simmons Beautyrest Pillow Top. 

Since I was not given the exact details and I know their mattresses are custom made for them, which one? 

Now the Kimpton does sell their mattresses on line to consumers. 

We loved the comfort and cool feel of both Even and Kimpton mattresses. 

But from reading your articles we are hesitate to purchase, fearing we will regret it in a short time. 

And that we will be buying another mattress in short order. 

Based on the information provided, what would you recommend. 

Not sure if this helps, but my wife and I both sleep on our sides.

Thanks, Curtis

 

Hi Curtis,

There's a couple of way to go about this.

Simmons Beautyrests, made for hotels, have no memory foam in them.

Simmons Beautyrests made for retail, are almost all memory foam.

To buy just a mattress, you're better off getting it from a hotel.

However, buying from a hotel gets you a low end, Silver Series Beautyrest, for which you will pay a premium price.

 

My suggestion is to get a Platinum Series Beautyrest in Luxury Firm and adding a 2" or 3" Plush Latex Topper to it.

The Platinum Series has a lot more coils and you can overcome the negative effects of the memory foam with the latex topper.

The latex topper will provide an extraordinarily comfortable sleeping surface and prevent the premature wear of the mattress, caused by the memory foam. In short, it will last a whole lot longer than the manufacturer intended.

 

Here are links to the Simmons Beautyrest Platinum mattresses and Pure Bliss Latex Toppers.

https://themattressexpert.com/our-brands/simmons/beautyrest-recharge-world-class/  

https://themattressexpert.com/pure-latexbliss-toppers/  

Delivery is free and there's no sales tax.

 

 

 

We recommend using a waterproof mattress protector with every mattress.

Keeping the upholstery materials clean and dry will extend the life of the mattress.

https://themattressexpert.com/bedding/gotcha-covered/

 

 

Thanks, Pete

Phone: 856-874-6894

Website: https://themattressexpert.com/

Email: pete.themattressexpert@gmail.com

Replacing a Sealy Posturepedic Whistlewood Euro Plush Pillow Top Mattress.

Brad writes:

 

Hi Pete,

I previously had a Sealy Posturepedic Whistlewood Euro Plush Pillow Top mattress, which we loved.  

It was the perfect balance of support and softness for my partner and I.  

The only issue is Sealy no longer makes this type of mattress and our old one was a Queen size.

We now have a King size bedroom set.  

 

We got the King Sealy Deveraux Plush Euro Top, recently, and aren't pleased with it at all.  

I'd consider us average sized people at roughly 6'2" 210 lb and 5'7" 140 lb.

But for whatever reason, this bed isn't cutting it at all.  

It appears Sealy doesn't carry any latex options anymore.

I worry other latex beds without the pillow top won't gives us the cloud like soft feel along with benefit of support.  

Do you have a best option you'd recommend and maybe a second option under $1,500 for a King size?

Thanks, Brad

 

Hi Brad,

That bed is not cutting it, for a very specific reason.

Sealy was sold to Tempurpedic and now, all the mattresses they make are upholstered with memory foam...thee worst upholstery material ever invented.

Your old Sealy didn't have any memory foam upholstery layers, which is why it lasted so long and wore so well.

A successful purchase is only had with mattresses that have no memory foam.

That's not easy to do in today's market. All of the name brands have been sold.

Memory foam is used by all of them for the sake of increasing profit.

Today, it's all about profit and not, at all, about quality.

 

There are two way to go about getting something you'll be happy with.

One way, is to buy your mattress through Sealy's Hospitality Division.

Having sooo many mattresses, hotels refused to accept this reduction in quality, since it means having to replace mattresses much more frequently than in the past.

 

The mattresses that Sealy makes for hotels, are made with no memory foam upholstery layers.

They are not available at any retail; stores, despite claims you light see of having 'hotel grade' mattresses.

Here is the contact information you need to buy a mattress through Sealy's Hospitality Division.

Sharrie Bumgarner

Phone: 1-866-438-7378

Email: sharrie.bumgarner@sealy.com

 

Being within your budget, I don't know.

 

Purchased through us, we carry the "Wolf" brand of mattresses...the oldest mattress manufacturer in the country that has been continually owned and operated by the same family.

The Wolf Family established their company in 1873.

They make a very fine product at a reasonable price...in part, thanks to UPS delivery.

They make an old fashioned two sided, flippable mattress that uses the same type of upholstery material used in your old Sealy mattress.

Here is a link to The Brolynn mattress.

https://themattressexpert.com/our-brands/two-sided-mattresses/  

Shipping is free and there's no sales tax.

 

Thanks, Pete

Phone: 856-874-6894

Website www.themattressexpert.com

Email: pete.themattressexpert@gmail.com

Sleep Number Mattress Not Working For a Very Large Woman.

Hi Pete,

At this moment, I am in the middle of a 100-night trial on a Sleep Number bed!  

To me, it feels like I am "just dealing with it for a night or two camping" but that feeling may be because of my body.  

 

First of all, I'm a very large woman, weighing close to 450 pounds. 

I have a frozen shoulder, fibromyalgia, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis and severe osteoarthritis.  

I sleep alone but I also have positional vertigo, so I sleep catty-corner so I never feel like I am falling. 

I just got rid of a Cal King to get the Queen size sleep number bed.  

I am happy with either size although the Queen feels too small for sleeping catty-corner.  

 

Last October I stayed at a Worldmark by Wyndham resort for a week.  

They had a Simmons Cape Breton Pillow top and I thought I was in seventh heaven.  

I slept so well but I would love your input to find a bed that works for me. 

This sleep number bed is certainly not working!  

I would love to hear from you.

Thanks, Ginger

 

Hi Ginger,

I guess you’ve figured out, by now, that a Sleep Number is the wrong mattress for you. Quite frankly, it’s the wrong mattress for most people.
An air mattress is like a waterbed, relying on displacement rather than providing real support.

The Simmons Beautyrest mattresses use a pre-compressed, individually pocketed coil unit, which provides upward and contouring support, which maintains the natural alignment of your spine.
It’s this, that makes those hotel Beautyrest mattresses so comfortable.
Unfortunately, their coils are made of raw steel, not tempered steel.
Under your weight, they won’t hold up well nor last very long.

I have a mattress that is made with the same kind of coil system as the Simmons Beautyrest, having a higher coil count, and those coils made of double tempered steel.
Also, the upholstery is Natural Talalay Latex, which is far more resilient than the polyurethane foam used in a hotel grade Beautyrest...which is more resilient than the memory foam used in retail grade Beautyrests.

The Natura of Canada Greenspring is the mattress I’m recommending.
I have had a number of customers sporting your same weight, and this is what works, world well, and lasts a long time.

Specially, it’s their Firm model and a Pure Bliss 3” Plush Natural Talalay Latex Topper to go on it. 

The Firm mattress is for durability and the Plush Latex Topper is for surface comfort.
The topper will need replacing every few to several years, but not the mattress.

The only downside to this, is the wait time.
The factory is currently closed, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
They are scheduled to reopen on May 4th.
It’ll take 3-4 weeks after that to receive the mattress.

However, it's well worth the wait.

The mattress comes with white glove delivery and there’s no sales tax.
The latex topper arrives via ups.

Here are links to both products.
You can order them, securely, online.

https://themattressexpert.com/natura-greenspring-pocketed-coil-mattresses/

https://themattressexpert.com/pure-latexbliss-toppers/

 

 

Thanks, Pete

Phone: 856-874-6894

Website: www.themattressexpert.com

Email: pete.themattressexpert@gmail.com

Simmons Beautyrest Exceptional Hotel Mattress.

Andrea writes:

 

 

Hello Pete,

I’ve gotten to try mattresses in a fair number of hotels courtesy of both working at a conference hotel (and thereby getting a discount in the chain for personal travel) and my former boyfriend worked for a company based in our city but lived in Chicago so they put him up in hotels each week.  Most times I would stay with him while he was here.  If he had dinner meetings, I’d spend the evening lounging on the bed, enjoying the hotel cable (living out of town in a rural farming community, I personally do not have cable myself).

But I digress, the point is I got to try a bunch of mattresses and when there was a particularly comfortable one I would check the label for brand and make note of it.

 

What would be a current comparable 2020 retail model to a Simmons Beautyrest Exceptionale?  That was the model I narrowed down from my list of “great sleeps” since I like the pocketed coil design.  Is it possible to get the “hotel grade” Simmons mattresses?  A local retailer claimed that all their mattresses are hotel grade but I am not entirely sure I believe them.

 

What firmness do hotels usually opt for?  That’s the part I always get hung up at trying to figure out what to get.  It’s difficult to describe these “great sleep” mattresses.  They seem really firm when you sit on the edge but they were soft comfortable and soft to sleep on that I am not sure on the firmness.  Especially when taking into account possible wear on the mattress having ‘broken it in” and “softened it up”.

I’m a bit on the heavier side these days - the wrong side of 200# and start the night as a side sleeper.  Some nights I stay on the side while other nights I wake up stomach sleeping.  I don’t usually back sleep unless I totally doze off while sitting upright watching a movie.  Technically I guess that doesn’t really count as “back sleeping”.

Additional information for a recommendation, I have a full size bed and have a beautiful steel platform foundation/frame.

 

Does your company do financing?

Are you still operating during this Covid-19 stuff?

What adjustments have you made to the services you provide (I assume in home setup has been put on hold)?

 

Thank you for your time!

Stay Healthy,

Andrea

 

Hi Andrea,

I'm happy to meet a person with enough sense to not believe what a retail salesperson tells her.

Both, Simmons and Sealy, make mattresses for hotels differently from those they make for retail stores.

You cannot buy any of their hotel mattresses at retail stores...and visa-versa.

 

The difference is the upholstery.

Retail mattresses are upholstered with memory foam, which is the lowest quality upholstery material ever invented.

The sole purpose of memory foam is to cause a mattress to need frequent replacing.

Hotels, having sooo many mattresses, wouldn't sit still for this nonsense.

So, the Simmons and Sealy mattresses, made for hotels, don't have memory foam in them.

 

The only place to buy a hotel grade mattress, is through a hotel.

I suggest making your purchase that way.

Name brand mattresses, sold at retail stores, are not worth buying.

 

 

Thanks, Pete

Phone: 856-874-6894

Website: https://themattressexpert.com/

Email: pete.themattressexpert@gmail.com

A Mattress for a Light Sleeper with DDD and Insomnia.

Adrienne writes:

Hi Pete,

I hope you can help me.

I have a lot of sleep issues and need help choosing the right mattress. 

I've had insomnia for more than 25 years. 

I am the lightest sleeper on the face of the Earth! 

If my boyfriend slightly moves a foot, I wake. 

Also, I have DDD, degenerative disc disease in my low back. 

If a mattress is not firm enough, my lower back kills the next day. 

I prefer to sleep on my stomach, but I toss throughout the night because of my back. 

I also have severe airborne allergies.

My doctors have recommended that I get a new mattress.

He said to encase it in a product that keeps allergens and critters from entering and staying in the mattress. 

Can you recommend a product? 

In the 3 years I've been with my boyfriend I've only been able to successfully sleep with him when we stay at very nice hotels on very nice king beds. 

This is hard on a relationship when you can't sleep in the same bed! 

So, I have a lot of issues, please give me some recommendations for an appropriate king size bed. 

Thank you, Adrienne

Hi Adrienne,

I have a couple of tips and solutions for you.

Let's start with the mattress...one that uses an individually pocketed coil mattress, which provides the best degree of motion reduction....like the coil system used at most hotels.

This will address your DDD by giving your back the proper support it needs.

This coil system maintains the natural alignment of your spine.

 

In this mattress, there is no memory foam. 

Memory foam is made of toxic chemicals that off gas in the home. 

This will greatly reduce your allergy problem.

The mattress, to which I refer, is made by Natura. 

It's the Natura of Canada Greenspring in Luxury Firm, Shown here:

https://themattressexpert.com/canada/natura-mattresses/greenspring-liberta-luxury-firm-mattress/

Natura Greenspring Liberta Luxury Firm Mattress | The Mattress Expert Natura Greenspring™ mattresses feature a 5 zone pocketed coil system for targeted support. Alternating layers of plant based CertiPUR® foam with All-Natural Talalay Latex, topped with NaturaWool™ and Tencel blend stretch-knit fabric, deliver the latest in sleep technology. themattressexpert.com

 

To protect your mattress from dust mites and dampness, use a "Gotcha Covered" Organic Waterproof Mattress Protector. It does a fantastic job, sleeps cool, and doesn't shrink.

Shown here:

https://themattressexpert.com/bedding/gotcha-covered/protectors/

Protectors | The Mattress Expert Our fitted sheet style mattress protector is designed to be undetectable under your fitted sheet. First, we started with an incredibly soft 100% GOTS certified organic cotton jersey sleeping surface. themattressexpert.com

 

The Mattress comes with White Glove Delivery, which includes set-up in your bedroom and removal of your old mattress. The Mattress Protector arrives by mail.

The prices, shown, are complete...including shipping and tax.

 

And finally, something that perhaps you've never considered. 

I, too, am a light sleeper. One of the things that has helped me, greatly, is to block out all sounds.

I buy the child size round opaque ear plugs that you can buy at any pharmacy. 

The depth and length of sleep I get when using them, is more than I would have thought.

Also, take some melatonin at bedtime. It helps.

 

 

Thanks, Pete

856-874-6894

www.themattressexpert.com

Email: pete.themattressexpert@gmail.com

Looking for a Simmons Beautyrest Recharge Hospitality Mattress.

Hannah Writes:

 

Hi Pete,

I’m looking for the Beautyrest Recharge, By Simmons, Hospitality mattress.

Can you tell me how to go about buying one?

Thanks, Hannah

 

Hello Hannah,
Simmons Beautyrest Hospitality mattresses are only available through hotel guest services.

These mattresses are not available at any retail store.
Simmons Beautyrest mattresses, made for retail stores, are upholstered with memory foam, which is specially designed to cause a mattress to need frequent replacing.

No memory foam is used in the making of hotel mattresses.

 

 

 

VERY IMPORTANT:

Keeping your mattress clean and dry will increase longevity.

Use our Organic Cotton Waterproof Mattress Protector. 

https://themattressexpert.com/bedding/gotcha-covered/protectors/

Thanks, Pete

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

 

Questions?

Email: themattressexpert@live.com

 

Speak with The Expert

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 

(Please include your time zone with your message)

Free Delivery...Factory Direct.

All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

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Mattress at the Comfort Inn Hotel?

 

Hi Pete,

I was searching the internet for the mattress purchased by Comfort Inn. 

I saw a response, but it was from 2012, stating most hotels purchase Sealy, Serta and Simmons.

With the post being 7 years old, I was wondering if this is still true? 

I am looking to purchase a new mattress in the next month and slept very well there.

Thanks, Kim

 

Hi Kim,

Sealy, Simmons and Serta dominate the hotel industry.

The last time I checked, Comfort Inn had Sealy.

Sheraton switched from Sealy Posturepedic to Simmons Beautyrest, in the wake of Sealy being sold to Tempurpedic.

The larger, better hotels will, usually, use Sealy or Simmons.

I find that many of the lower end motels will use Serta.

 

Whatever you find in hotels can no longer be found at retail stores.

The model names for each mattress will be different at every store, and every hotel...making shopping difficult.

 

The best way to shop is by comparing the specifications....a list of the materials used in the mattress.

Get that info from the hotel who's mattress you like, and compare that list of specifications to other mattresses.

It's a bit of a chore. Or, you can buy the mattress from the hotel...in many cases.

 

 

 

 

VERY IMPORTANT:

Keeping your mattress clean and dry will increase longevity.

Use our Organic Cotton Waterproof Mattress Protector. 

https://themattressexpert.com/bedding/gotcha-covered/protectors/

Thanks, Pete

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

 

Questions?

Email: themattressexpert@live.com

 

Speak with The Expert

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 

(Please include your time zone with your message)

Free Delivery...Factory Direct.

All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Serving The US & Canada...NO SALES TAX.

Sealy Posturepedic Encore 720 Hotel Mattress.

Dana writes:

 

Hi Pete,

We stayed at a hotel in Idaho, and slept better there than how we've been sleeping at home.

That mattress was a Sealy Posturepedic Encore 720 and had no memory foam in it.

Researching this, led me to your blog.

It was there, I read about how bad memory foam is, which explains the problems I'm having with my mattress.

I also read that I can't buy the Sealy's hotel mattresses at retail stores...just through the hotels.

So, thank you for that information. I will call the hotel and inquire about getting one.  

Do you carry any mattresses that are similar, without any memory foam?

If so, can you send me that information?

Thanks, Dana

 

Hi Dana,

I'm sending you two links.

One for Old Fashion Quality, Two Sided Mattresses upholstered with with polyurethane foam.

(The poly foam used is plant based and not petrochemical based).

Shown here:

https://themattressexpert.com/our-brands/two-sided-mattresses/

Wolf Double Sided Flippable Mattresses | The Mattress Expert Old Fashioned made Two Sided Mattress that you can flip. Strong coil unit and NO Memory Foam. Durable for Plus Sized People. Works with Adjustable Bed Bases. themattressexpert.com

The second link is to One Sided Mattresses upholstered with Latex.

Shown here:

https://themattressexpert.com/our-brands/wolf-mattresses/wolf-hybrid-mattress/

There is NO Memory Foam in either line of mattresses.

 

All of these mattresses are shipped via UPS.

Delivery is free and there's no sales tax.

 

 

 

 

VERY IMPORTANT:

Keeping your mattress clean and dry will increase longevity.

Use our Organic Cotton Waterproof Mattress Protector. 

https://themattressexpert.com/bedding/gotcha-covered/protectors/

Thanks, Pete

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

 

Questions?

Email: themattressexpert@live.com

 

Speak with The Expert

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 

(Please include your time zone with your message)

Free Delivery...Factory Direct.

All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Serving The US & Canada...NO SALES TAX.