Convoluted sales pitches and multiple offerings from each manufacturer can make buying a bed more bewildering than securing a new car.
So before setting out for the stores, consider these mattress myths debunked by Max Morrison, president of Flex-A-Bed, an adjustable bed company that has been manufacturing mattresses for about four decades.
Myth 1: When buying a bed, look for a mattress with the highest coil count.
When it comes to coil count, Morrison says more isn’t always better. As long as a mattress has a coil count of at least 312, it should be comfortable.
Myth 2: Luxury mattresses are worth the higher price.
This myth is true for those few people who sleep on a bare mattress. But for people who use sheets and blankets on their beds, spending top dollar on a mattress doesn’t always make sense. Morrison says your body won’t know the difference, and the money could be better spent on high thread count sheets or a high-end blanket.
Myth 3: “Memory-foam” mattresses are more comfortable than traditional inner-spring mattresses.
This is really a matter of personal preference.
Myth 4: All mattress manufacturers meet federal safety regulations.
Not necessarily. Before purchasing a mattress, make sure that it complies with the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s new Mattress Open-Flame Standard, which went into effect earlier this year. The commission regulates mattress materials, therefore limiting the intensity of a potential fire and subsequent injuries and deaths.
Myth 5: An adjustable bed is primarily for people with health problems.
While some people who buy adjustable beds are looking for relief from illness or injury, there are many others who just want a good night’s sleep. An adjustable bed can provide that because it is individually customizes head and foot height with the touch of a button.
Once a consumer finds the right mattress, Rubin Naiman, director of Sleep Programs at Tucson’s luxurious Miraval resort, offers these tips for getting a great night’s sleep.
Sleep in a warm-colored, darkly painted room to ease into darkness.
Replace traditional bulbs with with blue blocker bulbs. Exposure to artificial light slows the production of melatonin — the sleep-inducing hormone.
Use a HEPA air-Purifier and humidifier. An air purifier or humidifier with a High Efficiency Particulate Air system will circulate the freshest air, capture allergens, and promote healthy breathing.
Set room temperature to the optimal sleep zone — 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
Use a Circadian alarm clock. Instead of relying of blaring lights or music to jar the user awake, these clocks have a light that slowly grows brighter and encourages the body’s natural wake-up process.
Remove the television from the bedroom to stop sleep and light disturbances.
Sheba R. Wheeler: 303-954-1283 or swheeler@denverpost.com.
