These are all important questions, and furthermore, not difficult to answer.  In the class I cover these in much more detail, but here are some facts that will give you a basic understanding of mattresses:

Core support systems, if they are springs or botanical latex, hold up well and are unlikely to be a problem.

Soft comfort layers are used on top of the core to make the mattress more comfortable.

All soft materials eventually break down but some do so much faster than others.

Soft materials only break down where a body sits or lies thus accentuating divots where one sleeps.

Polyurethane foams, which are petroleum based, will lose 20 to 25% of their thickness over 5 years. Polyurethane foams often have other names to throw you off such as eco foam, soy foam, memory or visco foam, super-soft and others. (eco or soy foams are usually 80 – 90% petroleum based).

Polyurethane foams are cheaper than other comfort layers so are more likely to be found in mattresses.

Pillow-top, Euro-top, Box-top and very plush mattresses use more comfort layers and thus break down sooner and to a greater extent. Six inches of poly foam means a 1.5 inch depression in five years. Eight inches ends up six inches thick where you sleep – a 2” depression which is unsleepable.

The core system of a mattress is usually about 6-8” thick. Everything else in the mattress is comfort layers.

Flipping a mattress (2 sided only) allows the area facing down to refresh and even out, thus extending the life of the mattress significantly.

If you have read any of my other posts, you already know that I think that can’t flip, one-sided mattresses, are a con on the public. My recommendation is always to get a two-sided, flippable mattress.

The retail price of a mattress does not correspond to longevity. Retail markup can sometimes take your breath away, especially at those stores doing lots of advertising (someone pays for it).

The warranty of a mattress does not correspond to longevity. Warranties are for manufacturing defects, not comfort or how long it will last. A high percentage of the people attending my class are there after finding out their “warranty” did not cover the divots in their almost new mattresses. A 20 year warranty may be on a mattress that will be worn out in 5 years.

Many times people in my class will say they had their last mattress for 20 years or more and it still looked fine. Many mattresses made in the 70’s, 80’s and even the 90’s had very little padding on top of the core support system (remember, firm – firm – firm was the mantra of the day) and that padding often looked like compressed cotton-fiber carpet pad, quilted tightly into a cover on each side of the mattress. These beds often had labels sewn into the cover showing the turning and rotating schedule to follow. There was very little to break down or showing of impressions and people kept them long after the manufacturers suggested they be replaced.

Manufacturers used to tell you to replace your mattress in 10 to 12 years. Now they (and Consumer Reports and Goodhousekeeping) tell you to replace your one-sided mattress in 5 to 7 years! Many people are not even getting 5 years out of theirs.

Lots more is covered in the class every Saturday morning at 9:30. All are welcome.

The Shell Game

Greenwashing: Retailers want to jump on the “green” bandwagon, presenting everything as eco, green or natural even if it is made mostly with petroleum and synthetics. There are no enforceable standards for what is “natural” or “green”.

Synthetics: Many “latex” mattresses are being made using synthetic rubber known as polystyrene butadiene or styrene butadiene (SBR). Often stores will present this as natural rubber (yes, petroleum is presented as a natural product).

Soy Foam: Is a plastic foam.  It is roughly 15-20% soy oil, and the remainder is from petroleum.  This is presented as a natural material by some; again, petroleum being sold as a natural product.

Layers: The latest ruse is to present mattresses with an inch or two of SBR latex laminated to polyurethane foam (or “soy foam”) as being a natural latex mattress. Almost all benefit of latex is lost.

Smoke and Mirrors: Comparisons made between synthetic latex and 100% botanical latex are manipulated to present styrene butadiene rubber as comparable or even better than real rubber. Tests are conducted at a ridiculous and unrealistic 158 degrees (Fahrenheit) in order to have it perform better than botanical latex. When compared at room temperature, botanical latex excels.

Inevitably, when shopping for latex mattresses you will run into discussions about Talalay and Dunlop rubber. This argument is often engaged in as a diversion from what the rubber is made from. If the latex is pure botanical rubber, then either process is good. Over the years we have found the Dunlop process botanical latex works best for the support cores of mattresses while the Talalay process rubber is good for use as the cushioning top layer. The differences are truly minor, however, and both hold up well and offer good comfort. In our store we have not experienced a difference in consistency.

So, as it is in many products, it is buyer beware. A knowledgeable consumer is a good consumer. When shopping for latex be aware of the fog of misinformation.

Jeff Garfield

I can now foresee this occurring with a product that is near and dear to my heart – latex mattresses. First, let me say that after 41 years in the mattress business, I believe that there is no better mattress material for comfort and longevity than pure botanical latex. A mattess made solely with 100% botanical latex should last 15 to 25 years with little loss of comfort or support. Such a mattress should show little or no depression over that time. Latex Mattresses have been our specialty for the past 24 years with 25 different models on our floor, most built to our own designs, two-sided and flippable. So, what is the problem?

Lately, latex has become the hot item and the cheapening in price and quality is happening. Many stores have “discovered” latex and many manufacturers, to get an edge, are using synthetic latex (SBR – Styrene Butadiene Rubber, made from petroleum and solvents) because it is cheaper. Many are calling their product “Natural”. Some are laminating an inch or two of SBR latex to a block of polyurethane foam and calling it a latex mattress. Often they are only upholstered on one side, eliminating the ability to flip the mattress to get maximum life and comfort. The unwary or uninformed consumer is the victim of these retailers, often paying a high price in both money and the sting of poor quality. Many of these manufacturers and retailers represent their products as natural or pure latex. The latex is inside the mattress so they are unlikely to be caught lying. Unfortunately, even researching on the internet is difficult because there is a lot of deception. One manufacturer of synthetic latex represents their latex as being all natural and has flooded the internet with smoke and mirrors. Their “signature product is 80% synthetic SBR and 20% botanical. The product is “tested” to be longer lasting than botanical latex but the test is done at 158 degrees, the lowest temperature where it can test as durable. Also, petroleum and solvent based synthetic latex, unlike botanical latex, offgasses noticeably for many weeks and even months after opening the mattress.

All of this cheapening of the product I call a race to the bottom. My concern is that the outstanding reputation, much deserved, of botanical latex will be sullied by negative reviews of broken down mattresses represented as latex. The pressure is on to compromise, to appease the consumer who shops price alone without understanding what they are getting. We won’t do it. The same thing happened with the “Can’t Flip” “No Flip” mattresses, but we have found taking the high road is best.  Sticking with durable products is in the best interest of our customers, our store, and our planet.

I do hold out hope that the cycle for latex will be different and that the consumer will be better informed. I don’t hold out much hope that the manufacturers and retailers will get a conscience.

Like many industries, mattress have been going through a period of cheapening the products. Another industry where companies have been mostly purchased by Private Equity Firms is appliances. It used to be you would buy an appliance expecting it to last 20 years or so. If something broke, a repairman would come to your home and fix it. Now, if you get five to seven years from the appliance you are lucky, and forget the repair. Parts aren’t available.

The reason companies make can’t flip mattresses is cost. The profits on them are too great to go back to two-sided mattresses. The companies can save 25-30% by not including the second side cushioning layer,the expensive part of most mattresses. They didn’t pass this savings on to the consumer (some can’t flip mattresses sell for several thousands of dollars), just used the savings to increase profits and then resell the company to another investment firm. Simmons has now has been sold many times. The added benefit is that the consumer is back in the marketplace in three to five years (or they put up with a saggy, uncomfortable bed).

When we deliver new mattresses to customers we offer to take away and recycle, if possible, their old mattress. Recently, on a day when we delivered 10 new mattresses we took away three can’t flip mattresses, all from one of the best known “S” brands, all just three years old and all completely worn out. Not even homeless shelters or charities will take mattresses so saggy so they ended up in a landfill. These were not inexpensive mattresses retailing locally for over $2000 each. One would think that such worn out condition after just three years would be covered under warranty but these companies deny all but the most extreme breakdowns.

The stores that sell can’t flip mattresses will tell people that these companies don’t make two-sided models anymore and will give all kinds of mumbo jumbo reasons for it. What they don’t tell you is that most of them do make two-sided models; they just don’t sell them to the consumer. They make them for the hotel/motel industry because hotel/motel owners know what products hold up and will avoid one-sided mattresses. They don’t last. Doesn’t that just show the manufacturers true stripes?

That’s my rant and is why my store will not sell “can’t flip” mattresses. In order to be sold on our floor, mattresses need to have two sleeping surfaces or have zipper access to the inside so that components can be flipped or refreshed. It is not right to sell mattresses that wear out so quickly. A consumer should be able to expect their new mattress to last and be comfortable for 8 to 12 years or more  and longer for 100% botanical latex mattress models.

Jeff Garfield
Bedrooms & More, Seattle

What is the value of a box? When shopping for a new mattress should you need to buy a new box, or can you use your old box?  Is using a platform bed as good as using a box?

All of these are good questions, and the answer may vary.  Most boxes these days are just fabric covered height.  They have wooden slats across the top; oftentimes there will be cardboard over the slats.  The few companies that still use coils or metal in their boxes, use a rigid structure with little to no give.  Therefore, a box is merely height to hold a mattress on a frame.  This is one of the reason platform beds have become more popular over the years.  As boxes became an unnecessary part of the support system, people have chosen to save money by selecting frames that no longer require a box.

It used to be that boxes were an integral part of that “support system”.  If you go back far enough in the history of mattresses, you’ll find that batting materials like hay, wool, and cotton were the sleep surfaces of choice for most people (nowadays, we would liken these beds to futon mattresses).  Back then coil boxes would provide responsiveness to a sleep surface that was generally quite firm.  As mattress companies became more developed, coil systems were inserted into beds to increase their comfort life.  These heat tempered coils were able to maintain their shape for up to 2 million compressions, whereas batting materials compressed fairly quickly.

With coils now being part of the mattress, the coil boxes became a liability to mattress companies.  The number of coils used in boxsprings were not numerous enough to handle the weight of a mattress plus people combined; and mattress companies were more likely to have warrant-able sags to mattress sets they sold.  Often times, people needed to insert plywood between the mattress and box to firm up their sleep surface.  When people didn’t firm up the bed themselves, sags in low coil count boxes led to problem for mattress manufacturers and consumers alike.

So mattress companies changed.  Boxes are now manufactured with little to no give so that sags are less likely to be a result of the box, and are sometimes an unnecessary purchase.

If you are now in the market for a new bed, and your bed frame requires the use of a box, do you need to buy a new one?

Unfortunately, you may.  Mattress warranties require that you put the mattress on good support system.  Platform beds are almost always okay, but old boxsprings generally aren’t.  As I said before, these old support systems can develop sags, and that will telegraph through, and potentially even damage a new mattress. If your old box has a slatted wood top and no give, then you should never need to replace it.  These platform boxes are a permanent solution; and essentially all mattress are okay on these.

Then why did the salesperson tell me I have to replace my box, or that it would void my warranty?

It may be that the salesperson doesn’t know; or it could be that a rare mattress company has a unique policy.  A platform box is equivalent to a platform bed.  If there is center support under the middle of the box or mattress, you will meet the requirements for nearly all companies.   If you are using a box, anything over a twin or full size should have center support; if it’s a platform bed even a full needs that support.

This partnership comes at a perfect time to unveil OMI’s new Youth Bed (details coming soon).

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One must remember the landscape of the early 1970ʼs. If you went to buy a new mattress at the time you would find a choice of firm or firmer. Mattresses were, of course, two sided, with a heavy duty spring system and minimal padding consisting of a compressed fiber pad, usually made of cotton, and a thin quilted cover. The whole mattress was 7 to 8” thick. Doctors at the time (Chiropractors had not hit the scene yet) recommended a firm mattress for support. If you could sleep on the floor that was the best thing for posture and support.

Waterbeds were the diametrical opposite of this. Water supported the body evenly by the natural laws of hydraulics, pushing back with equal force when a person lay down. There were no pressure points, just conforming, enveloping support. All this from a product that cost very little and lasted a very long time. The early waterbed business was something that a young person with barely two nickels to rub together could start, feel good about, and feel they were saving the customer from some hard as a rock, torture rack known as the innerspring mattress. What better was there?

So what happened? Well, the waterbed people, many of them hippie, non-business types, were stupid. The public bought into the idea of flotation sleep and often put up with inconvenience, sometimes poor quality, all to get that warm, wonderful sleep provided by natural water. In fact, between 25 and 30 million waterbeds were sold in their 20 year heyday. This fact did not go unnoticed by the spring bed industry. Although some of the big “S” brands did add some waterbed type beds to their lines, most did not. Instead, unlike the stupid waterbed people, they were smart. Waterbed store people tried to see how cheap they could sell their products. At the final showdown, waterbeds were available just about everywhere for $99 for any sized bed. Now the spring bed folks, seeing the success of plush, conforming sleep surfaces, started making plush, even pillow topped, mattresses, offering them to consumers for the unheard of prices of $1000 and more. All this at a time when those “firm”, thin mattresses were selling from $200 to $400. I told you they were smart! Today, if you go shopping for a mattress you can hardly find a truly firm model – everything is plush and thick. Even the “firm” mattresses are cushion firm or plush firm.

So, it may be true that waterbeds are dead and gone, but the legacy of the waterbed era is evident in the choices you find in mattress stores today.

Why was this considered good advice? Because all of the aforementioned companies only make One Sided Can’t Flip Mattresses! So do many other mattress companies, but the top names in the business start with an “S”

One-sided mattresses just don’t last as long as a two-sided mattress you can flip. Many mattress companies and all “big S” mattress companies have adopted the one side, can’t-flip mattress for just one simple reason; there is more profit in them. One sided mattresses are about 25% cheaper to make yet they can wholesale them to the dealers for the same price they did a two sided mattress. Since they are one-sided they know they don’t last as long and the consumer will be replacing their mattress sooner.

Come in to our store and see only two-sided mattresses or ones that have removable covers that will allow you to refresh the mattress. It’s just the right thing to do and Mom knew best!

Organic bedding can help people with allergies and those susceptible to chemicals emitted by synthetic materials. Continue Reading