The Biggest Myths About Your Mattress: The Real Truth Behind Them

Most people know the basics of shopping for a mattress, but since it's something we only do once every 10 years or so, there's a lot of misinformation out there.  You're going to spend nearly 20,000 hours on average on a mattress, and a bad mattress can make your life miserable. It's important to get the right one for you. Here's a look at some of the most common mattress myths, and the real truth behind them:

Myth #1: Coil Count is Key

One of the first bits of information you'll see about a mattress when shopping around is the coil count. The more, the better, right? Well, not actually. Above a certain point (about 400), coil count just doesn't make that much of a difference. The type of construction, the number of turns in a coil, coil quality, and comfort layers all mean much more to how the mattress feels.

Myth #2: You'll Know A Mattress is Bad When It Starts to Sag

Most people replace their mattress when is starts to lose support and sags. But the truth is, once a mattress is sagging, it started to lose support long before. The average innerspring of a mattress will begin losing support at about 5 to 7 years of use.

The mattress begins to sag because the springs can't hold up any more, and because the padding and foam inside start to become compressed. Depending on changes in weight or age, some people may need to replace their mattress sooner.  

Myth #3: A Mattress Topper Will Fix Any Problems

When a mattress starts to get uncomfortable, some people put a special topper on it to extend the life a little. While this may provide temporary comfort, it's obviously not addressing the whole problem. A topper won't help if your mattress is lacking in support or has springs poking through. A topper also won't make a lesser quality mattress "feel" like a higher quality one. A topper may help a too firm mattress feel a little softer, or may provide a small increase in support, don't expect a dramatic change with one.  

There are a few areas of life where it's certainly okay to spend a little more to get better quality, and mattress is one of those areas. Since you'll be spending 6 to 8 hours a night on one, it's best to make sure you've got a good one. To learn more, contact a company like Denmark's Furniture Mart & Sleep Shop with any questions or concerns you have.