How to Buy the Best Mattress

The ultimate guide to the best mattress types and brands.

mattress care

Mattress Jousting? A strange and fun “new” mattress trend.

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mattress jousting collision

When you run a site about mattresses, you tend to pay attention to anything new that you see that’s related to beds.

Recently, I was typing “Mattress j” into Google when I was doing a search, and my trusty Chrome autocomplete spits out, “mattress jousting” as the first recommended phrase.

“Mattress what?” I thought to myself, raising an eyebrow. “Is this some new product that I’ve never heard of?”

Alas, no. Mattress jousting is not a product. It’s more like a “sport.” And when I say “sport” with quotation marks around it, that’s exactly how I mean it.

Evidently, the search mattress jousting became popular as a result of this GEICO commercial (sorry, couldn’t find it on YouTube) that used footage from this original YouTube video. Note that the original video is from at least 7 years ago!

Naturally, after you watch your first mattress jousting video, it leads you down the YouTube rabbit hole of OTHER mattress jousting videos.

My personal favorite mattress jousting video is this one, with an entirely different take on mattress jousting where the jousters slide the mattresses on the slick floor of the dorm hallway and spectacularly collide with each other, getting massive air in the process. The best part is that they are wearing what looks like some kind of helmet, which turns out to be necessary.

What kind of mattress works best for mattress jousting? Looks like a small and lightweight mattress that is easy to carry, but with enough cushioning that you don’t end up with a brain injury when you collide with your fellow jouster.

You’ll also want to make sure that you are in a similar weight class as your opponent, as this guy proves by losing his tooth in a mattress joust.

College campuses are the most popular venue for mattress jousting — particularly in freshman dorms. However, you’ll also find the sport in army barracks, and even as official summer camp competitions with adult supervision.

Have fun, and don’t get your teeth knocked out. As one YouTube commenter so wisely says, “Pillow fights are for little boys. Mattress fights are for men.”

Mattress Disposal – Eco Friendly Ways to Dispose of Your Mattress

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mattress dumped garbage
Stop! Don’t dump your old mattress. It is against the law, and there are much better alternatives.

When it’s time for a new mattress, what do you do with the old one? Here’s a guide to proper mattress disposal.

After about 10 years your mattress should be replaced with a new mattress. Even a quality mattress, under normal wear and tear, will begin to lose support after this length of time. Proper mattress disposal may take a little planning but the payoff is in the benefits to the environment. Far too many mattresses end up in landfills or on the side of the road. With a little research you will find that there are more eco-friendly ways to dispose of your mattress.

The first thing you can do when is contact the store where you bought the mattress. Furniture stores and mattress outlets sometimes offer mattress disposal at no cost. They either will pick up the old mattress when the new one is delivered or schedule another date. However, it is a good idea to ask the vendor whether their policy is to take the old mattresses to a recycling center. In many cases furniture stores simply take the mattresses to a landfill; which is what you are trying to avoid.

Another alternative when you buy a new mattress is to sell or give away the old mattress. Put out the word that you have a good quality used mattress available. Take out an ad in the local newspaper or online classifieds. There are people who look for used mattress to either recycle or rebuild. You can consider leaving the mattress curbside in hopes someone will drive by and pick it up for this purpose. However, your city may have regulations against this so it is best check first.

Donating to a charity is another eco-friendly mattress disposal option. Contact charities in your area to see if they accept used mattresses. Charities in some municipalities have restricted the types of donations they will take. Old mattress can contain bugs, dust mites and bodily fluids like perspiration, so it is best to check to see if they are accepted. Some charitable organizations do have the facilities to properly sanitize used mattresses for reuse.

If none of these options work for you, try looking for creative ways the mattress can be repurposed. The most environmentally conscious way to dispose of your mattress is to recycle it. You can do this yourself by dismantling the mattress and making use of its parts. For instance the foam can be cut into pieces and made into pillows for your new mattress or other furniture in your home. If you enjoy sewing, the cloth can be used to make clothing or for other crafting projects. Junk yards will sometimes buy coils and other salvage pieces from your mattress.

Recycling centers across the country can also be helpful with a proper disposal of your mattress. They will pick up your old mattress for a fee depending on the size of your mattress. The mattress is broken down to the bare bones and the pieces are separated for various uses. Even the wood from the frame can be shredded for wood chips or cut into small pieces for other uses.

Whether you choose to donate, recycle or reuse the old mattress, your effort benefits the environment. Knowing this, you can enjoy your new mattress feeling good about the method you have chosen for proper disposal of your old mattress.

Did we miss any good methods? How did you get rid of your last mattress? Leave a comment!

Mattress Recycling

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dumped mattress
CC Flickr photo of dumped mattress courtesy of editor.

Wondering about your mattress recycling options?

Sooner or later your old mattress will start to show signs it is finally ready to give up the ghost. A permanent sag in the middle, lumps, bumps and springs that don’t bounce back are all indicators that the time has come for a new mattress. While waiting for that fabulous mattress you’ve ordered, the question becomes what to do with the old one. Dumping the mattress is not an option. Fortunately, there are several recycling options available.

Mattress Recycling at Furniture Stores

Most furniture stores and mattress outlets offer to take away the old bed when they deliver the new mattress. But not all stores take them to recycling centers. More often, the old mattress ends up in a landfill. Ask the store what is their policy on mattress recycling before you take them up on their offer to remove the old furniture.

Recycling Centers: Will They Take A Mattress

The most resourceful recycling centers reuse up to 90 percent of an old mattress. The mattress is thoroughly broken down to make the most of all materials. The cloth is used to make clothes, the wood is shredded into chips and the springs and foam are recycled for various projects. One company in California that specializes in recycling has an entire facility dedicated to dismantling mattresses down to the bare essence. The company charges $48 to $88, depending on the size of the old mattress, to pick up an old mattress.

A rebuilt mattress is made of recycled materials on the inside. Rebuilt could also refer to a rebuilt frame added to an old mattress. Laws in most states require that stores clearly disclose if a mattress is rebuilt, since they are usually made of a mixture of both new and used materials.

Donate A Mattress

Donation is another mattress recycling option. In many communities Health Department ordinances are very strict so it is best to check to see if your donation will be accepted. Even in areas where donations are allowed, some charities will only accept a new mattress because of health concerns. Used mattresses are a habitat for dust mites, mold and mildew as well as other bugs. The surface of the mattress can contain matter that is unhealthy to inhale such as urine, saliva and perspiration. Older mattresses can also contain odors which can cause problems for people with allergies or other respiratory problems.

Used mattresses can be properly sanitized using a strict procedure requiring either heat or chemicals. Mattress recycling centers that use these cleaning techniques must disclose to customers details of the cleaning process. A furniture bank in Atlanta, GA accepts used mattresses that are free from bugs, tears or heavy stains. The mattresses are sterilized in their warehouse and donated to needy families. People who do choose to buy a used mattress rather than a new one cover it in plastic to stop soil or parasites from making contact with the body.

Mattress recycling prevents the waste of useful materials and decreases consumption of raw materials. It has saves on energy usage and the resulting gas emissions. For these reasons and many more people are planning recycling option for their old mattress even before they begin shopping for a new one.

Other Resources About Mattress Recycling

Ohio Mattress Recovery recycles mattresses, but not nationally.

Earth911 can give you local options for recycling or donating your mattress. Go to the main page, and search for mattresses.

Earth Talk at The Good Human covers the subject in a question and answer column.

Did we miss anything? Leave a comment and let us know, so that we can continue to update this page.

How to Vacuum a Mattress to Fight Dust Mites

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mattress and box springs from simmons
CC Flickr photo courtesy of castawayvintage.

Dust mites are microscopic organisms that live by eating human dead skin cells. They live all over the home in pillows, furniture, carpet and especially mattresses; since human body creates millions of dead skin cells during sleep to provide plenty of food. It is important to know how to clean a mattress since dust mites can cause health issues for people with allergies or respiratory conditions such as asthma. Proper mattress cleaning can effectively fight dust mite infestation.

Using a Vacuum Cleaner on Your Mattress

Any homeowner can get a good mattress cleaning using a high quality vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA filter. Since dust mites multiply quickly, a thorough vacuuming should be done on a regular basis. Between the mattresses should be vacuumed as well as box springs, under the bed and anywhere the mattress makes contact with the wall. Homeowners whose bedrooms are carpeted most likely need more help with cleaning a mattress since dust mites hide in carpeting.

Using a Steam Cleaner on a Mattress

Steam cleaners, when used with specially designed cleansers, disinfect and deodorize a mattress in addition to killing dust mites. Vapor steam cleaners come in a variety of styles and price ranges and can be a big help with mattress cleaning to help control dust mite infestation. A good cleaner will heat the water to 298 degrees; which is the temperature that also kills any mold and mildew in the mattress. For households with allergy or asthma sufferers, it is especially important to learn how to clean a mattress in a thorough manner.

Hiring a Professional

Hiring professional cleaning services is the best way to get effective mattress cleaning. Employees of professional companies are knowledgeable about health issues that can arise from dust mites and other pollutants found in mattresses. They are trained to use the correct tools to thoroughly clean mattresses and other dust mite hiding places. The vacuums that are used by professionals are more powerful than the average homeowner has at home. Most have filtration systems two times the size of vacuums sold in department stores.

Professional steam cleaning is another way to solve the dilemma of how to clean a mattress well enough to kill dust mites. Most companies use non toxic and natural cleaning solutions that don’t leave a residue that could aggravate allergy symptoms. A professional steam cleaning provides a deep cleaning to your mattress. Professional cleaners also apply an antibacterial and fungicidal spray on the mattress for protection between cleanings.

Mattress Maintenance

Maintaining a mattress that has been cleaned is just as important as knowing how to properly clean a mattress. Bedding should be washed at once a week with water that is at least 130 degrees. Specially designed fitted sheets, called dust mite encasings are effective for dust mite control. Most department stores sell tannic acid which can be sprayed on the mattress to deactivate dust mite feces that can aggravate people with allergies. Since dust mites thrive in conditions where there is a 50 percent or more humidity level, running a dehumidifier is helpful to fight dust mites in between a mattress cleaning to keep the level under 30 percent.

Other Resources for Getting Rid of Dust Mites in a Mattress

How to get rid of things has a good page with solid tips on getting rid of dust mites in a mattress.

The Dust Mite Protection site has a list of tips on getting rid of dust mites in your mattress.

Net Wellness is a university based site with a lot of good advice on fighting dust mites in general.

Did we miss anything? Is there anything wrong with this page? Was it helpful? Leave a comment and let us know, so that we can continue to improve it.

Mattress Cover Options

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Stained Mattress bedwetting
CC Flickr photo courtesy of duchamp.

A mattress for your bed is something that you can expect to replace after several years as it is not something that lasts forever. However, there are things that you can do to increase the life span of your mattress such as getting a mattress cover. Besides for prolonging the life of your mattress, a mattress cover can also improve the quality of sleep that you are getting each night. There are other benefits to using a mattress cover on your bed.

Choosing a mattress cover for your bed is a way to protect your mattress against dust, fluids such as sweat and even coffee if you have breakfast in bed, and other allergens that might find their way into your mattress. It is hard to know what is the best mattress cover for your bed as there are many different styles and types on the market today.

Choosing a mattress cover can be as difficult and time consuming as choosing the mattress itself. There are a number of things to consider.

When choosing a mattress cover you have to consider if it is waterproof or not. If you have small children or are trying to potty train a toddler then a waterproof mattress cover is something that you need to consider when choosing a cover. This will prevent the mattress from becoming stained and smelly if your child has an accident during nap time or throughout the night. Keeping the mattress free of urine will definitely allow you to keep it longer.

See our post with specific waterproof and allergen proof mattress cover recommendations.

Waterproof mattress covers come in a variety of sizes. In some cases you may only find a cover that is basically a one size fits all type of cover. This may work for some beds, but if you are trying to put this on a twin bed, you may find that you have more mattress cover than you do bed. Waterproof covers traditionally have not been designed for comfort but in recent years this has changed. It’s possible to find mattress covers now that have some padding which can give you a comfortable night’s sleep and protect your mattress.

There are different styles of mattress covers on the market and some are designed to fully cover the bed while others have been made to just cover the top portion of the mattress. Of course, there is a difference in price between the two types. A cover that fits down over the entire mattress offers more protection and therefore costs most. However, the price of a mattress cover is not high and spending a bit of extra money on a good mattress cover now to protect your mattress will save you a great deal of money in the long run.

People often worry if a mattress cover will protect them against everything that can damage or wear out the bed. It is safe to say that there is not product on the market that can do everything but buying a high quality mattress cover is sure to protect you as much as possible.

This is a product that has been created for the sole purpose of protecting your mattress so you can feel assured that it will protect against just about anything. The question “what is the best mattress cover?” will always be asked and the answer depends on your needs – going for a comfortable and waterproof mattress cover is probably the best option.