How to Buy the Best Mattress

The ultimate guide to the best mattress types and brands.

used mattress

Are Some Stores Selling You Used Mattresses for New Ones?

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CC Flickr photo courtesy of deadling. Did your "new" mattress start out here? If so, it was against the law.

There are always rumors and accusations that some stores try to pass off used mattresses as new and in a few cases that may be true. However, federal law prohibits that practice and all used mattresses must be plainly marked as such. When choosing a mattress it is important to remember that it is not illegal to sell a used mattress or those containing used materials. However, in the majority of states, it has to be marked as used. Some states also require that all tags be in place in order to be sold, even as used.

There are a few ways you can protect yourself when looking to buy a new mattress where you won’t get a used one instead. Even if you are buying from a seemingly reputable retailer, if the protective plastic has been removed from the mattress and box springs, look closely at the fabric pattern and make sure they match. Even a slight variation could indicate one or the other is from a used set.

Pay Attention When Buying a Mattress on a Discount

Some stores will offer discounts on mattresses if the plastic has been torn or if there is a defect in the merchandise. Most of the time this will not be an issue, but you will want to grill the sales person to insure you are getting a new mattress even though the price is outstanding. There is no telling what you will be taking home in a used mattress.

Some obvious signs to look for when buying a mattress are any stains that may be visible and excessive wear on the fabric or in the threads, especially near the seams. Don’t be afraid to pull open the area around the bead at the seams to see if there is any evidence that shows you are not looking at a new mattress.

Choosing a Mattress

When you are deciding which mattress to take be sure you try it out for more than a couple of minutes before making the decision. As strange as it might seem, it is recommended that you spend about 15 minutes lying on one before choosing a mattress to take home. Many stores will not have a problem with this, but some others may take exception to you taking a nap on their showroom floor.

Some stores you visit when looking for a mattress may offer the mattresses that have been on the floor for demonstration purposes for sale. Often they will be reduced in price but some of the less than honest stores may pass them off as new. While it may have never left the building, it is not a new mattress. If not in its original cover and has had other people on them, in most states they are required to be identified as used.

Comfort and protection are some important things to ask about when choosing a mattress and remember to get all warranty information in writing. If the promise is not in writing, it’s not a warranty and will not protect you if anything happens to your mattress.

Read what the FTC has to say about used mattresses.

Should I Ever Buy a Used Mattress?

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CC Flickr photo courtesy of soundfromwayout. Trying to save a few bucks? We don't recommend getting a mattress this way, even if it's free!

Let’s face it. Most of us like to find ways to save money, and that includes purchasing items that are used. Some have no reservations about hitting the rummage sales or browsing through the local thrift store.

However, when it comes to choosing a mattress, most experts agree that you should never buy a used one.

Used Mattress vs. New Mattress

Used mattresses can pose a health issue and sanitation issue, and no matter how much you clean them, you never know if you’ve gotten them clean enough. Years of dead skin and microscopic insects are likely lurking in the layers of the mattress, which are quite deep. Additionally, you never know what kind of prior accidents might have happened on the mattress, including bed-wetting mishaps, blood stains or nausea outbreaks. Cold and flu germs could even possibly be embedded in the fibers.

Choosing a Mattress – Think about Dust Mites and Bed Bugs

One of the most common insects that live in mattresses is the dust mite. Dust mites are not visible to the human eye, so even after you’ve cleaned, there is no telling whether or not all of the little critters have been eradicated or if any still remain. Dust mites feed off of the dead skin that flakes off of the human body, and leave feces wherever they go. These invisible bugs love mattresses, logically because there are loaded with dead skin, and they likely take up long-term residence in the fibers. For some, dust mites cause allergies, and no one wants to break out into a sneezing fit when they’re trying to get some sleep.

Bed bugs are another concern. Although they seemed to have been unheard of since the early 1940’s, bed bugs have actually been on the rise again over the past decade or more. A bed bug, also known as a wall louse or redcoat, is a parasite that feeds off of human blood. Certainly no one wants to be the late night dinner of these insects, let alone have them crawling within the four walls of your bedroom!

In fact, if you were to examine the fibers of a used mattress under a scientific microscope, it would be enough to make you run away screaming in complete disgust. All of the filth and bacteria that you would be subjecting yourself to is not worth shortcut of trying to buy used. And, the greatest horror is that it’s not even your dirt! Who knows who used the mattress before you!

Sure, you could hire a professional to come and deep clean the mattress, but since services such as these are pricey, in the end you would not be saving yourself money in the long run. Additionally, most mattresses are not meant to last that long anyway. The maximum life expectancy for a mattress is approximately ten years; so if you were to purchase a used mattress, who knows how long it would be usable? It could be completely shot within a year or two.

Finding the Best Mattress for You

In conclusion, when choosing a mattress, it’s best to buy new. Just like you would not want to buy a used pair of shoes or someone else’s previously sampled cosmetics, you don’t want to rub someone else’s bacteria from their mattress all over your body. The best mattress is a brand new, perfectly clean mattress – one that you know will last you a number of years, and when you clean it, you at least know that the germs you are removing are your own.