7 Common Mattress Myths Dispelled
People have gone to great lengths to get a good night’s sleep, and a mattress gave them just that. However, choosing the right mattress can be a herculean task with the myriad of information surrounding the topic. In addition, several misconceptions about mattresses have sprung up making things even more confusing.
Regardless if they were designed as scare tactics, false advertising, or just made up by skeptics, they can heavily influence your buying decision. Unfortunately, making the wrong one can compromise your sleep. It’s essential that these mattress myths be brought to light and debunked so you have the right information to select the mattress that suits your needs.
How Do Mattresses Affect Your Sleep and Health?
Some people will often settle with any kind of mattress on their bed as long as they have something soft to sleep on. However, the type of mattress you get can affect the quality of sleep you’re getting and will eventually affect your body in ways you never thought possible.
The effects can either be positive or negative depending on the situation:
- A good mattress can give you a good night’s sleep, leaving you refreshed and in a good mood once you wake up.
- The right mattress can provide relief from aches and pains.
- Using broken or low-quality mattresses can increase the chance of back injuries, especially on old people.
- Dirty and worn out mattresses can contribute to respiratory health issues and skin allergies.
Mattress Myths Versus Reality
Misconceptions have a funny way of persuading people of either making or avoiding certain decisions; this applies to mattresses as well. Take great care when listening to what people say when you’re in the market for a good sleeping surface.
Below are some of the most common mattress myths:
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Mattresses Must be Replaced Every 8 years
This misconception is probably based on most mattress manufacturers’ estimates on how long a mattress lasts. In reality however, there are no set rules on the number of years until you get a replacement.
The lifespan of a mattress depends on certain factors such as quality, how it’s used, and wear and tear. However, there are some signs that you should watch out for because these are possible indicators that you need to have your mattress replaced.
- Lumpy or bumpy surface.
- Squeaks loudly whenever you move on it (for spring mattresses).
- You sneeze and sniffle after waking up.
- You sleep better on other beds compared to your own.
- You wake up with stiff muscles and joints
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Extremely Firm Mattresses are Great for People With Back Problems
This belief has been around for a long time and has urged people with back pains or spine problems to purchase extremely hard mattresses. Unfortunately, the firm nature of these kinds of beds does not accommodate the natural curvature of the spine.
While switching sleeping positions can help mitigate the problem to a degree, these overly firm mattress will eventually lead to other bothersome issues:
- These mattresses can be uncomfortable for people who sleep on their sides since they create pressure points on the shoulders and the pelvic area.
- Hard mattresses support the heaviest parts of the body, namely the shoulders and the hips, which leads to spinal misalignment.
- Overly firm mattresses do not conform to your body properly, leaving some areas unsupported and will eventually lead to additional back pains.
If you have back problems, using an orthopedic mattress will suit you best. It has plenty of great advantages that make it worth the purchase:
- It evenly distributes your body weight across the entire mattress.
- It reduces strain on your neck and back, which promotes better posture.
- It alleviates stress on the spine, which improves the alignment and reduces the chances of backaches.
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All Memory Foams are too hot to Sleep on.
When memory foams were invented 20 years ago, they were quite revolutionary, but they had one major drawback that convinced people to stay away from them – they have an issue of retaining heat. Old memory foams were made of a rather dense material that lacks interconnected air channels which results in reduced heat dissipation. Unfortunately, this idea about the mattress still carries on to this day.
Memory foam technology has had vast improvements since then, like the open cell construction which allows for better airflow and breathability. In addition, some are even infused with gel and other materials which gives you that cooling sensation when you sleep.
Heat isn’t solely blamed on the mattress as there are other factors that can cause your sleep to be uncomfortably warm:
- Solid platforms with flat bases can obstruct airflow and contribute to heat and moisture retention on mattresses.
- Non-breathable bed sheets and covers can also cause your mattress to warm up.
- Heat-retaining pillows can increase your body’s temperatures by a significant degree.
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Memory Foams Have an Unpleasant Odour
While it is true that memory foams emit a chemical-like smell when people first take it out of the protective packaging, rest assured that it’s only temporary and it’s not toxic as the rumors depict. In fact, this is common for most mattresses that are sealed in an air-tight container. This ‘new mattress scent’ is called off-gassing.
While memory foams are in storage, the Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs used in the manufacturing process are trapped inside the protective packaging. After air-tight wrapping is removed, the foam expands and then the VOCs are released into the atmosphere in a gaseous state, resulting in that off-gassing smell.
Don’t be alarmed by this since the smell will dissipate after a few days. Opening windows and letting air in will also help in getting rid of the smell faster.
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Latex mattresses can Trigger Allergies
This is one of the most common misconceptions surrounding latex mattresses. On the contrary, latex is highly resistant to dust mites and moulds, which are primary causes of mattress-based allergies.
In addition, natural latex mattresses are also free of chemicals used to prevent moulds and dust mites, making it generally safer to use.
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If Mattresses don’t Feel Good the First Time, it’s bad
People need at least 30 to 90 days to adjust to their new mattress. Because it’s still new, you may feel some stiffness to it, and since your body is still used to the old one, sleeping may feel slightly uncomfortable for a little while.
As with all things, give your mattress some time. Once your body has fully adjusted to your new mattress, you’ll be able enjoy it more.
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Getting the Right Mattress will Prevent Tossing and Turning
One misconception that people tend to believe is that they blame tossing and turning on their mattresses or pillows. What they don’t realize is these unconscious actions are the body’s way of getting comfortable.
You might not notice it, but whenever your body feels pain, pressure, or even rise in temperature, it responds accordingly. Your body could be moving as much as 75 times per night from slight twitches to kicking off blankets.
While you can really do anything about tossing and turning at night, a good mattress will give you unrestricted movement and can help reduce any unnecessary ones.
Sleep is one of the most important things in your life, so it’s only natural that you want to make things as comfortable as possible. Purchasing the wrong mattress based on a popular misconception is detrimental to getting a good night’s rest, so be extra careful to avoid them whenever possible.
If you are looking for great deals on mattresses, call SleepMasters at (416) 781-7441 or
(416) 518-4077. We’ll be very happy to help you!