Mattress
Care
TIP
1:
Nothing
to
Sneeze
At
It
may
not
be
the
pollen
outdoors
or
the
family
dog
that
has
you
so
miserable.
Your
mattress
is a
haven
for
dust
particles.
The
dust
can
seep
into
your
pillows
and
your
sheets.
If
the
dust
combines
with
the
feathers
in
your
pillow,
it
can
keep
you
sneezing
from
sundown
until
your
alarm
rings
in
the
morning.
Allergy
specialist
Dr.
Mark
Kayem,
who
has
appeared
on
HGTV,
suggests
a
waterproof
mattress
pad
that
will
repel
dust
and
allergens.
He
also
recommends
that
you
replace
your
feather
pillows
with
synthetic
ones
to
minimize
dust.
TIP
2:
Don't
Throw
It
Away!
There
is an
alternative
to
throwing
out
that
old
Posturepedic.
Mattresses
contain
wire,
paper,
cloth,
and
other
materials
that
your
local
recycling
plant
can
convert
into
useful
items,
including
new
mattresses.
Your
County
Extension
Office
or
recycling
agency
can
tell
you
whether
your
mattress
is
recyclable
and
where
the
recycling
locations
are.
You
can
sleep
better
at
night
knowing
that
you've
done
something
to
help
the
planet.
TIP
3:
Pad
Your
Part
Consider
investing
in a
mattress
pad
to
protect
your
mattress
and
help
you
sleep.
If
you
like
your
mattress
soft,
a
mattress
pad
can
take
some
of
the
hardness
out
of a
firm
box-spring
mattress.
Convoluted-foam
mattress
pads
can
be
used
under
a
traditional
mattress
pad
or
the
bottom
sheet.
You
can
also
buy
mattresses
with
foam
permanently
embedded
in
them.
Either
way,
padding
provides
support
and
reduces
mattress
wear
and
tear,
particularly
since
the
contours
keep
you
in
one
position
throughout
the
night.
Incidentally,
mattress
pads
may
also
keep
you
from
having
to
wash
your
mattress.
(
Because
they
repel
dust
and
stains.)
TIP
4:
For
Futon
Lovers
You
should
turn
your
futon
every
time
you
change
your
sheets.
You
should
also
air
it
out
once
a
day,
especially
if
you
live
in
Japan's
warm
climate,
which
can
be
particularly
wearing
on
futons.
Mattress
pads
can
protect
your
futon
from
moisture
and
dust.
Vacuuming
the
futon
will
take
care
of
any
dust
that
does
collect
on
the
surface
and
inside
the
fabric.
When
you
clean
the
futon,
laundry
detergent
and
water
are
your
best
bet.
Scrub
the
futon
vigorously
with
a
scrubbing
brush.
You
can
also
use a
granular
rug
cleaner/scrubbing
brush
product
combo
for
stains.
Placing
the
mattress
out
to
dry
in
the
sun
will
not
only
dry
it,
but
also
keep
it
fresh.
TIP
5: No
Mattress
Is An
Island
If
you
live
in a
studio
apartment
and
are
trying
to
save
on
space
by
not
using
a bed
frame,
consider
this:
Sleeping
close
to
the
ground
may
not
be
healthy
for
your
mattress.
Colder
temperatures
close
to
the
ground
may
wear
out
your
mattress
faster,
and
the
dust
and
pollens
on
the
floor
may
seep
into
your
mattress
and
cause
allergies
). In
addition,
because
your
mattress
has
no
support,
it
may
not
hold
up as
well
under
your
weight
because
it
has
none
of
the
resistance
and
firmness
that
a bed
frame
provides.
TIP
6:
Wash
Without
Wear
You
don't
have
to
punish
your
mattress
when
you
wash
it.
There's
a
balance
between
thorough
cleaning
and
abusing
the
surface
of
your
mattress.
Thorough
soaking
may
cause
the
mattress
to
mildew
and
is
not
recommended.
You're
better
off
washing
the
mattress
a
section
at a
time.
Star
with
a
small
patch
in
the
corner
and
clean
your
mattress
bit
by
bit.
Remember
to
change
the
rinse
water
frequently.
Do
one
side
at a
time,
letting
the
other
one
dry.
You
can
also
use a
fan
or
hairdryer
to
dry
as
you
go.
Consider
not
using
straight
water
when
you
wash
that
musty
mattress.
You
can
actually
mix ˝
teaspoon
liquid
dishwashing
detergent
in a
quart
of
warm
water
and
soak
a
sponge
or
brush
in
the
solution.
If
you
don't
want
to
wash
your
mattress,
you
can
sprinkle
a
thin
layer
of
baking
soda
on it
to
get
rid
of
the
odors.
Leave
the
mattress
alone
for a
few
hours,
then
use a
hand
vacuum.
However,
if
your
chief
concern
is
the
overall
cleanliness
of
your
mattress
and
not
the
odor,
you
may
want
to
stick
to
the
washing
routine.
A
word
on
household
products:
Dry
cleaning
agents
and
spot
removers
may
damage
your
mattress.
Plain
soap
and
water
are
your
best
bet.
TIP
7:
Water,
Water,
Everywhere
When
you're
not
cleaning
your
mattress,
keep
liquids
from
it as
much
as
possible.
Don't
spill
water
on
your
mattress.
If
you
do,
air-dry
it
immediately
or
use a
hair
dryer
if
there
isn't
too
much
moisture.
Too
much
water
can
cause
your
mattress
to
weaken
and
become
moldy.
We
assume
you
no
longer
wet
the
bed,
but
if
you
have
children
who
do, a
rubber
sheet
is a
good
idea.
Also,
invest
in a
plastic
mattress
pad
TIP
8:
Keep
The
Kids
Away
Are
your
kids
jumping
on
every
bed
in
the
house?
There's
a
"jumper"
in
every
family,
and
usually
the
jumping
is
contagious.
While
this
may
seem
like
harmless
childhood
fun,
it
may
mean
you
have
to
replace
your
mattress
sooner.
Repeated
jumping
leaves
impressions
that,
over
time,
can
reduce
the
resiliency
and
durability
of
your
mattress.
Consider
investing
in a
$10
trampoline
from
Toys
"R"
Us
instead.
Encourage
young
guests
not
to
abuse
the
bed.
As
for
you
adults,
we
trust
you
won't
stand
or
jump
on
your
mattress.
TIP
9: He
Ain't
Heavy…But
The
Mattress
Should
Be
The
bed
frame
should
be
heavy
as
well.
A
heavy
mattress
combined
with
a
solid
bed
frame
provides
maximum
support.
What
makes
a
mattress
heavier
than
another?
-
Mattress
of
steel.
The
more
steel
in
the
coils,
the
heavier
the
mattress
-
King
cotton.
Weight
for
weight,
cotton
is
heavier
than
foam.
-
Light
foam
or
heavy
foam?
Low-quality
foam
is
less
dense
than
high-quality
foam.
TIP
10:
For
Martha
Stewart
Fans
If
Martha's
not
available,
try
Deborah
Burnett,
who
appeared
on
HGTV.
Burnett
proves
herself
knowledgeable
about
mattresses
as
well
as
about
matching
pillowcases
with
sheets
or
choosing
duvets.
She
advises,
"When
buying
fitted
sheets,
always
check
the
package
to
determine
what
size
mattress
the
sheet
fits.
Most
mattresses
nowadays
are
extra-thick,
so
you
will
need
a 9"
to
13"
pocket
for a
proper
fit."
Fitting
the
sheets
properly
creates
a
better-looking
bed.
But
looks
alone
aren't
important-it's
the
mattress
inside
that
counts.
Poorly
fitted
sheets
rub
and
chafe
at
your
mattress.
Sheets
that
fit
your
mattress
will
protect
it
and
keep
it in
good
health
for
years
to
come.
This
improves
your
sleep,
which
makes
you
feel
better,
and
look
better,
too.
TIP
11:
Turn,
Turn,
Turn
You
should
turn
your
mattress
frequently.
Mattresses
conform
to
your
body's
natural
contours,
but
they
can't
do
that
if
you
sleep
on
one
side
of
the
mattress
too
long.
This
creates
impressions
that
can
create
resistance
to
your
body's
natural
shape.
You
need
to
sleep
on
all
sides
in
order
for
the
mattresses
to
fully
conform
to
your
body.
You
should
turn
your
mattress
end-over-end
and
upside
down
once
every
two
weeks
for
the
first
three
months
of
use.
Afterwards,
you
only
have
to do
this
once
every
two
months.
By
turning
the
mattress
this
way,
you
save
unreasonable
wear
and
tear
that's
not
covered
under
your
warranty.
TIP
12:
Air
It
Out
Immediately
Take
your
sleep
set
(or
mattress,
if
you
have
ordered
a
single
mattress)
right
out
of
the
package
immediately.
Unless
you
intend
to
exchange
the
mattress,
dispose
of
the
plastic
wrap
and
other
packaging
immediately.
Place
the
mattress
in a
well-ventilated
area,
perhaps
outdoors,
and
allow
it to
air
for
at
least
thirty
minutes.
TIP
13:
Flat
on
Its
Back
When
you
carry
your
mattress,
keep
it
flat
on
its
side.
This
reduces
strain
on
your
muscles
and
eliminates
damage
to
the
mattress.
TIP
14:
Bent
Out
of
Shape
Do
not
bend
your
mattress,
since
bending
damages
the
innersprings.
If
you
have
to
bend
the
edges
to
fit
the
sheet,
you
don't
have
the
correct
sheet.
When
moving
the
mattress
through
doorways,
you
should
probably
carry
it on
its
side.
If
you
must
curve
the
mattress,
flex
it.
Don't
allow
it to
flex
more
than
45
degrees.
The
Stearns
and
Foster
mattresses
are
the
exception,
sine
they
are
built
specifically
for
bending
and
carrying
without
damage.
TIP
15:
Handle
With
Care
You
can
strain
your
mattress
by
lifting
it by
its
handles.
These
are
designed
solely
to
help
you
place
your
mattress
correctly
in
its
foundation.
TIP
16:
New
Foundations
You
should
replace
the
foundation
when
you
buy a
new
mattress,
and
you
should
ideally
get a
foundation
that
matches
the
mattress.
A new
foundation
will
most
likely
not
support
the
mattress.
Sometimes,
you
believe
the
mattress
is
sagging
and
worn-out
and
do
not
realize
the
foundation
provides
the
main
support
for
the
entire
mattress.
An
old
or
weak
foundation
can
hurt
you
the
same
way
an
old
mattress
can.
TIP
17:
Framed!
To
validate
your
warranty
and
make
your
mattress
last
longer,
buy
an
appropriate
frame
and
center
support.
Queen
and
king
sets,
in
particular,
require
a
frame
with
a
center
rail.
TIP
18:
No
Boarders
Don't
use a
board
to
prop
up or
support
your
mattress.
If
you
have
a
good,
solid
support
frame
and
foundation,
you
need
no
extra
support.
A
board
may
cause
friction
that
can
damage
the
mattress.
TIP
19:
Don't
Smoke
in
Bed
Your
mattress
is
flammable,
so
apart
from
the
cigarettes,
keep
away
matches,
lighters,
gas
burners,
torches,
and
hot
plates.
If
you
use
heating
pads,
make
sure
your
wires,
plugs
and
cords
are
insulated
and
in
good
condition.
Don't
leave
a
heating
pad
on
all
night.
TIP
20:
It's
The
Law
You've
heard
this
warning
before:
Do
not
remove
the
tag
label
at
the
end
of
the
mattress.
No,
you
probably
won't
go to
jail.
But
you'll
be at
a
disadvantage
if
you
want
to
argue
that
something
is
covered
under
your
warranty
rights.
The
tag
identifies
the
mattress
and
the
warranty
as
yours.
Check
out
www.Bed-and-Mattress.com
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