Introduction

Fifty years ago, it was predicted that advances in technology would make our working days considerably shorter, and our time for relaxation considerably longer. How wrong they were!

Modern life is hectic and demanding, with an ever-increasing number of calls being made on your time; we work longer hours than ever and sleep on average, 90 minutes a night less than our grandparents did. This means that we're being stretched at both ends of the day! And when sleep suffers, so does living.

It's when we're asleep that our bodies restore the energy that is depleted daily. Without deep, restorative sleep, our bodies can't keep up the pace we demand of them, which means that good quality sleep is now more important than ever. And one of the most important contributors to quality sleep is a quality mattress!

• The importance of a good nights sleep
• What should you consider when you buy a mattress?
• Mattresses uncovered
• Settlement of fillings and turning the mattress
• Further informaton
  • Frequently asked questions to enlighten your decision when choosing bedding products.
  • Ever wondered why beds, mattresses and the like are the way they are? The Appliance Of Science!

The importance of a good nights sleep!

There is little doubt that the pressures of modern day life can take their toll on our bodies. Stress, lack of movement and insufficient relaxation time constantly drain our psychological and physiological energy supplies. Thankfully, we can all enjoy the ultimate opportunity to recharge through relaxing, restful sleep.

During the night, brain and body switch to repair mode, relieving the stresses of the day, topping up immune systems, boosting energy levels, restoring our skin and soothing tired eyes. Therefor, the better the sleep, the better equipped we are to deal with each new day.

On average, we need 8 hours uniterrupted sleep each night but during the night each one of us will move up to seventy times and make around a dozen full body turns. And because we are asleep the whole responsibility for supporting our spine lies with our bed, not our muscles. That is why we each need a bed that will support us perfectly throughout the night.

During sleep the natural S-shape of the spinal column needs to be maintained as best possible. Inadequate support (either too soft or too hard) makes the spinal column sag, which increases the pressure on the intervertebral discs. In addition this leads to a generally uncomfortable feeling (pressure on the skin and bones), which results in the sleeper making many more movements in order to get into a more comfortable sleeping position.

Did you know that if your mattress is too firm or too soft, it could quite dramatically decrease the effectiveness of your sleep? There are many reasons for sleep loss, but research shows that the most common reason is discomfort. Sleep deprivation has been identified as a factor in the national epidemics of diabetes and obesity. Inadequate sleep may also weaken the immune system.

Back pain is the most common health problem at home. If your mattress forces your spine into an unnatural position, it can result in restless sleep, pain and stiffness. With the support of our mattresses, you will wake up feeling refreshed and revitalised!

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What should you consider when you buy a mattress?

• You should replace your bed at least every 10 years. Even by then, it will have lost 70% of its effectiveness.
• On average, people keep the same bed for 15 years.
• Decide your priorities before buying a bed. Size, price, longevity, health issues?
• Buy a bed that gives correct support and comfort for your weight and build - not just firmness
• Don't buy a bed smaller than you need. Remember that if there are two of you, a standard 4ft 6in double will leave each of you with just 2ft 3in - less than a typical baby's cot!
• Buy the largest bed possible to allow you the maximum sleeping space.
• Buying a bed that suits you is important to your well-being. Almost an hour's sleep a night can be lost through using an uncomfortable bed.

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Mattresses uncovered

Open coil

An open coil spring system is made by inter-twining high tensile steel and turning it into one complete frame of springs. This is then linked together by a tighter coil of steel running either horizontally across or vertically up and down the length and breadth or the frame, creating a complete spring unit that is linked together. The term 'gauge' refers to the diameter of the spring and how tightly it is coiled. The tighter the coil, the firmer the feel of the mattress. 15 gauge is quite soft with 12.5 gauge being fairly firm in feel. This frame is then placed within the base of the mattress frame and secured with stitching.

The frame is filled with a variety of fillings which will differ according to the manufacturer and the quality of the mattress. These fillings range from natural fibres such as pure wool and lambswool, mohair, silk, cashmere and even latex, to man made fibres such as reflex foam and memory foam and supersoft white fibres which all have their own brand names.

The mattress is finally overlaid with more layers of fillings placed on top of the spring unit to create a comfortable sleeping surface, again the choice of layers depends on the manufacturer and the luxuriousness that is being achieved. These fillings are secured using either a stitching method called 'micro-quilting' or 'panel quilting' which holds the fillings in place running a stitch across the surface of the mattress in a pattern creating a flat surface, or by 'hand tufting', which involves pinning the fillings at specific points on the surface of the mattress with a long stitch that runs from the surface down through the inside of the mattress to the core of the spring unit, they look like buttons pressed onto the mattress and create a wavy surface.

Pocket sprung

A pocket sprung system is created by turning high tensile steel into individual springs which are then wrapped into their own singular covers. These are then either placed into the base of the mattress by a machine in rows, or on more expensive models they are placed by hand into the base and secured by a stitch which is also done by hand, this is called 'hand nesting' and is a very labour intensive process. The mattress is then filled and layered with a variety of fillings in very much the same way as the open coil mattresses. The fillings again range from natural fibres such as pure wool and lambswool, mohair, silk, cashmere and even latex, to man made fibres such as reflex foam and memory foam and supersoft white fibres which all have their own brand names like 'superluxe' and 'ultraluxe'. the most luxurious mattresses will have silk, cashmere, pure lambswool and/or memory foam and latex.

You will find that the majority of the pocket sprung mattresses on the market are hand tufted. The exception to the rule is mattresses that are topped with memory foam or latex, these will be micro-quilted as a hand tuft may prevent the memory foam and latex from doing what they are designed to do. One of the key things to look for with a pocket sprung mattress is the presence of a hand side stitch.

This is a very labour intensive process that involves physically putting a 5" needle in by hand through the side of the mattress wall, the needle is fed around the pocket springs at least two rows deep and then pulled back out through the mattress wall at the same point it went in. This 'stitch' will pull the springs back towards the wall of the mattress providing edge to edge support.Hand side stitching runs around the complete wall of the mattress and the number of rows of stitching increases according to the quality and cost of the mattress.

Memory foam

Visco elastic memory foam (originally developed by NASA) is a foam system that will mould to the individual curves of each body and will always return back to its original shape. It is heat sensitive and is designed to warm to the body temperature and induce a supportive and comforting nights sleep. Memory foam is medium in firmness, supportive, and responds to your body's pressure and temperature. It is not a soft mattress. It molds to the curves in your body, providing posturepedic support all along your spine.

Latex

Latex is a naturally derived biodegradable product produced from the rubber tree. Latex is hypo-allergenic, and breathes to keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Bacteria, mildew, and mold cannot live in latex and can last up to 30 years. Both orthopaedic and anatomically supportive latex mattresses will promote good circulation and will respond and contour to your bodyshape.

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Settlement of fillings and turning the mattress

Initially slight hollows may appear in the sleeping areas of the mattress. This is quite normal and is caused by the filling compacting under body weight, not by damaged springs. Gradually the filling will compress to an even level over the entire surface. Turning and rotating as described below will aid this process.

Our sprung mattresses have substantial layers of upholstery and fillings and need turning to ensure even settlement across the whole surface of the bed. Rotate the mattress head to foot and turn over completely once a week for the first 12 weeks, then once a month. If not turned regularly then hollows will form in the sleeping area.

If the mattress has a warm and a cool side , set with the appropriate side upwards, rotate through 180degrees monthly and turn over completely twice a year to coincide with the seasons.

A 'No Turn' mattress only has upholstery on one side and so cannot be turned over, it should be rotated 180 degrees monthly.

Turning Latex and Visco-elastic mattresses

These mattresses do not need turning and in some cases may only have one sleeping surface so cannot be turned, but the mattress should be rotated through 180 degrees monthly. With use, the cells within the foams will open fully and the mattress surface will react more quickly. The mattress may feel as if its getting softer but the important pressure relieving properties remain the same, and eventually the whole mattress will react evenly.

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Further informaton

Now you can see why buying a bed seems more of an important investment than an everyday purchase, so it's vital you buy the right bed to suit you and your home. We've compliled a list of the most frequently asked questions to enlighten your decision when choosing the right bed.

Just bought a new bed? Why not also read our guide, Ten Simple steps for looking after a new bed.

For the boffins. Ever wondered why beds, mattresses and the like are the way they are? The Appliance Of Science! 

Whether you're looking for information on choosing a mattress, buying a bed, or want tips for a better night's sleep, the Sleep Council website has loads of information like useful tips for a good night's sleep and helpful info on how to choose the right bed. You can also request free info leaflets for more details.

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