Why buying a new mattress deserves some thought beforehand

When looking for a house to rent or buy, you critically asses the pros and cons of the house because you know it is where you will spend most of your time. We, however, do not give much thought when buying a mattress which we should.

A person spends approximately a third of his/her life sleeping and mattress purchase decisions should revolve around this. If you spend time critically assessing a house before buying or renting it, then you should definitely assess the mattress you buy as you spend a majority of the time in your house sleeping.

When buying mattresses, most of us consider its colour and maybe the thickness more than we do about the quality, durability and comfort.

Sleeping is resting and we all deserve to at least be comfortable when resting. So what is there to consider before buying a mattress?

Take the mattress for a test drive. When shopping for a mattress, try to lie on the mattress in the store for at least 10 to 15 minutes. Don’t feel self-conscious or let the salesperson hurry you along. It’s a big purchase, and if you don’t try it for at least 10 minutes you’re not going to get a real feel for it. Couples should test out the mattress together.

In Kenya, it might be hard to get a sales person that is willing to wait for you to lie on a mattress that you might not buy for 15 minutes but you’ve got to give it a shot. If you are certain that you will buy a mattress from the store, it doesn’t hurt to take your time to lie on different mattresses to get the one most comfortable for you.

Ask about comfort guarantees or trial periods before you buy. Ask for it before you buy, and be sure you understand the details, such as whether you’re required to pay to ship, if it includes a money-back guarantee or exchange, if you must return the mattress within a certain time frame, etc.

This is also where your budget lies. All of us definitely consider the price of the mattress with regard to our budget as we can only afford to buy a mattress that matches our budgets. People buy mattresses for even Ksh 200,000 while others spend less than Ksh 2,000 on the same. The most important thing, however, is being comfortable when sleeping. This should be given priority.

Mike Fischer, CEO for Superfoam Limited, a Kenyan mattresses manufacturing firm, advises that before you buy a mattress, you should consider value proposition and the lifespan of the mattress. He, however, says that the buyer needs to have some advice before buying it.

“You might want to look at the affordability of the mattress but most importantly, one needs to experience the mattress and be sure that it will provide the comfort needed,” Fischer told Business Today in an interview. “You spend a fair share of your life sleeping and it is important to choose a mattress that will give you the experience you require.”

A need may arise for specific types of mattresses maybe for orthopaedic patients and if you need to buy an orthopaedic mattress, do so only if you are instructed by a doctor or a medical practitioner. Orthopaedic mattresses are available upon order directly from the manufacturer or the doctor might recommend where to buy.

It is advisable that you buy an orthopaedic mattress as advised by the doctor because selecting a different one or buying the wrong orthopaedic mattress might actually worsen the patient’s condition.

Keep in mind that doctors are not mattress experts, but they know one’s medical condition and symptoms and will probably have some good advice from that point of view.

“For children, I might recommend that parents do not compromise on good quality because it is crucial for their growth and development. As they advance in age, they can upgrade to different types of densities that suit their bodies. People who experience body pain, post-surgery recovery support or are looking for extra support for the neck& back should buy orthopaedic mattresses as advised by their doctors,” Fischer added.

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Remember, it’s your mattress, your back, and your money, so it’s worth the time to research on it and get the best mattress possible. Keep an eye out for specials and sales, and always try to negotiate delivery charges.