So what's in a mattress? A good night's sleep, that's what! And just how do you get that? Well, you get the right mattress. It really is as simple as that. Findcheapmattresses.com's sole purpose in life is to help you in that goal. We have no horse in the race ... just the desire to make sure you get a good night's sleep.
So what's next? Well - check out the recommendations, figure out if they make sense to you, and then do what's right for you. If you don't think cheap mattresses are for you, move on. Really. It's that easy.
You don't have to spend a fortune to find a great mattress, but you do need a little information before you hit the stores. Finding quality cheap mattresses is easy when you keep in mind 3 key points. These points are coil count, type of coil, and fabric. Let's talk about what to look for in each of these:
Coil Count - You can get up to 1000 coils per mattress. Generally the more coils you have, the more support your mattress provides. As long as you consider that in your purchase, you should be ok.
Keep in mind though that you do not have to have that many for a quality mattress. Unless you plan to get a memory foam mattress topper, somewhere in the middle should still provide you with many choices for good quality cheap mattresses.
Type of Coil - There are also different types of coils to look for.
One type is pocket spring. Each spring is in an individual fabric pocket and functions independently of the other springs around it. When weight is applied to one part of the mattress, only that isolated area moves. This coil type is especially popular with married couples since it causes fewer disturbances for the other individual when moving around.
Another type is hour glass springs.
Because they are shaped like an hour glass, the springs compress easily making the mattress comfortable. You should be able to get some great bargains on these types of cheap mattresses, but beware that over time the mattress becomes firmer as the coils are continuously compressed and it may not last as long as other types.
The last type is continuous springing.
In this case the coils are made from a single length of wire. These types of springs are usually made from thicker wire and provide more support than the hour-glass coils. They also tend to last a bit longer than the hour glass springs do.
Fabric:
If you plan to get a memory foam mattress topper, then you can really skip this step.
If not, then when choosing a fabric you should look for two key points, durability and comfort. Fabric is more of a personal comfort choice so the best advice I can give in this area is to buy whatever feel right to you!
Being armed with even this little bit of knowledge can help tremendously in finding good quality cheap mattresses. It should help you know what to look for, and may even let the salesperson know that you are informed, thus keeping them from trying to sell you a substandard mattress or mattress toppers to go with them!
Research:
As with any major purchase, the first thing you should do when looking for the best deal is research. Finding the right mattress can be confusing and overwhelming, making it easy for a salesperson to take advantage of you. Before you go into a mattress store you need to decide on the maximum amount you are willing to spend and what type of mattress you are interested in. There are many different types-innerspring, foam, pillow top, pocket spring etc. Getting some knowledge about the kind you are interested in will make the salesperson aware that you know what you are talking about. This will hopefully prevent them from just trying to sell you the mattress that has the highest mark-up.
Shop Alone:
Most salespeople don't want you to leave the store, most people don't go back. Often, if you say you have to let your partner try the mattress before you buy it, they will lower the price even more in an effort to get it sold. If you really do want your partner to try it, then you can set up an appointment with that salesperson at a later time and your deal should still be honored.
Document:
I find it helpful to always bring a notebook when shopping for a cheap mattress. This way you can keep track of the details of each mattress you look at for later. There is a lot of information to keep straight! It will also show the salesperson that you are serious about finding the best bargain, and will make them work harder to accommodate you. You can also use the notebook to show them a better deal at another store, maybe getting them to lower their price as well. Also, write down the delivery charges for each store before negotiating a price. Many stores will raise this price to try to get some of the money back from the deal they just gave you!
Patience:
NEVER buy a cheap mattress at the first store you go to! Go to a couple stores as comparison and don't be afraid to let the salesperson know that they are more expensive than another store. They expect you to haggle with them and a good salesperson will never give you their best price first. That way they have room to go lower and make you think you're getting a good deal.
Walk Away:
Be prepared to walk away if you can't get the deal you want. No sale equals no commission for the salesperson. Hopefully they will stop you in a last effort, but be prepared to leave if they don't. If you stick to these five rules when shopping for a cheap mattress you should walk away with a pretty good deal. Just make sure you don't base your decision solely on the deal you can get instead of comfort. A mattress is an investment that you will have for a long time, so make sure it is comfortable too!
Did you know that the average person spends one third of their life in bed? You'll want to keep that in mind when shopping for cheap mattresses.
With all the different options and sales jargon out there, choosing a mattress can be overwhelming. Let's narrow it down a little and look at the 3 most popular types of mattresses.
Innerspring Mattresses:
Definitely the most popular and familiar type on the market, these mattresses use many different types of coiled springs, which give support and make the mattress firm or soft. They also use many different types of fillings for comfort.
Cheaper models might use lower-grade foam or reclaimed cotton fibers which eventually break apart, forming lumps. Higher priced deluxe mattresses may include layers of wool, cashmere, and goose down. Although these add significantly to the cost, they may not really make a difference in comfort at all. I would recommend doing a little more research on coil types and fillings before trying to find cheap mattresses in this category!
Foam Mattress:
Foam mattresses generally offer good pressure relief and support. They respond to your body heat and weight, conforming to your frame. Foam mattresses do not use springs to provide support and a box spring is not required. Instead, a cheaper slatted foundation can be used to elevate the mattress to the height desired.
Latex foam is also a good choice for people prone to allergies and asthma since it is dust mite-resistant and does not release any fumes. However, many people have allergies to latex itself, so it may not be for everyone.
All of that said, there have been many comments posted by owners who say they had to get used to sleeping on one. Although offering good support, foam mattresses don't feel as fluffy or springy as an innerspring mattress. I recommend taking a test nap on a foam mattress before purchasing one.
Memory Foam Mattress:
Memory foam mattresses are made up of a layer of 1 to 6 inches of viscoelastic glued to a high-density polyurethane base. Similar to foam mattresses, memory foam mattresses conform to your body.
They are a good choice for shared sleeping because they isolate motion. While your partner is tossing and turning, you are still sleeping comfortably. Unfortunately, they can also be affected by the cold, making the mattress firmer until it warms from your body heat.
Many people have commented on how the foam absorbs your body heat keeping you nice and warm in the winter, but too hot in the summer. When looking for deals on cheap mattresses you may notice quite a big difference in prices for memory foam. This is because it comes in several densities.
The higher the density, the better the support and durability. On the high end you will see 4-6 pounds density. Less expensive, less durable foam beds have a much lower density of 2 or 3 pounds
As you can see, there are many options available for cheap mattresses. I have only covered a few here. If you are serious about getting the most for your money, I would highly recommend researching the type of mattress you are interested in first!
After researching, comparing and haggling to find a good deal on a cheap mattress, you have finally found one that's just right for you! Now it's time to take care of your investment! With the proper care your mattress can last you up to 10 years. Here are a few pointers to keep your mattress in good shape:
1. Avoid moisture and mildew by unwrapping your mattress immediately. Keeping it covered in plastic will prevent air circulation, causing dampness and molding to occur. This also goes for any plastic cover or sheet. You may think it is protecting your mattress, while it is actually destroying it!
2. Be sure to use a washable mattress cover to protect your mattress from stains and wear and tear. A mattress cover will also help avoid dust and dander for those with allergies and asthma problems.
3. Flip and rotate your new cheap mattress on a regular basis. Keeping track of where to flip it next can be accomplished by simply numbering the corners with a marker.
4. Remove dust and dirt by vacuuming it occasionally. Again this is especially helpful to those with allergies as well.
5. Pull the covers down and air your mattress out every morning before making the bed! Any perspiration or moisture should be allowed to dry out before being trapped in by the covers. This will also help prevent any mold, mildew or rot from occurring.
6. Last but not least, I know it's hard, but resist jumping on the bed, or allowing the children to. This can greatly damage the support of the mattress over time!
Finding a cheap mattress can be a confusing and overwhelming endeavor. Taking care of the mattress will save you from having to go through all of that hassle again anytime soon!