You Can Still Find a Good Two-Sided Mattress
Do they still make two sided mattresses? The answer is yes; it was commonly thought that a two-sided mattress was a thing of the past. Thanks to manufacturers like Campbell Mattress Company and Englander you can once again discover the benefits attained from the hard to find two sided bed. Now that double sided mattresses are back on the market, the people who loved them once again have an alternative to the mass produced one-sided mattress.
Simmons Mattress Co. first introduced the one sided No-Flip Design in 2000. Simmons claimed that their new mattress was not only an improvement, but was also a more maintenance free mattress compared to its 2-sided predecessors. Not to be out done Spring Air introduced The NeverTurn™ Mattress. Many other mattress manufacturers followed their lead with single sided beds and virtually maintenance free ad campaigns such as Sealy and Serta.
Nearly all remaining mattress companies followed suit when more government regulation of the industry was introduced. On July 1st, 2007 (CPSC) a safety law was passed requiring all mattress sets built & imported into the United States to comply within a strict performance standard involving fires. Before this time mattresses had a top and bottom side that made either surface useable for sleeping on. Most 2 sided mattress manufactures warranty guidelines required that the mattress not only be turned but also flipped completely over about 4 times a year. (Every three months) This turning and flipping of a mattress promoted more even wear in the sleeping surface of the bed.
Most double-sided mattresses were thin by today’s standards, and were heavy and limp. Each side of the coil spring unit was upholstered with natural materials such as cotton, coconut husks, and even horsehair as insulation padding. In the beginning buttons on both sides of the mattress were connected by a chain. This stabilization method was the primary way of keeping the upholstery from shifting and buckling. Later quilting machines and polyurethane foam eliminated the need for buttons and expensive natural fibers.
In the 1990’s up through 2007 the old mattresses with 2 sides were still a struggle for one person to flip and most people ignored or forgot to follow the warranty directions unknowingly voiding their warranties. Unfortunately this neglect causes the layers upon layers of foam and padding to compress. Today’s mattresses require just as much or if not more maintenance than ever before. It is the industries hope that sales people will recommend monthly flipping and rotation of the mattress when it is applicable, helping to extending mattress life.
An uncomfortable fact was thought to be that a one-sided mattress with its single sleeping surface would only last half as long and a double sided mattress. In the past many of these mattresses lived up to the concerns. Today mattress manufacturers seem to be replacing cheaper foams and polyester fiber with more durable materials such as latex and visco-elastic memory foam, which do not tend to flatten or break down as quick.
The jury is still out, but the thought is that the reintroduction of the 2 sided mattress and their two identically-finished sides, will offer a person twice as much life. The notion of having 2 sleeping surfaces also suggests that the Comfort Life® of a double side bed should be significantly increased as compared to mattresses that cannot be turned over. Two sleeping surfaces additionally provides users with a proverbial spare tire if you will, so if you were to spill something, the puppy makes a puddle, or bodily fluids were to create an irremovable stain, the other side could act as a back up sleeping surface.
Conspiracy thinkers contend that buyers only get half the mattress for the price while profits are on the increase. They will be happy to know that once again their love affair with the mattress that can be flipped over shall be rekindled. So now that all of us can once again find the good ole double sided mattress, all that is left to do is contact our local dealers and take one for a test rest. With that being said, this bedtime story ends just like every good story should on “an upside” now that two sided mattresses are back and we all once again have “a flip side” to our beds.
Is it true that two sided mattresses last longer than one sided?
What is the life expectancy of a two sided mattress?
Where can I buy a two sided mattres?
Comment by J.Occonner — February 25, 2008 @ 11:32 am
A two side mattress can be purchased at my store The Water Works Sleep Center http://www.stlbeds.com
Our Bedroom furniture and Mattress store uses Campbell Mattress Company out of Cape Girardeau, Fraenkel who manufactures Englander, and USA mattress brands. Each of these manufactures has available a large selection of 2 sided beds.
How long does a two-sided mattress last? If it is a cheepy maybe one year. A good average life for a double sided mattress is still around 8 to 10 years. Some hand made mattresses 15 years plus but tend to be out of the average mattress budget.
The question of one sided mattress vs. two sided mattress is currently being debated in the market place. It seams however price and convenience are winning out allowing the single sided bed to dominate sales. I think from a value standpoint most double sided mattresses offer more value dollar for dollar and apple to apple, but the customers vote with their dollars.
It is my opinion that two sided mattresses often have some tremendous advantages over one sided as mentioned in the above blog. The best advice I can offer those people who like the 2 sided beds better, is to first go out and find and choose the two sided mattress that feels the best them, offers the best guarantee and then simply buy it. This will ultimately assure that you and I can continue to find a decent selection of them in your local mattress stores. If we do not that will disappear in your mainstream mattress shops.
Comment by Doug — February 25, 2008 @ 12:20 pm
We bought a Sealy Posterpedic 1 year ago. Today we are looking for a new mattress. It is completely unsleepable. And yes it is a one-sided mattress. We did not realize that when we bought it. We’ve been looking in all the shops and cannot find a double sided mattress. Even some of the salesmen don’t realize all their mattresses are one sided. I would never buy a one sided mattress again. Hopefully I can still find a double sided mattress that won’t break the bank.
Comment by Robert — March 3, 2008 @ 7:41 am
That is a shame. When sales associates are introduced to a new line of innerspring mattresses, it is the job of the sales rep. to properly teach us all there is to know about the newest and latest model. This in turn helps us teach you.
In July most mattresses went away from the 2-sided design in order to help manage reasonable price points for their customers. Making a 2-sided mattress fire retardant on both sides is more expensive.
Personally I am still a fan of the double side on a mattress but there are some real advantages to having only one side. Soon I will blog that very topic please come back and visit.
Whether you live in the St. Louis area or not be sure to contact me and I will try to get you in touch with a manufacturer that can meet your two sided bedding needs.
Comment by Doug — March 3, 2008 @ 1:19 pm
At Verlo Mattress Factory we still offer nearly all of our beds 2 sided. We also offer a non-prorated guarantee. We see alot of people who bought a 1 sided mattress a year or two ago that are having problems. 2 sided does last longer and if you check and really look at what you are buying you will 2 sided are just about the same price if not cheeper sometimes than a 1 sided, if you are looking apples to apples.
Comment by Dan — March 14, 2008 @ 11:00 am
Thanks waterworks for keeping the double sided mattress flag flying!!!
Comment by shanne — April 24, 2008 @ 6:06 pm
Customer comment received by email:
I bought a new mattress 3.5 yrs ago. It has a 10 yr
warranty At this time the two areas I sleep on (by turning the
mattress around) are now imprinted with circular intention. Called the store where I bought same, they sent out a crew of two to measure the indention and said their \’boss\’ would call me tomorrow saying it would either be repaired or replaced…..depending on his decision. I paid $500 for this mattress made by Sealy and feel I should get more than 3.5 yrs service. I have read the article on two sided vs. one sided and agree……two sided works the best and never had back problems till lately. Please advise. Thanks, Patsy
Comment by Patsy — May 19, 2008 @ 7:29 am
The influx of single sided mattresses are some kind of exploit to increase profit margins at the expense of the consumers common sense. Single sided mattresses do not last as long as the their double sided counterparts. (consumer reports) The prices have increased and yet the manufactures are giving the consumer half the product we received previously. On principal, I will be purchasing an Englander or Ikea double sided product. Moreover, I’m going to advise my fellow consumers to do the same. Wake up Sealy, Simmons, and you other manufactures, the consumers want the two sided designs. And you WILL be overlooked if you do not meet this requirement.
Comment by David — July 12, 2008 @ 4:04 pm
You are so right about the no-flip matresses. They aren’t worth purchasing and a waste of money. I spend over $1,000 on a mattress with a 10 yr warranty 2 years ago and haven’t slept good in over a year. Thank God the double sided mattresses are back. I will be purchasing one soon. Bec in Arkansas
Comment by Bec — July 21, 2008 @ 3:28 pm
Comment # 7 David
I think you have made some great comments. However I do believe that your conspiracy theory suggesting that mattress industry’s change to a one-sided mattress was a profit based decision is incorrect. Simply look at the evidence.
You are 100 % correct; it does not make a bit of sense for mattress manufacturers to exploit their customers’ good common sense, after all without those customers who will buy mattresses? For that very reason I do not believe the industry is exploiting customers “good common sense”.
The main reason for one-sided mattress dominance in the market place:
The (CPSC) Consumer Product Safety Commission put into place new flame retardant standards on July 1 2007 for all mattresses, not the mattress industry.
The CPSC left it up to the mattress industry how to comply with the new standards.
Each independent mattress manufacturer established through their research what would be the most effecient way to comply with the new mandate. Most determined the answer was to go one-sided. The reason: two sided mattresses have a tougher time passing the new a flame standard, which requires 3 burn tests. Lets face it; it is more expensive to build a mattress that complies with this new standard, yet customers are demanding that mattress costs be affordable. The solution to meet both objectives, build a one-sided mattress.
Make no mistake about it ultimately customers still have the final say with the dollars they spend. Customers choose whether or the not one-sided mattress or the two-sided mattress survives or fails in the market place. Nothing has changed other than the fact there are fewer two sided mattresses to choose from in stores. However if people are willing to pay the extra money for 2-sided mattresses and they are truly the better built, mattress stores will display more of them and increase their inventory of them. You will then see a strong resurgence of 2-sided mattresses on mattress showroom floors. If not you will see the status quo.
This might be a great blog idea
Thanks David
Comment # 9
Bec, thanks for your comment.
Comment # 7 Patsy my advice is this, if you feel the one sided mattress is the reason for only getting 3.5 years out of your mattress then go out and support mattress manufacturers that are building the two sided mattresses. I really believe it is more complicated than this. It is most likely a deterioration of the padding. Cheap polyurethane foams and other materials that compress quickly and can also be used in constructing 2-sided mattresses so be careful. Just buying a two sided bed is not be enough.
Comment by Doug — July 22, 2008 @ 12:47 pm