Top 10 Things You Should Never Do To Your Mattress and Box Spring.

1. Stand, Jump or yes even sit on your mattress. Mattresses have many layers of padding that make them comfortable. These layers rest on steel coil springs. We realize most adults don’t stand or jump on their mattress but often their kids do and nearly everyone sits in bed or sits on the edge of their bed. This will force the layers into the springs and will damage the mattress and shorten its life.
2. Never flip your mattress over if it is one sided and sleep on it. The majority of mattresses are built in a one sided design today and should not be flipped over. There is no padding or comfort layers located here. It will not hold up or feel good because only the one side is designed for comfort and support.
3. Leave your mattress in the same position that you installed it. Many manufacturers now have never turn or rotate warranties and that is fine. However this does not mean you won’t have problems. While you don’t have to rotate or put air in car tires we all know what happens when we don’t. Turn or rotate your mattress regularly at least once a month to minimize body impressions and extend bed life.
4. Not using a mattress pad or mattress protector is one of the big no no’s that people seem to do. A mattress pad or protector is an important safeguard that absorbs moisture and can keep mattresses from getting stained. Mattress warranties are usually void if they have a stain on them.
5. Not using sheets. This seems like a no brainer but I cannot tell you how many times I have seen this happen. Like a mattress pad a good sheet set will help to protect the mattress. Perform regular mattress care and maintenance. Once a week the bed sheets need to be washed and mattress pads or protectors every 2-4 weeks as needed. Lastly while bedding is removed this is a great time to vacuum the mattress to remove loose dirt and dust.
6. Let your mattress get wet. Water or any other type of moisture can damage the upholstery. If moisture is not dried it can become a haven for mold and mildew and become a health hazard for the sleeper.
7. Clean your mattress yourself. If the mattress is dirty there are ways to clean a mattress however we encourage and recommend you seek out a professional upholstery cleaning service. They will see to it that the mattress is cleaned properly, stains are removed or  minimized while limiting unnecessary moisture that can cause more serious problems.
8. Bend or Fold your mattress. Mattresses either have steel border rods or foam encased edges along with steel coils. All of these things can be damaged or even ruined if bent or folded.
9. Use your mattress and boxspring without a proper supporting bed frame is probably one of the most often don’t do’s that people do. A proper supporting frame will help properly distribute weight evenly on the boxspring. Without a frame the boxspring will bow, sag, or even worse break. Seek out manufacturers or retailers advice on how to support a box spring correctly.
10. Stain your mattress. Do not smudge or stain your mattress, most mattress manufacturers have a disclaimer that says if the mattress is stained, smudged or marked up they reserve to the right to refuse warranty coverage. One way to protect your bed from such marks or scuffs to to wrap it in a couple fitted sheets and carry it instead of dragging it if you are  moving.

There is a harsh reality that many people don’t find out about until it is too late to do anything about it. Mattress manufacturers have become very strict on what they will and won’t cover when it comes to stains and marks on a bed.  So are we simply saying that if your mattress gets a little something on it you’re simply S.O.L.? Well to be honest with many  bedding companies that very well may be what you can expect.

Have warranties always been like this?

No this has not always been the way warranties were handled by manufacturers. Most had guidelines for mattress stains but nothing to the degree that we so often read and hear about today. Back in the day the idea was to protect the people that would be handling the mattress delivery people, factory inspectors, etc. from the potential health risk involved in handling such mattresses. In the day stains implied and meant blood, urine, and other bodily fluids and to be honest who could blame them. Frankly somewhere between then and now something went crazy. Today it is not uncommon that if  you have so much as a mark, scrape, scuff, or smudge on your mattress that the mattress builders will deny even a legitimate claim, even for something like a 2 inch body impression. Websites, forums, and blogs all tell the same stories of rejected indisputable warranty claims due to an inch or two long mark that was caused while moving a mattress or handling it. Perhaps a coffee spot, or dye from a set of sheets that bled. The fact is these kind of marks won’t hurt anyone; a two inch body impression is a definite mattress problem that causes  terrible discomfort and sleepless nights for a mattress owner yet a smudge or a spot of coffee is reason enough for warranty rejection. 

What can I do to protect myself in the case of a warranty claim?

Use a waterproof mattress protector. They are cheaply priced, easy to install, and it will cover your mattress and your rear in the case of a mattress warranty claim. Some companies offer applied stain protector packages that will waterproof and stain protect your mattress. Many even guarantee mattress replacement or cleaning  in the event of an accidental stain. Whatever you choose to do about it is up to you. Know this, you can expect to be denied for a warranty claim if your mattress becomes soiled or unsanitary at any time. Warranty rules are made by the manufacturers and we have to play by their rules. In addition retail companies that offer comfort guarantees usually work the same way so be cautious and don’t wait until and accident happens to protect your investment.

Worn out Yokohamas By The Pug Father

Back in the old days grandma took the old mattress outside and beat it to clean it, she washed the sheets regularly and flipped the mattress over and turned it around so it would last longer. However some company’s today are marketing some new fangled Neverturn™ mattress designs that could put grandma’s job in jeopardy.  So what’s grandma to do?

Not so fast there Spring Air and others like them. Neverturn™ doesn’t mean you shouldn’t turn and turn them you should. How often and why? Well grandma new best.

As often as you can is the truth and it’s our opinion this Neverturn™ philosophy of care is more marketing than the way it should be in the real world. The fact is a person doesn’t have to rotate the tires on their car either, but if you don’t they will wear uneven possibly causing one portion of the traction patch to have tread while the other side is nearly bald or having very little traction capability.

A mattress is no different than a tire. Our body weight is located primarily from the shoulder to the hip region and typically weighs significantly more than our feet, legs, and head do. If we were to never turn our mattress then the combination of weight, gravity, and time would cause the head end of the mattress to wear out before the foot end.

We encourage everyone regardless of what a manufacturer, salesman, or warranty card says to use a common sense approach and protect your investment of healthful sleep.  Turn or rotate your mattress if possible as much as once a month. It will last longer, wear more evenly, and feel great for many more years than if you to don’t turn it. You can rest assured of this. How Is A Mattress Like The Tire On Your Car? They can both wear unevenly and it definitely affects the performance.

What causes a mattress to smell?

Often in the process of delivering a brand new mattress we are asked to remove and dispose of the old one. One of the first things we frequently notice when we walk into a bedroom we’ve never been in before is an odor. It may seem gross but it is more common than you might think. This is more often than not a result of forgetting about, neglect, or lack of knowledge in proper preventative mattress care. No matter what the reason, below is a list of steps that can be taken to prevent it from happening to your brand new mattress. Lets face it mattresses can be expensive and if the following steps are not taken the end result will be an embarrassing smelly bed and or bedroom and hard earned money wasted.

How to prevent mattress smell?

The old familiar question is this “my mattress smells really bad and it’s affecting my whole room, is there a way to clean it?” I think the best answer starts with the old cliché an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The key really is prevention which is where I start my explanation in the hopes the customer will never have it happen again. Keep the mattress clean by practicing normal mattress maintenance includes:

• Use sheets and a Mattress pad
• Cleaning the sheets at least once a week
• Wash the mattress pad more frequently
• Use bed linens that include a large amount of absorbent fabrics like cotton
• Vacuum your mattress regularly
• If possible on a nice sunny day place your mattress outside
• Enclose the mattress in a Zippered Mattress Protector / Encasement

What to do about a mattress that smells bad?

• Have it professionally cleaned
• Steam cleaners are a common cleaning option
• Dry cleaning solutions should not be used for cleaning mattresses
• Home remedies for mattress cleaning and stain removal
• When cleaning mattresses, always be sure to check the manufacturer’s care label, call the retailer that you purchased the mattress from, or most importantly contact the manufacturer to avoid voiding your manufacturers warranty and potentially damaging or completely ruining your mattress.

What ever method of mattress cleaning you choose inner foam layers should never get wet. Inner layers are nearly impossible to get completely dry which can cause mold and mildew.

Not so long ago I was participating in a local home show where this guy was demonstrating what gets trapped in a mattress. I have been in the mattress business a long time and really thought he wasn’t going to show me something I didn’t already know. After a short demonstration of what was essentially a Hoover Vacuum Cleaner on steroids, he emptied a big pile of dirt onto a black cloth. Before he did this he installed what used to be a clean bag.

What can you and I take from a medicine wagon show?

I can tell you this, for years I have been preaching the importance of cleaning your mattress and foundation regularly with a vacuum cleaner. This is not to say you necessarily need to use a commercial one like I witnessed at the home show. But after seeing what I’d always envisioned trapped in a bed I think we all need to consider at least some level of regular maintenance and preventative mattress care.

How to regularly care for your mattress?

1 Start with the simple things
Use a good quality set of sheets. Use materials that breathe and allow air to flow freely to minimize perspiration.

2 Keep a good quality mattress protector on your bed.
Some people will use something as simple as a mattress pad which offers a low level of protect, while others use a mattress protector. Look for one that is waterproof and breathes so you won’t get hot when you sleep.

3 Clean Bedding Regularly
That’s right bachelors you too, clean those sheets often. At least once at weak is recommended. Mattress pads or protectors should be cleaned at least once a month.

Just following these 3 easy steps can keep your room and your mattress smelling fresh. This kind of normal mattress maintenance may also keep you healthy. Dirt, dust, allergen, perspiration, body oils, and yes all the unmentionables can absorb and collect in this over sized sponge. So take care of your bed and take care of yourself by caring for your bed properly and don’t forget to replace it after 8-10 years. You wouldn’t wear the same clothes everyday right?

Adding more water to a waterbed to make it firmer:
This method will make a firmer surface feel in your waterbed, however it can cause other problems that may not make worth your while. Vinyl stretching, fatigue cracks, and out right failure of the seams or corners are just some of the problems that result from an overfilled waterbed. Many people often complain that they feel as though they are rolling off of the water mattress when they are overfilled, along with complaints of increased motion. This extra motion in the waterbed mattress is due to the increase of water to baffling ratio.

Firmer mattress from proper fill level:
The firmest and best support comes from a correctly filled baffled mattress. This is how the mattress was designed to work. It’s really just this simple, X amount of baffling is designed to work with Y amount of water. This this combination equals the best all around support, best wave control, and firmest support. Correct fill level also extends mattress life expectancy and protects the waterbed heater. Contrary to many thoughts out there the baffling or fiber system inside a water mattress controls the bed’s overall firmness much more than simply adding more water to the bed. The more fiber or baffling the mattress has the greater the firmness and more supportive the waterbed will be.

So what do I do to get a firmer waterbed?

We think it is more important to purchase a firm quality waterbed bladder in the beginning. as apposed to trying to make a mattress into something it cannot be, by adding more water. Adding additional water to a waterbed we believe is a risk that should not be taken.Knowing  How to properly install a waterbed mattress is the the key to acheiving the perfect waterbed firmness.

If you have questions about how much water to put in a waterbed give us a call at 636-296-8540 or Contact Us by email.

We always recommend taking your waterbed mattress to a store and have it done professionally. For those risk takers, repair at your own risk.

How to repair the hole in a waterbed mattress using a vinyl repair kit. Only use a vinyl repair kit. Do not use a rubber repair kit; they do not hold and you usually only get one chance for the patch to stick.

• Assuming you have located the hole in your water mattress and circled it the first step will be to clean the vinyl mattress surface with clean water or alcohol.
• If the leaking hole is less than ¼ of an inch in size the leak may be repairable. The idea is not to have a huge patch so it will be pliable and flexible. If the hole is round (like a pinhole leak) cut the vinyl patch in the shape of a nickel or quarter. Buy cutting the patch in the way it will eliminate corners that can catch and tear loose causing the waterbed patch to not hold.
• If the leaking hole in the waterbed mattress is a straight line cut or tear less than 1/4 inch in size then cut the patch in an oblong or oval shape, again with no pointed edges that can catch on bedding.
• Apply vinyl adhesive to both patch and the mattress surface area to be repaired. Let vinyl glue start to set up and become tacky and even hazy in color.
• Put the waterbed vinyl patch on to the waterbed bed surface.
• Most patches should sit and dry for an hour or so to assure a good bond. Read the directions on the patch kit for exact dry time.
• Another thing we like to do is once the original patch has dried we will run a consistent bead of vinyl glue all the way around the patches edge. Again let sit until the patch is dry. This additional step helps to hold down the edge of the patch.
• Fill mattress to correct fill level and regularly check to make sure the waterbed repair kit has held and is not leaking. This can last for many years. We never recommend repairing mattresses that are between10- 12 years of age or older. Waterbed mattresses are very cheep to replace especially when compared to regular mattress and boxsprings.

Always be sure to follow patch kits instructions for proper water mattress repairs.

Have you ever had a waterbed leak? Did you repair it or just buy a new water mattress? Leave your comment below or email us.

Unfortunately leaks happen and when they do and it is repairable do not put the job off.

The hole in a leaking mattress must be found:
First locate the leak in your waterbed mattress. Below are a couple methods to finding the frustrating hole in your mattress, but first be safe, you will need to unplug the waterbed heater immediately.

You must make sure you dry up every drop of water you can get to. If you do not you will get a false positive result. This means you think you found the leak, when in reality you have only located remaining water residue from the leak you are looking for.

Some people recommend filling the mattress with air. Once you have inflated the mattress apply soapy water by rubbing it onto the mattress surface or applying the sudsy water with a spray bottle and wait for it to bubble up. This can be an affective method to find a waterbed mattress hole, but is often messy and could cause fiber baffle shifting if not properly handled.

The preferred method is to leave the partially filled water mattress in the wooden frame. Be sure to dry it off with an absorbent towel making sure to dry up any water remaining on the mattress. Next place your hands in a position where your index fingers and thumbs are touching as if you were going to give CPR chest compressions. This is another affective way to find a leak. Start by pressing down on corners until your hands bottom out on the floor of the bed. Next do the same with seams then all remaining untested areas. When a leak appears it will generally be a little bead or welt of water. Not a gaping gushing whole.

Once you have located the hole be sure to mark the mattress. You can do this by circling the area with a permanent black magic marker. Many people find the holes only to lose them when they walk away from the bed.

Whichever method you choose to find the leak is up to you. Eventually you will need the water mattress to be completely drained before reinstalling. This will allow you to dry the underside of the mattress. Be sure to dry up any remaining moisture within the safety liner as well.

Here is an ugly scenario. Your waterbed mattress pops and the flood roars down the hallway sweeping everything away in its path. It’s the cataclysmic stuff movie scripts are made of. “The dreaded leak in a waterbed mattress.”

Don’t worry; in my 22 years of selling waterbeds I have never heard such a story. Leaks are not as common as you might think and most stay within the safety liner. If a leak happens, we recommend that you do not put off repairing the hole or even replacing your water mattress. If you do not, the water can sour and start to smell giving off an incredible stench or even worse escape your safety liner and cause minor or even serious water damage to your house. So when is it a bad idea to repair a waterbed mattress? Here is what you need to know.

1. Do not repair waterbed mattress corners even if they have been reinforced.
   If the hole in your waterbed mattress is located in any of the construction seams or a corner do not attempt to repair. Waterbed seams and corners are not glued shut. A patch kit will not permanently fix your leaking waterbed mattress and is more likely to become a catastrophic failure causing serious water damage.
2. It is only ok to repair a waterbed with a vinyl repair patch kit.
   A patch kit includes a piece of vinyl and vinyl adhesive. Do not use rubber cement or superglue to fix the hole.
3. Do not attempt to fix seams on a waterbed mattress.
   See # 1
4. Waterbed mattresses should not be repaired if they are old.
   Unlike a fine wine vinyl breaks down and deteriorates as it ages. The normal life on a free flow mattress is only a couple years. The life on a quality baffled mattress is 10-12 years. This is best determined by talking to a sales professional. Tell them how old your mattress is and whether you own a Free Flow, Semi-Waveless, Waveless, Ultra Waveless, or Super Waveless. Different mattresses have different life expectancies. Ten to twelve years for any waterbed mattress is very old, do not repair it replace it.
5. When waterbed vinyl discolors it is a sign of a water mattress that should not be repaired.
   When this happens it is a signal of weakening vinyl. This could be due to age or body oils that have contacted the vinyl over and over again which hint to the signs of plasticizer migration. Use an absorbent mattress pad to protect from such problems.
6. Vinyl that has a waxy, hard, non-flexible or pliable feeling to it may be breaking down and should not be repaired.
   This is the same thing that happens when a plastic milk carton is left in the sun. The plastic becomes brittle. Waterbed mattresses are subject to the same hardening that can cause a mattress failure. Another example is old vinyl cars seats when they start to get brittle and crack apart.
7. Do not try to repair a hole that has already had a patch on it or you have attempted to repair but failed.
   This is by far the biggest mistake people make. They just do not get the idea that this is a patch and that it is going to hold back a couple hundred gallons of water. The reward of a successful patch that will enviably fail anyway is not worth the risk of damage to your house or personal property.
8. If the leaking hole or cut in the waterbed is more than ¼ of an inch in size the leak should not be patched.
   Holes or tears in the waterbed that are bigger than a quarter of an inch flex too much. The patch will not be flexible enough or small enough to flex properly and will ultimately fail causing another leak maybe bigger than the first one.
9. Too many holes in a mattress are a disaster waiting to happen.
   Use common sense here. If the area looks like Swiss Cheese buy a new bladder.

Did we miss anything? How do you do to keep your mattress clean and comfy? Leave your comment below or email us.