A Simple Guide to Selecting the Best Mattress for You

by Sofzsleep

Perhaps you’re a virgin buyer, or you’ve had yours a little too long. Maybe you’re shifting into your new home and want a new one to go with it. Either way, shopping for a mattress is perhaps one of the most important home furnishing decisions you’ll make – given that you’ll be spending about a third of your life on it for the next decade or so. 

It’s a big decision and you need to consider important factors such as the type of mattress, sleeping posture, body build, budget, mattress size and so on.

In this definitive guide, we will look at the following:

  • When should I replace my mattress?
  • How to choose a good mattress?

How Do You Know It Is Time To Replace Your Mattress?

Let’s face it! Mattresses aren’t made to last forever. But how can you tell when it’s time to change or replace your present mattress? These following tips will help you out:

1. Older Than Seven Years

As with any household item, as mattresses get older, their quality deteriorates as well. The rate of deterioration and their lifespan depend on many factors, such as the materials used, how vigorously they’re used, and how they’re cared for and maintained.

As a rule of thumb, it is good to replace your mattress every 7 to 8 years.

2. Aches and Pains

A good mattress should provide optimal support, enables you to get a restful sleep so that you wake up feeling refreshed. If you are waking up with stiff and sore in your neck, shoulders, back or lower back, your mattress may not be supporting you right.  

A study conducted in 2009 by the National Institutes of Health showed that older mattresses increased back discomfort and reduced sleep quality. This is because worn springs and memory foam in an old mattress are unable to provide the support required for your spine and body.

You may consider Sofzsleep’s Chiro mattress which features extra firm natural latex base for natural spinal alignment and consistent body pressure distribution.

3. Signs of Wear and Tear

Noisy, creaky springs are almost a movie cliché, but it’s a sign that they’re losing their springiness. Old mattresses may start to lose their compression and shape after years of usage.  This in turn causes surface sagging and depression.  When these signs appear, it is time to change your mattress so that you get the support you need for a good night’s rest.

 

4. You Get More Sneezes 

Your asthma or allergies worsen despite vacuuming and cleaning your mattress regularly. You may not know this, but your mattress is actually a magnet for mould, bacteria and allergens – in fact, a recent NUS-Dyson study found that’s where most dust mites in your home live.  Ohio State University experts suggested that an old mattress can house up to 10 million microscopic bugs.  Hence, regular replacement of your mattress is important to ensure a healthy sleep environment.

We have listed below some useful tips to keep your mattress dust mite-free:

Wash bedding with hot water once a week.

How to Choose A Good Mattress?

Comfort is a personal measure.  When choosing a mattress, there is no such thing as “the best mattress”, but rather which mattress is the best for you. You will need to define what kind of mattress is comfortable to you. For example, do you like it springy, firm or soft?  This will help you narrow down your choices and find the best mattress that suits you.

To give you a better understanding, here are some factors you need to consider when deciding which is the best for you.

1. Types of Mattresses

Type of Mattress

Features

Innerspring
  • Features primitive technology which was popular in the 1980s and are rarely produced nowadays.
  • Steel coil support system that forms the core of the mattress with a thin layer of cushion on top.
  • Gets uncomfortable to sleep on as springs lose their tension, leading to back and joint ache.
  • Not ideal if you are looking for a durable mattress with excellent support.

Pocketed Coil
  • Similar to traditional innerspring mattresses but feature individually-wrapped coil systems for better contour and pressure point relief.
  • Suitable for sleepers who prefer a firm mattress.
  • However, like its primitive counterpart, pocketed coil mattresses may become depressed over the years, losing its shape and firmness.

Natural Fibre
  • Made from a combination of plant fibres and polyester.
  • Difficult to determine the comfort level of these mattresses as there are many different types of natural fibre available, for example – horsehair, coarse cashmere and even alpaca wool.
  • Expect natural fibre mattresses to be pricier due to the intricate manufacturing process involved.

Pillowtop
  • Features a plush layer of soft cushion stitched on top of a traditional innerspring or coil mattress to provide a “cloud” feel. Hence, ideal for users who want a soft mattress.
  • However, the pillow top on its own does not make a good mattress. Materials used in the rest of the mattress can affect the comfort and quality of the mattress.

Memory Foam
  • Premium mattress which is widely available at many retailers.
  • Ideal for those who prefer a “sinking” feeling as compared to a “springy” feeling.
  • Conforms to the body contours for optimal pressure point relief and even weight distribution.
  • Traps body heat between layers of foam and can result in a sweaty sleep especially in the warm Singapore weather.
  • Produces a “chemical-like” smell due to off-gassing in the manufacturing process. This can be irritating for sleepers with sensitive noses.
  • Can be really pricey but bear in mind that an expensive mattress does not mean that it suits you and your desired comfort level.

Latex
  • Recommended by osteopaths and chiropractors as it supports the natural curvature of the spine, relieving back pain.
  • Ideal for users with musculoskeletal ailments as it has superb body pressure distribution properties.
  • Excellent air circulation and breathability due to the open-cell structure of latex.
  • Similar to memory foam mattress but with better spinal support and lower heat retention.
  • One of the top runners in support with zero motion transfer and optimal pressure point relief.
  • Eco-friendly with natural resistance to mould and dust mites.
  • Ideal for anyone who values a firmer and cooler bed.

2. Sleeping Position

This is one of the most important things you must give attention to before purchasing a new mattress as sleep is essential to one’s health and wellness. The ideal mattress will depend on whether you are a stomach, back, side or combination sleeper.

a. Side Sleepers

Side sleepers typically find comfort in a mattress with soft to medium-level firmness. This is because they put heavy pressure on their shoulders and hips closest to the mattress. A firm mattress would not allow a side sleeper’s shoulders and hips to sink in, causing high tension on these pressure points.

On the other hand, a mattress with soft or medium-level firmness would provide more contact between the side of the body and the mattress, relieving uncomfortable pressure on the shoulders and hips.

Mattresses such as Trilogy, Slick or Delight would provide the best support to relieve pressure points on your shoulder and hips.

Learn more: Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers

b. Stomach Sleepers

Spine surgeon Raymond J. Hah, MD suggests that sleeping on your stomach puts the most pressure on your spine’s joints and muscles as it flattens the natural curvature of your spine. Hence, it would be more important for stomach sleepers to find the right mattress that supports a healthy spine posture.

It is recommended for stomach sleepers to get a medium to firm-level mattress. If your mattress is too soft, your torso may sink into misalignment and cause your spine to arch unnaturally.

Mattress such as Delight, Chiro or Grand keeps your spine in proper alignment, ensuring you stay pain-free while laying on your stomach.

c. Back Sleepers

For those who sleep on their back, spine alignment is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing mattress. Back sleepers often experience lower back soreness when waking up in the morning as the back is not well-supported. Hence, back sleepers should get a firm mattress that does not interfere with weight distribution or cause excessive motion transfer. This will ensure that the spine does not sink into the mattres

Mattresses such as Slick, Chiro or Grand help to maintain a natural neck-to-spine alignment, ensuring optimal lumbar support.

3. Mattress Sizes

Most mattresses in Singapore are available in 4 standard sizes – Single, Super Single, Queen and King (dimensions can be seen below). Do keep in mind that you do not need to buy the largest mattress in the market to have a good night’s sleep.

Size

Dimension (cm)

Dimension (in)

Suitable for

Single

91 cm (W) x 190 cm (L)

36 in (W) x 75 in (L)

1 Adult / 1 Child

Super Single

107 cm (W) x 190 cm (L)

42 in (W) x 75 in (L)

1 Adult/ 1 Child

Queen

152 cm (W) x 190 cm (L)

60 in (W) x 75 in (L)

2 Adults

King

182 cm (W) x 190cm (L)

72 in (W) x 75 in (L)

2 Adults / 2 Adults + 1 Child

Here are some factors to consider when choosing which mattress size to get:

  • How big is your bedroom? Getting an oversized mattress can obstruct movement around your bed.
  • Do you sleep alone or with a spouse / kids? If you have kids or a partner sleeping with you, larger options such as a queen or king size mattress would be optimal.
  • Are you a fidgety sleeper? If you move a lot during your sleep, ensure that your mattress gives you enough space to turn and move freely.

4. Mattress Thickness

It is not unusual for mattress manufacturers to make their mattresses look extra plush by adding layers of oddball substances such as polyurethane foam, horsehair and even coconut husk. Thickness is often just a visual ploy designed to get people to think they’re buying a luxurious mattress when it could very well be questionable materials wrapped in a pretty, fixed cover.

It is best to listen to your body and find the bed experience that feels the most comfortable. For an average person with weight between 60-80kg, a 20-24cm mattress should have achieved above average for overall satisfaction.

5. Bodyweight

A heavier person tends to experience more sinkage on soft mattresses than people with average to light bodyweight. Hence, a person with a bigger build or heavier body should consider mattresses that are firmer so that the body weight can be supported.   Although soft mattresses may be preferred, it may not be the ideal choice for heavier people in the long run as inadequate back support may result in back aches.

Right Firmness

Too Soft

Too Hard

Finding the Best Mattress for You – The Takeaway

Most of us are tempted to just sleep on our old mattress which may still look alright, but perhaps we should start considering he potential health benefits of replacing our old mattress with a new one.  A study at Oklahoma State University found that most people who switched to new bedding after 5 years sleep significantly better and have less back pain.

Here is a 5-step summary to help you out:

1. Know the different types of mattresses available.
2. Understand your sleeping position.
3. Choose the correct mattress size.
4. Select a mattress with the correct thickness and width.
5. Know how your bodyweight can affect your mattress choice.

Remember:  There isn’t a particular “best mattress”, but more like which is the best mattress for you!

For more information, browse Sofzsleep’s mattress and mattress accessories product collections online today:

Need more advice on which mattress to select? Feel free to contact us or head down to any of our showroom.