Why Mattresses Fail: 6 Reasons And Solutions

So, there you are, standing in a sea of choice. As far as your eye can see, there are beds and mattresses everywhere. 

Besides their varying sizes, there’s not too much that tells them apart. 

Sure, the cover fabric designs are different. Some mattresses are different colours and some of the quilting is different. Some are fatter than others.

But beyond that, there isn’t much to distinguish them. They are all rectangular. They are all around half a meter in height, and they are all puffed-up and plush-looking.

So how on earth do you pick one? 

Lie on them all for 10 minutes a pop?

Truth bomb: lying on a mattress for 10 minutes won’t tell you whether the mattress is a right fit or not. It actually takes a couple of months worth sleeping to see how your body responds…

And so, to choose the right mattress, you need to be armed with bed knowledge.

For example: is it too firm? Too soft? And what about your partner? Will the bed be right for her?

Well, the good news is that this article will show you what we normally don’t get right when choosing mattresses, and provide solutions on getting it right the first time around, so you can shop like a pro.

Pros and cons of sleeping on good (or bad) mattresses

Most of us take sleep for granted, because it’s something we’ve always done. But our wellbeing (and what’s more important than that?) is dependent on a few things, and sleep is one of them.

Not getting good rest will affect your immunity to illness and disease, your muscles, bones, energy levels and mood.

In contrast, sleeping on a bad mattress (bear in mind that just because it’s a quality mattress still may not mean it’s the right one for you), will produce bad effects like:

• Drowsiness
• Depression
• Weight gain
• Aching back and/or muscles
• Exacerbated pain (it can make pain you already have feel worse)
• Increase in stress levels
• An increase in allergies/lung and throat irritation
• More susceptible to illness and disease
• Memory issues
• Premature aging
• Unexplained niggles

So you see, understanding mattress science is essential for victorious living. 

Right. Let’s jump right in (or on?).

6 Reasons why your mattress is a fail [and solutions]

Most people don’t do their homework before shopping for a new mattress. 

You make your choice and your new bed arrives. It feels comfortable, and you rejoice with the belief that you made the right choice.

But a few months down the line, you develop an unexplained and persistent back ache that just won’t go away, even with physiotherapy and painkillers.

Turns out, your new mattress is a fail. Not because it’s cheap and nasty, but because it was not the right choice for your unique needs.

Let’s take a look at the top mistakes people make when trying to decide between mattresses:

#1: You don’t consider the firmness and the major role it plays

In the case of mattresses, support = comfort and comfort = support.

There are basically three types of firmness: soft, medium and firm.

Sleeping on concrete is an example of an extreme level of firmness, and sleeping on a cloud is an extreme example of the opposite…

Now, it must be noted that firmness does not equal support. Support comes not from the top layers of the mattress, but rather the middle where the bed technology resides.

The most effective way to describe firmness, is as follows:

• Very soft: an extra plush mattress with a lot of sink. (This type is rare, possibly because you have to be kind of built like a delicate fairy for it to stay comfortable.)
• Soft: plush with a definite sink.
• Medium: still has plush, but not as much sink.
• Firm: a much harder mattress with just a little softness and a really little bit of sink.
• Very firm: has no softness, plushness or sink. (This type is rare, because it resembles sleeping on concrete).

If you get the firmness right, most your mattress battle would have been won.The right firmness depends on a number of factors:

• Spinal alignment (this is dependent on your weight and sleeping position)
• Your partner’s needs (his or her weight, sleep position and night habits)

More on this to come…

#2: You don’t consider your sleeping position

Sleep position greatly affects which firmness is right for you, because it impacts spinal alignment, and if you don’t get spinal alignment right, you’re likely to experience numerous nigglies at best and gut wrenching pain at worst.

Image Credit: Coastal Ortho Team

Spinal misalignment leads to uncomfortable pressure points which detract from your quality of sleep, and if prolonged, will cause back problems.

Side note! Your pillow can also be problematic, as neck position affects spinal alignment too.

What you need to aim for, is straight spine alignment. If the mattress is too soft or too hard for your most predominant sleeping position, it will affect your back, and your back can affect other areas of your body, like knees, and so on.

Image Credit: Edison Spine Center

Let’s briefly explore sleep positions:

Sleeping on your back

Sleeping on your back is the best position, as long as your neck and lower back get the support they need.

The lower back needs support with cushioning, so a medium firmness is usually the best. A suitable mattress would be rated firm, with an upper foam layer for cushioning.

The best bets for back sleepers are mattresses with a core support system comprising:

• Pocketed coil springs
• Inner springs
• Hybrid (scroll down to find out more about the Genie hybrid mattress)
• Memory foam, but be careful, as memory foam has proven to be either exceptionally helpful for back pain, or it can make it worse

Look for the right core support system containing a thin comfort layer consisting of:

• Latex
• Memory foam (unlike a memory foam core support system that may or may not be helpful to relieve back issues, memory foam as a comfort layer on a good support system is beneficial)
• Adjustable air beds

Sleeping on your tummy

Tummy sleepers can reduce snoring, but that’s the only benefit to this position, as it places strain on the neck and back. Tummy sleepers experience more aches and pains and nightly discomfort than other types of sleepers.

If sleeping on your stomach is your most predominant position, then you need to ensure you choose a firm mattress, so that your spine doesn’t curve in.

Take note! The heavier you are, the firmer your mattress needs to be.

Side note: don’t use a pillow, or use just a thin one to help prevent your spine from conking into the mattress. Also try putting a thin pillow under your tummy so that your spine doesn’t curve in too deeply.

Types of mattresses that are most suitable:

• Hybrid (scroll down to find out more about the Genie hybrid mattress)
• Pocketed coil springs
• Inner springs
• Firm foam
• Air filled mattress

Sleeping on your side

Those who sleep on their side can experience pressure pain, and a misaligned spine if the back doesn’t get the support it needs.

A side sleeper can buy a mattress of just about any firmness, but the more you weigh, the firmer the bed needs to be.

Now, you need to take into account how exactly you sleep on your side, because that will tell you what parts of your body face pressure. For example, if you sleep on your side with one leg flung over, your knee will take strain from pressure, as well as your spine. How you sleep on your side, together with your weight, will determine what bed is best for you.

Any gaps need to be filled, but the mattress can’t be so soft as to allow parts of your body to sink in and therefore create pressure on joints or your spine.

Look for a firm mattress together with a thicker and softer comfort layer.

Side note! Use pillows to fill any gaps a mattress can’t.

#3: You don’t take into account your weight & ailments

If you carry a lot of weight, your body will sink in more than someone of average weight, which means you need a mattress that has the right support.

You may also need a mattress that specifies how much weight it can take. For example, the Genie mattress can take a combined weight of 400kg, but most mattresses are not built for that amount of weight.

Heavier people need a good support system, such as:

• Hybrid (scroll down to find out more about the Genie hybrid mattress)
• Innerspring
• Pocketed coil

Now, don’t forget your partner! If you are slim and light, but your partner is heavy, you will need a bed that can accommodate both your needs. Obviously, if your heavier partner moves around a lot, you will be disturbed if your mattress is not built for zero motion transfer, so that your partner will not disturb your sleep as he or she moves around.

In addition, if you – or your partner – suffers from body ailments, that has to be considered too. 

If you experience back pain at the best of times, you will need a mattress to help relieve the condition instead of worsen it.

What about if you’re long or short? You’ll need to consider length. This mattress size guide will be handy.

#4: You don’t understand the different types of mattresses

The thing about mattresses is that you can’t see what’s inside of them. Instead, all you see is what they look like on the outside, and quite frankly, how they look is not nearly as important as how they are made (just like humans, eh?)

Mattress technology is quite complex, and the best beds are usually made with a core system, and then layered materials that all serve a purpose.

For example, the image below shows the inner workings of the Genie bed – you’ll notice the various materials used:

• The natural latex replaces memory foam (most quality beds use memory foam, but it can make people too hot and so disturb their sleep). Latex prevents overheating.
• The polyester layer is for additional comfort that provides a plush surface.
• The quilted knit covering is an added comfort layer and prevents allergies.

This is the composition of a Genie bed. The middle layer is the core support system,
and the layers on top comprise the comfort layer.

While we won’t get in-depth about this here (you can instead consult this comprehensive guide to mattresses), here are the different types of better beds:

• Innerspring
• Memory Foam
• Hybrid
• Latex
• Pocketed coils

Find out more about what most people don’t know about mattresses.

#5: You fall for the marketing fluff

We’ll say it upfront: every industry has it’s marketing scams, and so does the mattress niche.

Don’t get taken in by the marketing fluff! 

Avoid the impression of what a bed looks like, and don’t get lost in the dreamy names manufacturers give their beds. So what if it’s called “Luxurious Cloud Sleeper With Ultra Plush Gel Pillow Top Pocketed Deluxe Mattress”… ?

The lingo is only there to impress and get you to the till faster. 

#6: You don’t realise that some mattresses are not made for sex

Not all beds are made for your sexual pleasure…

In fact, many couples who have bought memory foam mattresses say they have on occassion booked into hotels for a night here and there just so they could have good sex because their foam beds offered no bounce and movement was downright difficult! 

Sex on a memory foam mattress proved to be more of a grinding chore than anything resembling erotic ecstasy.

That’s because memory foam is made to encase the body for a good night’s rest, restricting movement and offering no bounce whatsoever.

Memory foam also ramps up body temperature, which is not ideal during intercourse when things are already heated up…

The best types of beds for good sex are those that offer bounce:

• Hybrid beds 
• Innerspring

For great sex, avoid:

• Memory foam
• Air beds
• Water beds
• All-foam mattresses

Consider bed height if you enjoy varied sexual positions, and very importantly, a mattress that has zero motion transfer because you don’t want the bed to squeak while you’re at it. Soft mattresses are not ideal as they may make certain positions unstable.

The one-bed-fits-all mattress: why Genie Beds suit just about everyone

Genie beds are truly innovative, from the moment they arrive at their destination in a box, to the 100 day trial period, to the science used to create them.

They are built for comfort, support and durability. More than anything though, they are made with such ingeniousness, that they are suitable for just about anyone, no matter any ailments, weight, health or favoured sleeping position.

An in-depth look into the Genie mattresses

THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX

The easy-to-install, bed-in-a-box Genie is a technical wonder of long-lasting comfort and support. And such is the quality that has gone into the design, and that goes into the manufacture of a Genie that not even the smallest detail has been overlooked.

So, let’s examine the Genie, layer by layer. First the Genie’s top or outer cover. This quilted-knit fabric has anti-mite properties, which, you’ll be glad to hear, means you’ll no longer be sharing your bed with teeming colonies of dust mites, or bed bugs.

It’s great news, also, that you’ll no longer be waking up with nasal congestion due to the fabric having anti-allergy properties.

Look directly underneath the outer covering, and you’ll discover a layer of natural latex. Now, if there is one material that stands above all others as the premium fabric in the making of a mattress, it’s natural latex.

Latex contours to your body shape and distributes your body weight across the entire area of the bed. This relieves pressure points – the aches and pains you feel on your shoulders, hips and knees in the mornings. In fact, such is the support from latex foam that it helps to improve your blood circulation throughout the night.

Being 100% organic (it is tapped straight out of a rubber tree, after all), latex is what’s called a ‘breathable’ fabric. This helps you to regulate your body temperature throughout the night.

Directly underneath the latex, you’ll discover another layer of foam, which adds an extra level of comfort and support for the middle level of the mattress, the all-important pocket-spring coils.

BRILLIANCE SPRINGS TO MIND

Each of these springs are housed separately in fabric pockets, and they act in a way that supports all the different parts of your body by distributing the weight evenly across five separate zones. They also contour to your body shape for head to toe comfort.

And here’s another ingenious detail. Because different parts of your body are heavier than others, the wire that’s used for these springs differs in thickness so that every part of your body gets the same level of support and comfort.

Underneath the pocket springs is another layer of foam that adds the foundational support for the pocket spring section.

Then finally, when you look underneath that foam layer, you’ll find the non-slip fabric that will stop your mattress moving around on the base.

GET TO FIRST BASE

Incidentally, while we’re on the subject, nothing complements a Genie mattress better than a Genie base. Made of virgin polymer and high-grade aluminium, the Genie base is sturdy enough to withstand 400kg of body weight.

Also, unlike the traditional wooden base, it’s more environmentally friendly, and it doesn’t squeak and groan with every move you make, which is the case with wooden bed frames as they get on in years.

Those are all the layers, from top to bottom of a Genie mattress, and they must always stay that way, so there’s never any need to flip the mattress over every few months.

Running along the sides of the Genie are side walls comprising a framed border around the perimeter that’s coupled with high-density foam casing.

Not only does this foam have a high elasticity that offers superb cushioning, but you’ll also find it robust enough to sustain its rigidity for many years to come; meaning that it’s sag-proof.

You’ll also find the foam is studded with dozens of holes that allow air to circulate freely through the mattress. This helps to stop body heat build-up that happens with ordinary mattresses. So, no more waking up in the middle of the night thinking you’re in a sauna in the Sahara.

So, there you have it, a guided tour of what is, arguably, the most advanced mattress you can sleep on. And if all that technology doesn’t wow you, then here’s something else that should.

Which of the 3 Genies is right for you?

There are three Genie mattresses to choose from:

1.The Genie Original is a medium mattress:

• • It can accommodate a weight of 140 kg per person 
  • It comes in a King XL bed size 
  • It has a 5-year guarantee and a 15-year warranty

2. The Genie Elemental is a medium-firm mattress:

• • It can accommodate a weight of 100 kg per person 
  • Unlike the Genie Original and Essence, it does not include natural latex 
  • It has a 3-year guarantee and an 10-year warranty

3. The Genie Essence is a firm mattress: 

• • It can accommodate a weight of 120 kg per person 
  • It has a 3-year guarantee and an 10-year warranty

THE GENIE 100-NIGHT OFFER

Basically, Genie will give you 100 nights to try out the Genie in the comfort of your home. If, for whatever reason, you’re not completely happy, contact Genie, and they will gladly refund your money. This is in addition to the five-year guarantee and the 15-year warranty. 

To say that a Genie mattress is like no other isn’t just marketing hype, it truly is unique, and we have a patent to prove it.

Conclusion

In a sea of choice, how do you choose the right mattress? Look for a bed based not on appearances, but these six essential factors:

1. Firmness
2. Sleeping position
3. Your weight and ailments
4. Different types of beds
5. Don’t fall for the marketing terms
6. Sexual pleasure

Because of how it’s made, the Genie mattress is suitable for just about anyone, and can be bought online. What makes it really convenient is that Genie offers a 100 day free trial period so that you can really get a feel for the mattress, and if it’s not right, you can simply get them to collect it. No need to go bed shopping and get confused by all the marketing fluff.

Also, the mattress gets delivered in a box so it’s easy to move it to its final destination.