Questions are good. With so many questions coming in, and not enough answers, the thought occured to us to post good ones in the hopes that answers would accrue in the comment box for the puzzled person (and us as well). Here goes:
Do you know anything about pocket spring mattresses? I have been searching forever (years) for a pocket spring mattress that I can buy in the US (there are lots of English manufacturers but none of them deliver here). De La Espada sells one but it's over $2000. I abhor the box-spring pair but it is the only thing sold in the US, apparently.
If I won't be able to buy one in America for under $1000, can I just use a mattress without a box spring on a platform bed?
Thank you,
Sara
We have just used a mattress without a box spring on a platform for years. It works fine - similar to what you do with a futon anyway. As a matter of fact, this is what IKEA recommends for most of the beds they sell.
I believe Simmons and Sealy make mattresses that have pocketed coils. However, I don't know how they compare to the UK mattresses in comfort or quality.
I've read that box springs extend the life of the mattress, but I'm not sure it's that important. It does affect the feel. Mattresses feel firmer when they are on a platform versus a boxspring. You can buy only a mattress, so you shouldn't be forced into buying a whole set.
I've been shopping for mattresses myself, and here's some sites that I've found helpful:
http://www.whatsthebest-mattress.com/
This site has a forum, where you can search for topics.
http://www.ccmattress.com/_wsn/page2.html
This page tells you how some of the major brands construct their mattresses. The site is run by a mattress seller who also has a Q&A site (http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/living/home/design/ask_expert_front.htm).
I didn't end up buying from him, but I think some of the people on the mattress forum have.
Hope this helps.
I talked with a mattress salesperson a while back when looking for a new mattress. A king size boxspring would not fit up into our converted attic bedroom (we could just squease a king size mattress up the narrow stairs), and he had told us that boxsprings where a thing of the past, and that most modern mattresses will be fine without a box spring.
I was always told that a mattress without a boxspring will degrade faster, but this, at least this salesperson had said, is a thing of the past.
I really appreciate blogs like this one becuase it is insightful and helps me communicate with others.
thanks.also, that guy billyz, I really need to talk to you about that cure you mentioned.