apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

eeewwww

Doesn't surprise me - all the moisture and perspiration from sleeping in a bed isn't going to evaporate easily off a plastic air mattress covered by padding, etc.

I also don't like the idea of a mattress that constantly uses electricity to operate air pumps to keep the thing inflated - It's got to be the most wasteful use of electricity I've ever encountered.

that is disgusting...on the other hand, if your looking for your own personal "Shroud of Turin", look no further than under the foam covering your mattress. i wonder how the poor skin mites fare with that mold undergrowth. gaaah just stop thinking about it, it gives me the willies!

Woo-hoo! My decision to turn down my covers in the morning and not make my bed is validated once again. First, studies showed that airing a bed out reduces the mite and other critter populations. Now...less moisture build up = less mold. Laziness rules!

I think I have a mold problem with the select comfort mattress I bought in 1998. I will call the number and see if they'll replace the foam padding.

Recently I bought a king bed. Regardless, though, I honestly have nothing bad to say about the bed - I love select comfort beds.

For those who are thinking of buying one, consider buying the
bed with the WIRED controls. They inflate and deflate the bed much more quickly than the wireless control ones, even though they make more noise when adjusting the mattress.

ok, I really need to replace my mattress. Just because I've been sleeping on it for 18 years, not b/c I have hard evidence of mold.

But -- maybe we should all convert to sleeping on hammocks. Washable hammocks.

if you use a washable mattress cover, this solves the problem right?

ditto EWwwww

This could really hurt my chances to score with the ladies.

The "horrific mold experience " link is busted

Royal Pedic Latex beds all the way

ChzPlz, thanks. Fixed!

Dblitz1 you're suppose to replace your mattress every 7 yrs.
I'm glad you are planning to upgrade yours. :)

Well, I do use a mattress pad! And I wash it regularly.

There's just always been something more important to do with my money than a new bed. Bought it fresh out of college with money I didn't have then -- guess I've gotten my money's worth.

I've been waiting until I move again to replace it. But it's starting to be not-so-comfortable anymore and it's sagging in spots.

This is kind of gross. I think they used to have this problem with their old beds, not anymore. I also think A LOT of it has to do with some people's hygiene, if they use mattress protectors and etc. We have this bed, we got in 2006, have been sleeping on it every night and we absolutely LOVE it. I am never going back to a regular mattress. I used to toss and turn at night, could never get comfortable, and now I sleep like a child. It is so comfortable. I have to admit, though, after seeing this, I did pull ours apart, just in case :):) Looks good as new and still has that new smell inside, completely dry and clean. I recommend this bed. I agree with AlmostAD, too. It's kind of a known fact that in the morning you need to fully uncover your bed (regardless of what kind of bed it is) and let it air out and dry for several hours. Making your bed right after you wake up is like sleeping in a dust mite swamp every night. Yuck. :)

I was worried about just this issue when I bought my kids new mattresses 2 weeks ago, and was really happy to find Keetsa. They treat their mattresses with silver, which is naturally anti-microbial, and eliminate the need to spray a mattress with yet another harmful chemical.

Keetsa is the way to go!

I just had to move my Select Comfort pillowtop mattress, and when I took it apart it looked perfect. I've had it for several years. I'm a dust mite phobe, so I keep mine mostly encased in a mattress protector (I say mostly because I can't zipper it up all the way, since the tubes for the air pump stick out the headboard side). Probably doesn't get much air circulation, but the pillowtop still smells and looks brand new, so I'm thinking I'm keeping my skin cells off of it.

Use a Select Comfort mattress.

To bepsf's comment about the electrical pumping. If the mattress is in normal condition, you do not need to pump it up or down very often. Unless you really change your number from evening to evening, the mattress should hold your number for a long while -- at least, 1-2 months, maybe longer. We don't use that much electricity.

I don't know anyone who replaces their mattress every 7 years, sorry.

I don't have to pump mine up unless I want to change the number. We have had this bed for 2 years now and it holds air extremely well.