Buying a mattress is not for the uninformed. With so many brands and sleep systems on the market, it can quickly get confusing. At Factory Mattress, we know that you don’t want the jargon or the slick sales spiel. In fact, we feel your pain whenever we check out mattresses around Austin or San Antonio and notice how hard it is to compare apples to apples.

To make your life just a bit simpler, here are five must-know secrets of mattress shopping that are sure to make your next purchase a lot more enjoyable.

1. Buy a new mattress every seven to nine years.
The average, useful life of a mattress is about eight years. After that, it starts to sag or lump. Even before the telltale lumps develop, you’ll probably notice that you wake up with stiffness, back aches, pains and maybe even numbness.

2. Foam and innerspring mattresses both work great.
An innerspring mattress is the most popular model currently on the market. While there are different types to choose from, the technology involves a support system of steel coils and cushioning layers. Foam mattresses, on the other hand, usually offer a variety of foam types that are fused together. Either mattress type seeks to provide you with support and comfort. It’s a matter of personal preference as to which will work best for you.

3. Try it out.
A sales person should not bat an eye at your request to test out the mattress in the store and, in fact, at Factory Mattress we encourage our customers to spend time testing out different sleep systems. Pay close attention to the areas of the mattress that support your body’s heaviest points. They include the shoulders, lower back and hips. The Better Sleep Council suggests taking off your shoes and testing a variety of mattresses in several sleeping positions.

4. Talk with those in-the-know.
Listen to the sales consultant who talks with you about your sleeping needs, asks about difficulty sleeping or any physical pain. It takes someone truly wanting to get you a better night’s sleep to understand your needs, and then point you in the direction of several mattresses that would fulfill them.

5. Look for a price guarantee.
Factory Mattress offers a 60-day, 111% price guarantee. This gives you 60 days should a competitor advertise a product for less than we charged you. Work with a retailer who stands behind their store’s pricing policy.

Buying mattresses shouldn’t be confusing. If you’re ready to get started, but are not certain where to look, come visit us at Factory Mattress. We’ll point you in the right direction.