Aug/090
The Top Five Mattress Myths
Mattresses nowadays comes in all sorts of names, brands, technology, specification, features, materials, combinations and “benefits”. It may seem that you are spoilt for choice when you go mattress shopping. But the truth is, (without listening to the salesman), if you can’t differentiate one mattress from the other, there probably is not much difference.
Just in case you don’t already know, the mattress business is 90% marketing. Almost everything you hear from the mattress salesman are carefully crafted by mattress manufacturers and retailers to help differentiate their mattresses and profit from a higher markup. Thus, many myths get perpetuated in this way with few attempts by anyone to nullify their claims.
The number of myths are aplenty but in general, here are the top five:
1.The firmer the mattress, the better the quality of sleep -The truth is that there is no scientific evidence that proves that a specific firmness of the mattress is more appropriate than others.
2.The more mattress cost, the better it is - The reason why some mattress gets so expensive is because of the frills and extras like silk cover, hand woven top coverings, a layer of cashmere , branding, some special type of springs and tons of other features that you probably wouldn’t notice when you fall alseep.
3. Spring/Pocketed Spring mattresses are better than foam mattresses- This belief has been held on to for many years. This was to the extent that anyone having back problems would discard his foam mattress and opt for a spring one. In reality, many new types of foam have been developed, which provide as much firm support as spring mattresses, last longer, and also remain soft and supple without getting curves and depressions.
4.Higher coil count makes better mattresses- The truth is that a count of 312 is adequate to make a mattress firm and comfortable, more than that will have no impact since it will not make the mattress more comfortable. And, almost every mattress have a minimum of a 312 coil count.
5.Mattresses alone can ensure better sleep- Sleep might be elusive for a whole set of reasons like sleep apnea, caffeine in the body keeps people awake, anxiety and tension, noise pollution and many other health related factors.
These myths keep increasing in number as companies get more and more creative. So the advice is that you should follow your own gut feeling rather than accepting everything the mattress salesman tells you.
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Aug/090
5th Mattress Given Under Free Mattress Program
We have just given away the 5th mattress under the free mattress program. This week we had a mini spike in applications, mainly due to the news coverage by mypaper.
For the rest of the applicants who were not selected for this week will be reconsidered for next week’s free mattress program.
Below is the story of this week’s applicant :
i just came out of prison on 29 July 2009 after serving 3 year 5 months jail term for drug related offences.I am 25 yrs old and just got employed as an admin.I have changed since then and have become a christian.
My mother is a 53 yrs old diabetic and requires Insulin injection 3 times a day so she is physically not well to work so i am supporting her and paying for the rental house from HDB. I have a sister w hom is unemployed and looking for a job,she is married with two kids and her husband is in prison.
As i was just released and do not have any savings i am financially not stable and have to seek the SANA for transportation expenses. My mum is seeking help with CDC and my sister two kids are with her mother-in-law,they come every weekend to stay.Before my incarceration we did not have a house that time, i left my things in a warehouse. I found out that they auctioned of my things and all my possessions were gone.
Currently, 3 of us are sleeping on a broken mattress and it really hurts my mum back. At night she would wake up and complain about backaches and i felt really helpless during those moments.She really needs something comfortable to sleep on and for now i cannot provide such needs.
Today when i read about your programme in the my paper and thought it would really be a great help for my family especially my mother. I hope you will consider my application as it would lighten my load of responsibilities.”
The application form for the Free Mattress Program can be found at http:www.beds.sg/fmp.asp
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Fourth Mattress Given Under Free Mattress Program
Free Mattress Program update.
We have given away the fourth mattress under the Free Mattress Program. This time round we had coverage from mypaper aka “wo bao”, the coverage would be published within the next few days. So, if you are interested in getting the full story, grab the next few issues of mypaper.
In brief, the following is the story of the recipient:
“My husband is the sole breadwinner in our family of seven (my husband 35 years old, me 31 years old, my mother-in-law 59 years old and my four kids 8-13 years old). He earns less than $1,500 a month. Its depressing to see him working so hard and unable to sleep properly on our dilapidated, old queen size matress. He wakes up daily aching all over but he still have to work. We need to have a new matress but we just can’t afford it. My four kids sleeps on the floor since we can’t afford any bed space for them in the 3-room flat we are staying in. “
The application form can be found here Free Mattress Program
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Here’s A Quick Way To Change The Look Of Your Bedroom
Don’t you feel the bare floors in your bedroom make your room appear plain and incomplete? When you enter your room doesn’t it seem that something is not quite right, but cannot pinpoint what? Rooms need an infusion of warmth and color, which comes from rugs placed on the bedroom floor. Plain or with designs, rugs and carpets bring freshness into the room and make it more welcoming than the cold and bare floors. Depending on the size of free floor space, small or large, one or more rugs can transform the appearance of the bedroom.
Rugs and carpets come in many designs and qualities and can fit into every budget. The choice of rugs then has to be between pastel plains that will complement any type of furniture, abstract cottons that go well with wrought iron or bamboo furniture in the bedroom, or floral designs in silk or wool that enhance the beauty of Victorian or other ornate and carved wooden furniture, in teak, mahogany or rosewood. The general rule for bedroom rugs and carpets is to opt for soft pile ones or other soft carpets since heavy footwear is unlikely to be used within the room. Devoid of carpets, the furniture seems incomplete and simply placed on the floor, while a carpet gives a new elegance to the seating arrangement.
Rugs add to the luxurious feeling about a room, and it is blissful to put one’s feet on a soft rug instead of the hard, cold floor. The feeling could be extended to the whole room with a wall-to-wall carpet, or one or more smaller carpets. These could be placed in the center of a larger open space in the room, beside the bed and under a center table between a sofa set or a set of chairs, if any. Without a carpet the whole room looks like a field without grass, while a carpet infuses a feeling of welcoming warmth.
Rugs can also be used for sitting and playing games with children. They are preferable to sitting on the bare floor when a larger space is needed for puzzles or other games. They enhance the feeling of warmth in the room. Many people love to sit on the floor all the time on floor cushions or on the rug itself and find it more relaxing than any chair. Sitting on the floor without a rug is an uncomfortably cold experience, while sitting on a rug is extremely comfortable.
Contemporary interior designing is all about minimalist furnishings. However bare and minimal the furniture might be, a carpet makes the décor complete, complementing the furniture and other accessories. The rug or carpet is the neutralizing feature between drapes, bedspreads, cushions, seating and the floor.
Carpets are like a sounding board, that absorb the sound of footsteps, cushion every fall and damage, and also reduce the noise by absorbing the loud sounds as well. Thus little ones do not get hurt even if they fall and any breakable object falling does not break on the soft carpet.
Thus the carpet whether one or more, make the room a comfort zone that is beautiful and elegant. They help to unify the combination of colors that are used for the décor in the room. Lighter carpets add to the brightness and darker ones absorb the dirt and stains, which might be too conspicuous on a lighter one.
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10 Common But Often Neglected Ways of Improving Backache
The “ooh””, “aah” and “ouch” one hears ever so often with a hand on the back, is becoming ever so common as an exclamation in agonizing pain in the back. Even more usually visible is bent figures, improper gait and holding the back as if for support. Backache has always tormented the human frame but it is becoming increasingly common with the changed lifestyles we all have.
Our physical exercise is minimal and we spend hours bent in front of our tables, in front of computers and sleeping on the softest beds that make our back weak, instead of strengthening it, the way the hard floors did for our ancestors. With ever increasing backache suffering, the remedies for it have also flooded pharmacies. Doctors prescribe mild anti-inflammatory drugs, painkillers and in the worst cases, steroids. Research however, proves that alternate medicine, home remedies and back specific exercise are equally effective not just in reducing back pain but also strengthening the back.
Drugs suppress symptoms and each has its long list of side effects. It is therefore advisable to use home remedies that would benefit the back and if for some reason, they do not help in improving the backache, they at least do not leave any side effects.
Medication and exercises apart, there are some simple and very effective measures we can all adopt to get rid of back pain. Consistent commitment to stick to these remedial measures will help in improving backache considerably to pick up threads of normal life again. Some of the common but most neglected ways of improving backache include:
Improving Posture: A defective posture, that is, not sitting and standing erect, leads to a curve in the back and stretches the muscles in an incorrect manner. Almost every third person we cross is stooped or has a hunch. These impact the back adversely, leading to chronic backache. Simply making a conscious effort to sit, stand and walk erect would bring tremendous relief to backache. If you find it difficult, you can tie a hard plank of wood to your back for a few hours, since this would make bending and stooping painful, and you would have no choice but to keep your back straight all the time. Soon a correct posture will return.
Correct sleeping position: The exhausted body often forgets what position it is lying in as it drifts into deep sleep. The result is terrible backache on waking up. The solution is easy and simple. A little bit of effort to sleep right, that is, lying on the side with knees bent and preferably with a pillow placed between the knees, will work to keep the spine in the correct position and there will be no backache in the morning. For those preferring toile straight can just lie on their back with a pillow or cushion under the feet to raise them.
Better Mattresses: An old, lumpy, uneven mattress can trigger backache just as much as an extra soft mattress. Firm mattresses that do not get depressions where you sleep are preferable. The mattress provides cushioning to the spine for six to eight hours every night, but every individual has to find a mattress that gives his back the right support. The best way to select a mattress is to lie on it for at least fifteen minutes to see how the back takes to it.
Pillows for backache: Often, a high pillow that is not soft, stretches the upper back and that leads to the whole back area getting tense and you experience severe spasms of pain. A simple remedy is to take a soft, low pillow that cushions the head, provides support to the neck without hurting the back.
Weight loss: With an increase in the body weight, the pressure on the back increases and backache is a natural consequence. In this case, the backache will not improve till drastic steps are taken to reduce weight by regular exercise and diet control.
Swimming: Swimming is considered to be the bets exercise for improving backache. It is perhaps the best fitness exercise that is especially beneficial for the back. Swimming keeps the back straight and the body remains stretched with the head kept over the water. This is very effective in healing the sore back.
Cycling: Cycling has been known to heal hundreds of bad backs and helps in reducing backache since it helps to strengthen the back muscles.
Complete rest: Rest is important for the back and lack of adequate rest increases the intensity of backache. Backaches due to lack of rest will not get cured till complete and adequate rest is taken.
Wearing proper shoes: The back gives support to the body and the back receives support from the legs and feet. Feet need to be cushioned in soft closed shoed that effortlessly help movement. High-heeled shoes change the gait and exert pressure on the back instead of giving it the support it needs, High heels and shoes without proper soles are unadvisable for people with backaches.
Heat treatment: Heat to the back with a hot pad or a hot water bottle helps to soothe the sore muscles of the back and ease the pain emanating from them.
All these are simple, inexpensive methods of improving backache, which do not include medication, visits to doctors, suffering from side effects or using expensive equipment. These ten ways are so common but unfortunately, neglected despite the fact that they are highly effective in curing backache.
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3rd Mattress Given Under Free Mattress Program
We have just given away the 3rd mattress under Beds.sg Free Mattress program which was launched 3 weeks ago.
If you are not sure what this program is about, you could read this post Free Mattress Program, The Story Behind. In short, we give away 1 mattress every week to the less fortunate or less privileged in Singapore.
Below is the summarized story of the successful applicant this week. In her own words….
“im an housewife i have four small kids age 6yrs,3yrs,2yrs and 8 mth old..my hubby is working as a marine asisstant which basic salary is $900..as im in financial dificulties right now..”
“all of my kids sleep with me in one room which im living in 2 room rented house..and my 2yrs and 8 mths old boy sleep with me and hubby in 1 bed..my mattress has a bed bug..this matress was my late grandma which was pass it to me since i was young and till now the matress is still he re..but i cant afford to buy one..”
The application form for the program can be found here http://www.beds.sg/fmp.asp
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Memory Foam Mattress Vs Natural Latex Mattress
Debating the relative merits and demerits between memory foam mattress and natural latex mattress is an engrossing affair with supporters and opponents of either product holding firm opinions on the matter. For what you put down on the bed concerns something very intimate – your personal comfort and a good sleep.
For us to decide in favor of one of the two, we need to delve into the nature of the two mattresses. Latex mattresses are the firmer and the bouncier of the two. Memory firm mattresses on the other hand are softer and more prone to assume the natural shape of the body thus effectively spreading out the pressure and providing immense comfort.
Natural Latex mattresses are passionately supported by some because of the fact that it is a natural product made from the sap of the rubber tree. That apart its firmness ensures that it does not sag but firmly support a resting body. Couple this with almost negligible wear and tear you have a mattress with almost infinite longevity.
The fact that latex mattresses are naturally hypoallergenic and anti microbial, and therefore keep you safe from dust, mite, mold and fungus caused allergies – all the more reason to get sound sleep.
People suffering from chronic fatigue and back- ache though may prefer memory foam mattress, as these mattresses are effectively able to spread out the pressure and thus relieve pain.
Then there are those who are absolutely love the extremely luxurious feel of latex mattresses, which when combined with their firmness, ensures a very comfortable night of sleep. One might argue that over all memory foam mattresses probably score on comfort whereas for reasons of health, latex mattress wins hands down. It’s environmentally friendly and discourages the breeding of germs.
The temperature sensitive quality of memory foam mattresses is what makes them so comfortable. The fact that these mattresses can adjust to the contours of the body, because it reacts to its heat gives it a distinct advantage over natural latex. The latter scores because of its eco-friendly credentials and great value for money, because of its longevity.
It is evident that both these products have their ardent fans and detractors. As to which one to pick up for your bed at home, that is something which your personal predisposition will help you decide.
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What Everybody Ought to Know About Mattress Care
Mattress care is neither cumbersome nor time consuming. It can simply become part of the regular cleaning regimen followed at home. The initial phase makes it appear like an added headache, but soon it blends into the household routine. All that mattresses need to be able to last long and well are a few simple measures like:
1) Place the mattress on a strong, firm base. This ensures that the mattress remains unshaken and does not sag with the curve of a base that cannot withstand the weight of the mattress.
2) The new mattress must be allowed to breathe for sometime after it has been removed from its plastic wrapping. This helps in removing the odor of newness that is typically found in foam products encased in plastic sheets for sometime.
3) Before being installed on the bed a washable, absorbent cover must be placed over the mattress. This will keep the mattress permanently clean and any spilling or stains will soil the cover and not the mattress. The cover being removable can be washed and placed again.
4) The mattress of even the finest quality like latex or memory foam must be flipped occasionally. This will help preserve its evenness on top and the whole mattress will stay firm.
5) Regular dusting and weekly vacuum cleaning of the mattress is recommended to prevent dust from settling on it. This will also ensure that dust mites never enter the mattress.
6) Mattresses must be free from moisture and therefore wet things must never be placed on them.
Mattresses do tend to absorb moisture during seasons when humidity levels are high. This may lead to fungal growths and discoloring. The best preventive for this is sunlight. Therefore, the mattresses must be kept under direct sunlight once a month or more if it is not too cumbersome a task. This will extract all the moisture and also kill any germs present.
7) While water must be avoided on mattresses any stains appearing on the mattress can be cleaned with mild but effective detergent and then cleaned with a wet cloth. This will keep the mattress spotlessly clean for years to come. The only word of caution here is that any wet exposure to the bed must be followed by proper drying to remove all traces of moisture from the mattress.
Mattresses may seem solid and tough but they serve a specific purpose of providing restful sleep. They must not be used as play areas or trampolines to be jumped on or as bouncing pads. This would damage the inner layers of the mattress and shorten their life.
9) Mattresses are meant to be stored flat and must never be folded, since folding will compress the inner layers and stretch the outer ones, causing irreparable damage.
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Second Mattress Given Under Free Mattress Program
We have given the away the second mattress under the Free Mattress Program. This time it is a Queen Size mattress given to a family staying in Bedok North. Once again, for those who were not selected, you can re-apply for next week’s mattress.
The following is the summarized story of this family.
The applicant is a divorcee with 3 young children. In her own words :
” im 26 yrs old.. divorced with 3 young childrens and im
unemployed.. cant afford to get a proper sleeping place for my
2 yrs old ashmatic son and my 7 yrs old son undergo his
operation on 18th august 2009..”
added information
“my son is going for his tonsilities surgery.. i’ve no idea how much is the cost for the operation.. the medical social worker is helping me to pay for his surgery @ kkh. im staying with my 3 children n my youngest sister who is a student.. im unable to work because of boyh of my two younger son condition.. and their schooling hrs.. i gt $250.00 maintainence frm my ex husband and $180.00 frm MUIS.”
If you do know any people around you that desperately needs a new mattress, but do not have the means to get one, please help fill up the Free Mattress Program application Form
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