Looking for the best mattress for your budget? We’ve got you covered! At Ben’s, we offer a wide range of mattresses in styles and sizes for every bedroom. But without actually lying down on the mattresses, it can be difficult to determine the very best. To guide you in the right direction, we’ve compiled a list of our top 5 mattresses for 2017, based on a close analysis of every mattress we offer, plus sales volume and feedback from customers like you.

Here Are Our Mattress Picks This Year’s Savings:

1. Heritage

   Our Heritage Mattress is a great option for those who want an affordable mattress without sacrificing comfort. It’s eco-friendly, because it’s remanufactured, which means that select components have been recycled from other mattresses, thoroughly inspected, sanitized and recovered with new, high-quality materials, including a knit cover and supportive foams. End result: a very comfortable mattress that’s easy on the environment and your wallet!

2. Caress

   Our Caress Mattress combines the savings of a remanufactured mattress with the plush softness of a pillow top. The core, including the innerspring system and interior foams, has been meticulously recycled and rebuilt into a fresh new mattress, with new cushioning on top, new knit cover and a new, luxuriously comfortable quilted “V” pillow top. The entire mattress is 12+ inches of cozy goodness, so you can get a great night’s sleep at a bargain price.

3. Leeds

   The Leeds is an exceptionally comfortable pillow-top mattress from a brand that’s been around for more than 100 years: Englander. What makes this mattress a winner is its foam-encased, wrapped innerspring coils. The coils are individually wrapped, so they move independently. That helps to give each part of your body the unique support it needs, which helps to relieve pressure points and also prevent mattress motion when your partner turns.

4. Cardiff

   Our Cardiff Pillow Top Mattress from Englander is a great pick for any sleeper, but especially those who suffer from lower back pain. That’s because it’s a mattress with a layer of gel-infused memory foam that provides additional support in the lumbar area. This helps to relieve the pressure points that cause you to toss at night or wake up with a stiff back in the morning. The mattress also features a foam-encased alternating coil innerspring, which is a best-in-class design with uniquely conforming support.

5. Rushmore

   Rushmore is a luxurious all-foam mattress for those who want a great night’s sleep, combined with the feeling of sleeping on a cloud. The core of this mattress is crafted of High-Density Performance foam, which provides proper spinal alignment and ensures long-lasting comfort. The core is then topped with gel-infused memory foam, as well as other foams, to cradle your body and provide superior pressure-point relief. End result: less tossing and turning, so you can enjoy the deep, restful sleep your body needs.

Allergy sufferers know the frustration of instant sneezing and a runny nose from the moment they get into bed. And in many cases, it continues all night, causing uncomfortable congestion that disrupts their sleep and makes the next day just as miserable.

Hypoallergenic bedding is a good place to start—especially if you’re allergic to the materials inside your comforter. But for most allergy sufferers, that’s not enough. You need to target what may very well be the largest source of your allergy problems in the bedroom: your mattress.

Mattresses can be havens for dust mites and allergens, particularly if you’re not vacuuming and cleaning them on a regular basis. But the good news is: many of today’s mattresses are designed with innovative hypoallergenic features to ensure you’ll get the deep, sneeze-free sleep you’ve been dreaming about.

Here’s what to look for:

Memory Foam

Memory foam is a popular option for all sleepers, because it’s great at reducing the pressure points that cause tossing and turning. But allergy sufferers will be especially pleased to learn that memory foam is naturally antimicrobial and resistant to dust mites. So the foam can help to reduce your allergy symptoms, while also enhancing your comfort. Win-win.

You can find memory foam in both foam-core mattresses and in hybrids (which incorporate layers of memory foam on top of an innerspring system).

Foam-Core Mattresses

More research still needs to be done on the hypo-allergenic properties of foam-core mattresses vs. innerspring mattresses. But there’s one thing that foam has going for it: fewer materials inside.

Innerspring mattresses are typically made with numerous layers of foam, filler and other materials. That’s great for your comfort, but not so great for your allergies, because it creates more opportunities for dust mites to thrive. Also, the innerspring system itself creates a cavity inside the mattress that may make it more prone to dust mites.

Knit Covers

The exterior of your mattress (regardless of type: foam or innerspring) can go a long way to preventing dust mites. Durable materials, like the Tencel® moisture-wicking cover found on many of our Englander mattresses, can help to keep mites out, while also creating a cooler, drier sleeping surface.

Hypoallergenic materials

Many mattresses now feature hypoallergenic materials built right into the comfort layers. But you won’t know by simply lying down on the mattress, so be sure to ask before you buy. Take the time to find out more about your mattress: what’s inside, how it’s made and what hypoallergenic properties it has. You’ll find lots of great details about our mattresses here at Bens.com, but be sure to stop in store and our associates will be happy to provide the additional specs and guidance you’re looking for. Find a Ben’s location

Supplemental mattress cover

No matter what kind of mattress you buy, one of the best things you can do to prevent allergic reactions is use a supplemental hypoallergenic mattress cover, like the Mattress Protector. The cover creates a protective barrier to prevent dust mites and other allergens from entering the mattress.

Accidents happen. Spills, dropped food, pet stains—we’ve all experienced a stained mattress at least once. And while we strongly encourage our customers to use a mattress protector to safeguard their bed against such accidents, we understand that many people go without one.

So what do you do when the inevitable spill happens? Some stains are trickier than others, but in most cases you should be able to clean them out with the right products and a little patience.

Innerspring Mattresses

Innerspring mattresses are made with an exterior knit cover, sometimes called the ticking. This is typically stitched or quilted to the layers of foam and filling inside the mattress, and it’s the place where surface stains occur. Here’s how to tackle them.

• Minor, unidentified stains
  Your average, unknown stain can usually be removed with a mild cleaning product. Try diluting some dish soap (just a drop or two—no more than 1 tablespoon) with water in a spray bottle, or you can use a mild citrus cleanser, available at any grocery store. Spray the area and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Blot the area with a clean white cloth, paper towels or a sponge. You may need to repeat this a few times to completely remove the stain.
• Blood & urine
  Blood and urine are a littler trickier, but don’t freak out just yet. For these stains, try applying some hydrogen peroxide directly to the mattress—just enough to soak the cover, not the whole bed. Immediately blot with a clean white cloth. Did it work? If not, try adding a small amount of laundry detergent directly to the stain, and brush vigorously, adding cold water as needed.

  Still needs work? You may also want to try making a paste of hydrogen peroxide (about ¼ cup), dish soap (about 1 tablespoon) and salt (about 1 tablespoon). Spread this mixture over the stain and then wait until it’s dry. Then, remove it by scraping it off and/or using a clean white cloth moistened with hydrogen peroxide.

• Other stubborn stains
  If the paste doesn’t do the trick, some people have success with baking soda. First, treat the area with laundry detergent, then apply the baking soda. Let the baking soda set (you may need to wait until tomorrow), then vacuum the area the next day. You can also use a clean wet cloth to blot the area.

Foam Mattresses

Today’s foam mattresses are increasingly made with their own fabric covers, though the materials vary. Some may even have a zip-on cover, which you can usually throw in the washing machine (just be sure to follow the care instructions on the tag).

If the cover isn’t removable, or the stain isn’t big enough to warrant cleaning the whole thing (the covers can be quite bulky and tricky to put back on), then you can spot clean it with some of methods listed above. We recommend starting with the most mild treatment to start:

• Use a spray bottle to make a mixture of dish soap (1 tablespoon) and 1-2 cups of water
• Spray the stained area thoroughly
• Let sit for 10 minutes
• Blot with a clean white clot
• If this does not work, try applying some hydrogen peroxide and/or laundry detergent directly to the stain, following the steps for Innerspring mattresses above

Don’t forget routine mattress cleaning

Regardless of stains, it’s always a good idea to vacuum your mattress every few months. This helps remove dust and dust mites that can create allergic reactions and disrupt your sleep.

How do you know when it’s time to replace your mattress?

This is a surprisingly controversial topic, in part because mattress manufacturers and consumers tend to provide conflicting advice. So, who would you believe? Your mother, or the people who actually made your mattress?

The truth is: you’ll probably need to listen to both.

There’s lot of misinformation out there about when it’s time to buy a new mattress. Let’s look at some of the most common myths and dispel some of the fiction to ensure you’re getting the most out of your mattress.

Myth 1: Every 10 years.

For decades, a commonly used statistic in the mattress industry was that most mattresses should be replaced every 10 years. There may be some truth to this, as we’ll get to below, but here’s the biggest problem with that number: it’s too general.

Mattresses aren’t manufactured to expire on a certain date. You’re not going to wake up one morning, exactly 10 years after you bought the mattress, and find yourself sunken into the floor. It doesn’t work that way.

The longevity of your mattress depends on numerous factors:

• How you sleep on it
• How often you rotate it
• Durability of materials / quality of craftsmanship
• Brand / manufacturer

Some people may replace their mattress in 7 years, some may replace it in 15. It all depends, so don’t assume that the 10-year recommendation is right for you.

Myth 2: The bed frame or box spring is broken.

You can easily replace your bed frame or box spring without needing to buy a completely new mattress. And just because those items are damaged doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with the mattress itself. Simply repair or replace the damage, and you’ll save a lot of money.

Myth 3: The mattress is sagging.

This one is part-myth, part-truth. Yes, you should probably replace your mattress if it is sagging in any area. But can it be flipped? If you simply can’t afford to buy or finance a new mattress, you may be able to extend the life by simply flipping it upside down. Ideally, you should be flipping your mattress every few months anyway (if it can be) to prevent the sagging in the first place.

Myth #4: You’ve removed that weird “DO NOT REMOVE” tag.

Don’t worry about that tag—it’s just for the manufacturers. You can remove it if you want, and it certainly doesn’t affect the lifespan of your mattress.

Real reasons to replace your mattress

So, how can you really tell it’s time to replace your mattress? You’ll know from the way it feels and the quality of your sleep!  Here are some sure-fire signs:

• You’re tossing and turning more often at night
• You’re waking up with aches in your neck, back, hips or shoulders
• The mattress feels lumpy or is sagging (and it can’t be flipped)
• The mattress is no longer comfortable, and/or you sleep better in other locations, like hotel beds or the sofa

Time for a replacement?

We’re happy to help! Browse our large selection of mattresses right here at Bens.com, or visit one of our stores to find your new mattress.

Flip or no-flip: that is the question. Chances are you grew up sleeping on a mattress that your parents told you to flip every few months. You rotated it, you turned it over, you rotated it again, all in the name of longevity. Flash forward to today, there are numerous styles of exceptionally comfortable mattresses: pillow tops, euro tops, hybrid memory foam/innerspring mattresses—all of which promote a great night’s sleep.

But there’s one thing that many of these newfangled mattresses are missing: the ability to flip them. That’s because many of today’s one-sided mattresses (particularly the pillow tops) are designed with extra comfort layers stitched onto the top. Those layers are what create the pillowy look and feel, but they’re usually only on one side, not both.

Yes, the pillow tops are super comfortable, and you may also appreciate never having to flip the mattress. But if you’re looking to make your mattress dollars go further, then a no-flip mattress might not be the smartest investment. Here’s why:

No-flip mattresses may not last as long.

There’s a reason why your dad told you to flip your mattress: so it would last longer.

Rotating and flipping your mattress is a simple, effective way to maximize the life of a mattress. It ensures that each side of the mattress is being used, instead of supporting the weight of your body in a single spot. A no-flip mattress may need to be replaced sooner, ultimately costing you more in the long run.

No-flip mattresses may begin to sag.

What happens when you sleep on the same spot, night after night, year after year? Your body begins to form an impression in the mattress. That’s because the foams inside the mattress—and even the innerspring itself—eventually lose their resilience.

By rotating a flippable mattress, you are effectively sleeping on all sides over time, reducing the chance of sagging and ensuring that the mattress will last for many more years.

No-flip mattresses can’t hide spills, odors or damage.

Hopefully you’re using a protective cover on your mattress. But let’s pretend you’re not, and your cat has an “accident” right on top. Pet odors and stains don’t always come out so easily, even with the harshest cleaning products. That leaves you with two options for hiding the smell: 1) buying an entirely new mattress, or 2) flipping it over and forgetting it’s there.

In an ideal world, spills and stains wouldn’t happen on the mattress at all, but they do. A flippable mattress gives you an extra back-up option for those times when you want a stain to disappear—without actually having to toss the whole mattress.

Where to start

So, which mattresses are flippable, and which aren’t? And what if you want to treat yourself to the luxury of a pillow-top mattress, but it can’t be flipped? How do you know which will last?

Those are great questions that our friendly associates at Ben’s will be happy to answer! Visit any Ben’s mattress store to learn more about your options and see which mattresses offer the biggest bang for your buck.