Frequently Asked Mattress Questions

For many years, the mattress industry stated that the average life of a good mattress set was in the 8-10 year range. Now the industry and the Better Sleep Council recommend replacing your mattress every 5-7 years. It is difficult to say what is the more accurate guideline because the life of a mattress is influenced by several factors: the quality of the materials used in the product, whether a mattress is padded on one side or two, the weight of the person(s) sleeping on the mattress, whether the person is a side/back/stomach sleeper, how much the person moves while sleeping, whether a box spring is used and the type of box spring (e.g. working modules or straight wire foundation). Also, unrelated to durability, comfort preferences can change over time so you may sleep better on a harder or softer padded mattress after a few years. For some helpful advice on how to shop for mattresses, please visit the Mattress 101 section. 

If you are a shopper who likes to compare products and value from store to store, shopping by model name will often lead to frustration. The manufacturer, who relies on retail stores to sell its products, makes minor modifications to their mattresses for each mattress retailer. When shopping for a mattress, ask to see a cutaway model. Check for quality upholstery padding and heavy gauge coil springs. Understanding mattress construction allows you to compare, feature for feature, mainstream brand models with those models made at The Original Mattress Factory.

At The Original Mattress Factory, we strive to simplify the mattress shopping experience. We not only offer a complete product line with support, comfort, durability and pricing options to suit your individual needs, but we also try to help you understand what you should look for when mattress shopping to find the best product and value. We think you will find our honesty, no hassle sales approach and organized showrooms a refreshing change.

A two-sided mattress has two sleeping surfaces and offers more value as it will wear better and stay comfortable for longer than a one-sided mattress. Similar to rotating the tires on your car to extend the life of the tire, rotating and flipping your mattress will extend the comfortable life of your mattress by sharing the wear over two sides versus concentrating the wear on only one side. Although body impressions are normal in today’s more generously padded mattresses, flipping and rotating your mattress periodically will help to minimize these impressions.

While other brands promote their “no flip” mattresses as new technology and convenient for you, they are really “can’t flip” mattresses that have only one sleep surface which is not beneficial for maximum comfort and durability.

No, you are not required to flip your mattress to receive the full warranty. A mattress warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship, not the gradual loss of comfort or support. Using both sides of a mattress by periodically rotating and flipping your mattress will extend the life of your mattress set and can help minimize body impressions. On a single sided mattress, you are basically sleeping in the same spot every night, which will accelerate the wear and tear on the only sleeping surface. Care & Maintenance - Flip Reminder

• Twin: 38” x 75”
• Full: 53” x 75”
• Queen: 60” x 80”
• King: 76” x 80”

There is a tolerance of ±1” on standard sizes based on the amount of padding and type of construction.

When choosing a mattress, make comfort a priority – bigger is usually better. A healthy sleeper moves 40 to 60 times per night, so you need freedom of motion. If there is more than one person sleeping in the bed, you should purchase a Queen or King size mattress because they are wider and longer than the standard Full size.

We are always happy to create custom or special-size mattresses/sets to fit antique beds, campers, boats and a variety of other uses.

Contact the factory or store located nearest you for size and model options. Please note that length and width dimensions for mattresses and box springs have a tolerance of ± 1 ½”.

Please note that while some local manufacturers will make just about any size you request, you may have trouble finding sheets and other bedding to fit your custom mattress and box spring. There are catalogs that sell many special size sheets. You may also buy a flat sheet for a size larger than your custom mattress and tuck it under.

Yes, The Original Mattress Factory makes innerspring and foam mattresses that will fit most waterbeds. The most popular replacement sizes are:

• California King: 72” x 84” (approximate)
• California Queen: 60” x 84” (approximate)
• **Super Single: 46½” x 81” (approximate)

Please note that length and width dimensions for mattresses and box springs have a tolerance of ± 1”.

** A standard Super Single is approximately 48" x 84".  At The Original Mattress Factory, our Super Singles finish at approximately 46.5" x 81", with a tolerance of + 1 1/2". This smaller size makes is easier to put on sheets and make the bed.

Contact the factory or store nearest you for The Original Mattress Factory models available in these sizes and ordering time required.

Correct support is an essential ingredient for a healthy body. A good mattress and box spring will gently support your body at all points and keep your spine in the same shape as a person with good standing posture. When trying mattresses, pay special attention to your shoulders, hips and lower back, the heaviest parts of your body. While the mattress and box spring set acts as a complete support system, the innerspring inside your mattress provides most of the support. The heavier the spring, the better the support and durability the mattress will provide. So when evaluating the quality of the mattress you are considering, ask your salesperson for information on the type(s) of coils used in the mattress. Mattress 101 – Buying a Mattress - Support

A box spring provides support and acts as a shock absorber for your mattress. A wood platform or any other foundation that does not flex reduces the life and comfort of a mattress. Don’t try to save money by not replacing the box spring when purchasing the mattress. An old box spring can shorten the life of your mattress. A box spring is designed as a working partner with the mattress it supports. The more wood and wire, the better, so ask for heavy gauge wire springs and solidly built wooden frames.

A king-size set comes standard with split box springs. Sometimes people need split box springs for a queen size or, in rare cases, for a full size, in order to move it into older homes or up a tight stairway. At The Original Mattress Factory, we are happy to help you by manufacturing a box spring solution that will work. Split (or two piece) box springs offer the same support as a one-piece box spring. While a center support is recommended on all full, queen, and king size bed frames, it is a must when using split box springs.

Innerspring mattresses are not as rigid as box springs, and therefore have some flexibility to them. But be careful, you do not want to bend the border rod that surrounds the innerspring. If the border rod is bent, the mattress will not lie flat. For this reason, all king size mattresses made by The Original Mattress Factory are hinged. Hinging allows the mattress to be bent without damaging the innerspring unit when delivering in tight stairway or doorway situations. If necessary, queen and full size mattresses can also be hinged by special order. Hinging does not affect the durability of a mattress and can be a big advantage when moving in tight spaces. If you already have a hinged mattress from The Original Mattress Factory and are concerned about which direction it can be bent, please contact the factory or store nearest you for more information.

Our stores keep some items in stock but are limited due to space. Our factory locations typically have all standard-size products in stock. If they have your order in stock, you are welcome to pick up your items same day. 

If a store is more conveniently located to you and you don't need your items immediately, you may have the items transferred from the factory to that store to pick up at your convenience.

Please call before you come to ensure that your order is in stock and be prepared to carry, load, and secure your products in the event the we are not able to assist you. Contact the factory or store nearest you for more information.

The Original Mattress Factory accepts most major credit cards, cash and personal checks for payment in our retail locations. The Original Mattress Factory also offers special financing plans, which will vary between locations. It is best to contact the factory or store nearest you for specific financing and payment information or you may check the store locator which lists payment methods for each specific location.  We accept most major credit cards online if you are interested in our e-commerce shopping experience. 

Warranties may be the most misunderstood part of mattress shopping and are of little help in judging mattress quality. While manufacturers offer a wide range of warranty periods, these do not necessarily equate to how many years the mattress will actually last.  Warranties cover only defects in materials and workmanship, not the gradual loss of comfort or support over time. 

In addition, please be aware that some warranties are also prorated, which means that as your mattress ages, you receive proportionately less credit towards a new mattress if you have a warranty problem. A non-prorated warranty, on the other hand, will cover 100% of the labor and material cost to repair or replace a defective mattress or box spring. Transportation charges are typically not covered by a product warranty.  You should also be aware that valid warranty claims are a very small percentage of sales. Structural damage such as loose, broken or protruding coils and wire are rare under normal usage. Over time, mattresses will wear out or your comfort preference may change, but these are not warranty defects. So, when shopping for a mattress, you should focus on finding one with the best support and most comfortable padding at a price that you can afford, not on the length of the manufacturer’s warranty.

For maximum sleeping comfort, mattresses today can be constructed with more padding than ever before. In the normal course of sleep set use, you may notice the occurrence of impressions in the cushioning materials. This natural nesting or conforming that occurs as the cushioning materials adjust to the shape of the sleeper is known as a “body impression”. Unless a body impression is greater than 1 ½”, it is not a structural defect covered by The Original Mattress Factory’s warranty. It is simply an indication that the upholstery layers are settling and contouring to your body as you use your mattress set. Regularly rotating and flipping your mattress will help to minimize the depth of the impression that occurs.

If you would like to be contacted via email when it is time to flip or rotate your mattress, enroll in our free Mattress Flip Reminder System.
Care & Maintenance - Flip Reminder

Vacuuming is the only recommended cleaning method for a mattress. However, if you’re determined to tackle a stain, we would recommend that you use only mild soap with cold water and apply lightly. Please keep the following in mind:

• Do not ever soak a mattress or box spring. If any water is used, let the mattress air out and dry thoroughly. 
• Do not dry clean your mattress. The chemicals in dry cleaning agents and spot removers may be harmful to the fabric or underlying materials in your mattress.
• Because mattresses that are stained or in an unsanitary condition void the manufacturer’s warranty, it is recommended that you use a protective covering such as a good quality, washable waterproof mattress protector or pad to keep your mattress fresh and free from stains and soiling.

If your e-mail address has changed, please log into your account and click on Flip Reminders.  From there, you can either choose “Unsubscribe” to cancel the flip reminder emails or “Change Email” to update your address.  Care & Maintenance - Flip Reminder

We do not accept returns or exchanges due to the fact that we only sell brand new products. Once a product has been out of our control, we consider it to be a used item and will not take it back or sell it to any other customer. This is both for our protection as well as that of our customers.

We do, however, have a one year Comfort Policy. According to this policy, you may re-select another mattress one time only within the first year of purchase. Your existing mattress can be donated with proof of donation or it will have to be thrown away. As far as the new mattress is concerned, you are responsible for the following: 25% of the less expensive mattress only price, any applicable re-delivery or shipping fees and any applicable retail up-charges (if you re-select a more expensive mattress). In other words, this policy allows you to get a brand new mattress for only 25% of the cost and we cover the other 75%.

Comfort issues aside, we also have a warranty on all of our products. If you purchase a product and there are any defects, errors in workmanship, body impressions over an inch and a half, etc. these issues are covered under our warranty and we will take care of them for you. You can download our full warranty here.

We can remove your old bedding for an additional charge. We will, however, refuse to remove any bedding that is in an unsanitary condition or has protruding wires or broken wood. We also cannot remove or move waterbed mattresses, steel frames, headboards or other furniture.

Yes, we do offer low profile box springs in our top of the line quality. These are approximately 5” high while our standard box springs are approximately 8” high. Our low profile box springs function in the same way as our standard box springs, absorbing shock and helping to extend the life of the set. They are just built with a compressed version of our torsion module.

In addition to low profile box springs, you can potentially lower your bed by using different legs on your frame. To find out more about this and other options, please give us a call at a store near you.