Would You Recycle Your Mattress in Exchange For Frequent Flyer Points?

April 20, 2010 · Posted in mattress · Comment 

Sure you would. Frequent flyer points may well be in mattress recycling’s future. Today there is an on-going means to get paid for curbside recycling run by a Pennsylvania Company. The company is called RecycleBank ® and it’s a Philadelphia-based private company that has a very high tech idea about how to interest more people in curbside recycling. We are sharing this rewards model with you to show how it might be applied to mattress recycling.

RecycleBank® partners with cities and haulers to reward households for recycling. Households earn RecycleBank® Points for all kinds of green actions like using renewable energy, reusing products, digital downloads, recycling electronic waste, and much more. These points can be used to shop at over 1,500 local and national businesses. Household curbside containers have a computer chip implanted in them upon which resides the resident’s name, address and phone number and RecycleBank® account number. This information plus the on-collection truck computer and barcode system which inputs recyclable types and weight determines how many points a household earns for a specific curbside recycling collection pickup. Visit how-it-works at recyclebank.com for more information on their system.

Deming told us that which gets rewarded gets done. The RecycleBank® system rewards participants for curbside recycling as opposed to punishing them for what they are not recycling. Their goal is to encourage household recycling via positive reinforcement of the household’s recycling effort with a rewards system.

Households have access to their RecycleBank® Dollars for spending at participating retailers or if they like – to donate their RecycleBank® Dollars to a local environmental group or non-profit organization.

Mattress Recycling differs from curbside recycling in frequency. The average mattress’ life falls between ten and twenty years while most curbside recycling is done once a week. Even when family size is around 3.5 persons per household, on average a household would be recycling one mattress about every three to six years. Not exactly cost effective to set up a RecycleBank® like system just for mattress recycling, but mattress recycling could certainly be included as a subset of such a system.

Would businesses support a mattress recycling for pay system similar to RecycleBank®?

Which retail establishments benefit the most from having mattress buying customers come into their stores? Obviously retailers that sell new or even used mattresses need these customers to purchase mattresses from them. So, what would happen if retail mattress stores began rewarding customers for recycling their mattresses with “Mattress Recycling Dollars” whenever a customer wanting to buy a new mattress brought in their old mattress and box springs? The mattress retailer would close a new or used mattress sale from which they should profit. The mattress retailer removes one bed set from the supply side of the mattress market increasing the demand side by one bed set. The mattress retailer now has a paper trail on how many mattresses have been diverted from the landfills via recycling (This is a key measurement for mattress recyclers seeking grants in order to determine and show the total tonnage and/or volume of mattress waste being diverted from landfills.) The mattress retailer can claim their firm’s contribution to mattress litter reduction in the community. Further, the mattress retailer can incorporate their “green” business model into their unique selling proposition (USP) for their mattress business advertising.

And, if the mattress retailer networks with other retailers as part of the “Mattress Recycling Dollars” program – there is definitely an increase in word of mouth advertising about which retailers are rewarding customers for recycling mattresses (To include those all important pocketbook/mobile device lists of participating retailers.) People buying mattresses usually desire new bedding, maybe matching drapery, and a host of bedroom related items that consumers could use mattress recycling dollars to purchase.

From such a mattress recycling dollars program, mattress buying customers would feel rewarded and actually get credit for recycling their mattresses. The Mattress Recycling facility gains centralized pickup points for mattresses at the mattress retailer store saving the mattress recycler transportation costs. And, the community benefits via mattresses being recycled rather than going into landfills thereby lengthening the life of the landfill.

With the mattress recycling industry being in its infancy, there is more than adequate opportunity for innovation just as RecycleBank® has done for curbside recycling. And who knows – someday airlines may actually begin trading frequent flyer miles for mattress recycling dollars or points…. Like the old cliche says – the sky is the limit.

Author: Cecil Taylor
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Memory Foam Mattress Reviews

April 6, 2010 · Posted in mattress · Comment 

Memory foam mattresses are the cutting edge in bedding. The use of viscoelastic material in the manufacture of mattresses has led to improved sleep comfort, providing the best support, spine alignment and pressure relief. What follows are reviews of the best rated memory foam mattresses from the market leaders.

Sealy TrueForm Mattress

Sealy mattresses have been a top rated product for many years and the company is the world’s largest manufacturer of mattresses. The company manufactures mattresses in the mid- to high-end price bracket. As you might expect from the world’s largest manufacturer, Sealy make all types from the Sealy Posturepedic – an orthopedically designed inner-spring mattress – to the Sealy SpringFree – a 100% latex mattress. Sealy didn’t lead the way in the use of viscoelastic foam but has now brought out its own version, called the Sealy TrueForm. Like other viscoelastic mattresses the Sealy model is multilayered using a high-density foam core (not memory foam) with a top layer of memory foam. Sealy claim that the inner-core of high-density foam provides the support whilst the top layer of memory foam provides both support and comfort.

There are basically three types of Sealy TrueFoam mattress to choose from; the 8 series, 9 series and 11 series – the number is the thickness of the mattress in inches. The 8 series comes with 5″ of high-density foam in the core and 3″ of memory foam in the top layer. The 9 series comes with 6″ of high-density foam in the core and 3″ of top layer. What exactly are the benefits of the 9 series over the 8 series I can’t really say as both have a 3.5″ top layer of memory foam – I don’t see how an extra one inch of high-density foam in the core makes the 9 series any better than the 8 series. The 11 series comes with 6″ of high-density foam in the core, a 3.5″ visco middle layer and 1.5″ convoluted visco top layer.

What I like most about the Sealy TrueForm mattress is the washable, zip-off cover – the 11 series is a velour cover with added cashmere. Also, all Sealy memory foam mattresses are compatible with the Sealy PowerBase, so you can program various positions as well as two massage units.

Simmons ComforPedic Mattress

Like Sealy, Simmons didn’t lead the way in development of viscoelastic, however they now manufacture their own version and even claim to have developed the ‘next generation’ of this type of mattress. It is true that the biggest complaint against memory foam has been a ‘sinking feeling’ – therefore not being able to move freely whilst lying down – and that it tends to ‘cook the sleeper’ because body heat is not dissipated quickly. Simmons claim to have solved both of these problems using their version of foam called NxG Advanced Memory Foam. From what I’ve garnered there does seem to be a small reduction with the quicksand feeling many customers complain about. With the claim as to heat reduction, I can’t say one way or the other. The one overriding opinion is that the Simmons ComforPedic mattress is cheaper than a Tempur-Pedic mattress, though a little softer, and offers good value for money.

Simmons makes the following models of ComforPedic mattresses: The Simmons ComforPedic Original – comes with a removable, professionally dry-cleanable velour and suede cover; The Simmons Nassau – comes with an additional layer of latex; the Simmons ComforPedic Natural is the next step up – you get a thicker layer or memory foam, an inner-layer of latex and the Simmons patented Edge Support System (some people do like a firm edge to their mattress though how this offers more support whilst sleeping is beyond me); the Simmons Mystere – comes with the thickest memory foam layer, otherwise it’s the same as the ComforPedic Natural; the Simmons ComforPedic Nuvo – this is the most expensive and comes with the Simmons Nuvo bed and allows custom positioning of the mattress, which can be programmed to an array of positions.

Tempur-Pedic Mattress

Tempur-Pedic mattresses were the first to utilize viscoelastic material in the construction of a mattress. Unlike most other manufacturers it only makes memory foam mattresses. It is still the market leader and sets the benchmark – every other mattress manufacture will offer the customer comparisons between their memory foam mattress and Tempur-Pedic – they don’t seem to compare their viscoelastic mattress with anyone else! So, is the Tempur-Pedic the best memory foam mattress on the market? Opinions vary; some claim that a lifetime of backache went away when they slept on one, others claim that the mattress sags after only a few months. Also, the memory foam available from Tempur-Pedic does seem to be firmer than its competitors.

The company originally made only one model of mattress, which was available in the usual standard sizes. Probably because of market competition, it has now several models on offer, the latest being the Tempur-Pedic CelebrityBed. It is the thickest mattress available with an extra 2″ Tempur pillow top – this mattress is very expensive, two times the price of the Classic Tempur-Pedic mattress; whether it is worth all the extra money is highly debatable – I doubt if most consumers would notice the ‘claimed’ greater sleep benefits of the CelebrityBed over the Classic.

Of the three brands discussed above, the Simmons mattress is the cheapest with the Tempur-Pedic being the most expensive. As to which gives you the best night’s sleep is a very subjective matter. Some like softer mattresses but others prefer firmer ones, also price does play a part in one’s selection; when buying a memory foam mattress can you really tell the difference between one that cost a thousand dollars to one that costs twice as much?

My personal ranking of those discussed above are; Sealy TrueForm Mattress (11 series) in third place, followed by the Simmons ComforPedic Mattress (Nassau) in second place with the Tempur-Pedic mattress (the Classic model) just making it into the number one position.

Author: Robin Cassidy
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Proper Care And Maintenance Tips For Your Water Bed Mattress

April 5, 2010 · Posted in mattress · Comment 

Water bed owners are among the most loyal of mattress consumers. Water bed mattresses aren’t right for everybody, but those who love them feel very strongly about them. Many people consider water bed mattresses to provide the ultimate ideal for comfortable sleep. To many people, there is nothing so soothing as being lulled to sleep by the gentle movement of their water bed mattress. Water bed mattresses are also long lasting and easy to use.

Water bed mattresses are very low maintenance, but there are a few simple maintenance steps you can do that can help lengthen the lifespan of your water bed mattress, as well as increase the comfort you can experience from your mattress. The most important components in the proper care of your water bed mattress are the periodic addition water bed conditioner to the water in your mattress and maintaining an appropriate water level in your mattress.

Water Bed Conditioner

Adding water bed conditioner to your water bed mattress periodically will prevent the water in your mattress from becoming stagnant. If conditioner isn’t added as it should be, stagnation will result, and a bad smell originating with the stagnant water will emerge from the water bed mattress.

Failure to add conditioner to the water in your water bed mattress can also decrease the life span of your mattress. Deterioration of the mattress will accelerate as a result of algae growth within the mattress. Algae growth can result in hardening and cracking of the vinyl material from which the water bed mattress is made.

To maintain your water bed mattress, you simply need to add eight ounces of high quality, multipurpose water bed conditioner to the water in your mattress once every eighteen months. The best place to find high quality water bed conditioner is from a water bed dealer.

Proper Water Level Maintenance

Keeping the water level in your water bed mattress is an important part of proper water bed maintenance. Overfilling and under filling can both result in damage to your water bed mattress. A mattress that has been overfilled is subject to stretch out. As the vinyl stretches, pressure will be placed on the seams that can cause it to weaken.

Additionally, water bed frames are designed to support the weight of properly filled water bed mattresses. A water bed mattress that has been over filled weighs more than it should. Therefore, additional stress is placed on the water bed frame. When the water bed frame is under excess stress, its ability to properly support the mattress is diminished. Damage to the hardware that keeps the frame together also can occur as a result of excess water in the water bed mattress.

An under filled water bed mattress can result in excess stress being placed on the water bed heater that can cause it to overheat. An adverse effect of an overheated water bed heater is damage to the vinyl material that comes in contact with the heater.

One way to determine if your water bed mattress is filled to an appropriate level involves placing a broom handle across one of the corners of your water bed mattress frame. As the mattress begins to fill, watch the frame. You will know that it is time turn off the water supply when the handle lifts off the frame as a result of the expansion of your water bed mattress. This might not be the most scientific way to be certain your water bed mattress is filled to the correct level, but it is an easy and accurate way to be sure.

Author: Scott Nichols
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Guest blogger

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