patrick.net

I think all mattresses are unwashable. Mine costed about 700 bucks or so with the box (not a spring box but just adding height). I turn it over every spring. On top is a memory foam layer that I turn as well. I still see advertisements for mattresses at less than 1000. If you really want to sleep on something washable, try a large rectangular sleeping bag opened completely. Those wash and dry easily. I slept on it when I went to visit my parents.

You should try sleeping in a flexible easy chair with a leg upright that keeps you bent and upward a little bit (astronaut seating). It's much better for the back than all the variations of flat 'foam sinking' mattresses.

I nap and sometimes sleep on couch with one of those thin air mattresses used for camping, with a pillow for head. I think that is the ideal surface that is firm yet yielding for generally 'flat' sleep conditions. You only really need support for your upper body and neck.

Yes, I have concluded that it's important to have my head a bit higher than my body, so I stuff a pillow under the mattress at the head end.

Ingrid says

try a large rectangular sleeping bag opened completely

Ceffer says

air mattresses used for camping

Thanks both of you, I had not considered camping equipment. Maybe that's ideal for cost and washability.

Years ago, we switched to a Sleep Number air mattress and were very glad that we did. Each side of the mattress is adjustable. When that finally wore out after over 20 years, we bought the same type of system from Sam's Club, which is far better in quality, price, etc. than that of Sleep Number. It is encased in a covering that we bought for it, so that can be washed periodically. I highly recommend sleeping on air and would never go back to conventional mattresses if I could help it.

Patrick says

I've been frustrated with the declining quality and increasing cost of unwashable mattresses. The last one we got from Ikea wore out quickly

You dog, you!!

Best mattress I’ve ever used was recommended by a chiropractor. https://meningealrelease.com/store

You can call them and they will tell you all about it. They have quality Materials and care about orthopedic needs.

I prefer firm beds for myself (with adjustable softness for different girlfriends). I found a solution a little over a decade ago: I built a platform bed using plywood for mattress base; 2" regular medium to high density foam sheet on top of that, then 1" regular foam of slightly lower density sheet on top of the 2", then topped by 2" memory foam sheet. The original idea was to wash or throw away the top layer every 2-5 years. That was the perfect firmness/supportiveness for me. A girlfriend preferred adding a pillow-top mattress wrap, which also drastically increased the memory foam layer service life as the pillow-top wrap can be washed on its own and/or replaced. Then I bought half a dozen feather/down filled pillows (they are only $20-25 each at Costco) to throw on the bed, so the different girls over the years can each find her own perfect softness. The system also works for power-adjustable beds, as I subsequently built a similar mattress system for my ex-wife on her power adjustable bed (as opposed to my plywood-top platform bed), and that solved her chronic back pain issue.

Edit: the ex-wife's has hypoallergenic latex foam sheet as the top layer instead of memory foam sheet.

Thanks @Reality

This sounds promising. Where can I buy those foam layers?

Reality says

myself (with adjustable softness for different girlfriends)

Haha classic! Reminds me of the old times. The grass is always greener ;)

It's one thing to worry about the Princess and the Pea, and quite another to worry about the Princess who pees (and menstruates) with those unwashable mattresses.

I had a friend that slept on the floor. I took it up.

The first 2 weeks you're going to be sore, after that, I don't think I could go back to a mattress again, unless it's extremely firm.

I think most back problems are caused by soft mattresses.

richwicks says

I think most back problems are caused by soft mattresses.

From personal experience, I know this to be true for me.

Patrick says

richwicks says

I think most back problems are caused by soft mattresses.

From personal experience, I know this to be true for me.

If you try sleeping on the floor, you need a rug and some padding under it. It won't be unusual to have limbs fall asleep until you get used to it. I still very frequently sleep on the floor, and if I don't, I start having back problems. I still need a pillow incidentally, just to elevate my head a bit.

When I first tried it, I woke up stiff and there's an acclimation period. But what did our ancestors sleep on? It wasn't a Sealy Posturepedic mattress..

You might want something like this guy uses:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8G5fgxy1u5M

It's just a rug with a thin pad zipped in.

In Italy they have wool mattresses that you just have restuffed and fluffed up, they last a lifetime.

richwicks says

I still very frequently sleep on the floor

I did so for 7 straight years after a back injury. In a shitty studio in Redwood City with 60s shag carpet that smelled like a wet dog to boot!

Later I built my own latex mattress and have used it for 19 years. It's still as good as new but I replace the case periodically:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Mattress/comments/wnudnk/my_experience_with_sleeplikeabear_in_my_mattress/

Looks like sleeplikeabear is going out of business but there are plenty of other places. I recommend starting with a 6 inch core that's very firm, sleep on it, then start adding 1 inch layers of decreasing stiffness until you get what you want. Mine is just 9 inches in total.

I buy expensive Talalay Latex pillows these days too.

Patrick says

Thanks Reality

This sounds promising. Where can I buy those foam layers?

It's been quite a few years since my last order. IIRC, I ordered the large foam sheets from https://foamonline.com/

The plywood sheets I used as the bed top surface (as support base for the foam layers) were the standard plywood sheets from Home Depot, usually spec'd for subflooring or outdoor barn sides, somewhat moisture-resistant. IIRC, BCX spec plywood or pine-top finish plywood, definitely not OSB boards (which although considered structural and cheaper might be too moisture absorbent). It's essentially built like a high quality sub-floor ready to take on heavy marble flooring. My daughter loved practicing tumbling and kid's gymnastics on my giant bed when she was little.

My back prefers firm bed. The 4 pillows that came with the bed sheet set (usually stuffed 2 regular and 2 cooling gel memory foam) and the 6 extra feather/goose-duck-down stuffed pillows seem to have removed any complaint any girlfriend might have had regarding the bed being too firm. Some pillows can also form a wall in the middle of the bed when I don't feel like being disturbed.

mell says

Reality says

myself (with adjustable softness for different girlfriends)

Haha classic! Reminds me of the old times. The grass is always greener ;)

LOL! I personally prefer a woman who never changes (just like my morning cereal, which was raisin bran for 3+ decades, only recently switching to mixed real nuts and berries (no peanuts or trail mix) in order to avoid grain altogether), but unfortunately women seem to be experts at sabotaging relationships eventually. When the shit-testing gets too far, I end relationships; if there is any my child/children from her before that point I take care of her even after breakup. That's all spelled out before relationships get serious.

Latex mattresses with wool casing are the most chemical free (no bromine compounds). Latex is also an insect repellent, so no dust mites. The one we have is by Savvyrest. If I had to do it again, I'd get the Tallalay latex, because the organic latex starts to degrade after about 10 years; this could also be that the organic latex has wide swings in quality (really loose QC).

Layered latex mattresses allow you to customize firmness - they usually come in 2 or 3 layer versions. I'd recommend firm or medium; only use soft on the top layer if the wife has big hips or massive biscuits.

I think 10 years is an acceptable time for a mattress to last, at the given prices. Also no matter what you get, it will become gross over time

stereotomy says

Latex mattresses with wool casing are the most chemical free (no bromine compounds). Latex is also an insect repellent, so no dust mites. The one we have is by Savvyrest. If I had to do it again, I'd get the Tallalay latex, because the organic latex starts to degrade after about 10 years; this could also be that the organic latex has wide swings in quality (really loose QC).

Layered latex mattresses allow you to customize firmness - they usually come in 2 or 3 layer versions. I'd recommend firm or medium; only use soft on the top layer if the wife has big hips or massive biscuits.

Interesting, I didn't know that about other latexes. Mine is going strong for over a decade and is as good as new. I did buy a Posturepedic latex mattress before I build one from the ground up but it was crap.

When I get rid of old furniture I chop it into bits for the dumpster and do a post mortem autopsy. Most everything (even from the best furniture stores) is made of crap with a veneer on the outside that makes them look nice. Made from things like cardboard. That mattress had a couple of layers of latex but it also had a lot of poly-foam which basically started to dent right away...

You save $ and get a better mattress if you build your own from latex.

I have a memory foam topper on one of the beds in my maui rental. It's interesting to sleep in for 10 days but gets old quickly.

Reality says

When the shit-testing gets too far, I

You're talking about the 'squeeze play': trying to force long term contractual obligations in exchange for the short term pleasant complaisance/sex and companionship. All women get itchy and do it, it's built in to the biology. Time of initiation of the squeeze play depends. Borderlines will do it pretty quickly, others maybe weeks or months.

My hippie roommate from Venice was past master at churning the girl friends. He would enjoy the 'honeymoon', and when the demands and pissiness started, he was brutal in booting them out to renew the hunt for the next temporary bed mate. He managed to remain a bachelor and do this for decades. He ran for a city council once, his opponent said he was gay. He told them to leave him for half an hour with one of their 'of age' daughters so he could prove he wasn't. He won the election.

Well, I tend to keep a girl for 5-10yrs. The ex-wife lasted 9yrs (and winning the life-time support prize); the runner-up (so far) 8yrs. Sometimes it takes a few tries to find a keeper worthy of 5-10yrs of my time (with potential life-time support prize)