Caveat Emptor: This Mattress Dates Back to Circa 1989

It doesn't get much grosser than this recent report that sent chills down my spine. After "Dateline" NBC did a show on used mattresses, the International Sleep Products Association (ISPA) commended them last week for exposing the hazards of buying a mattress that does not meet federal and state laws.

Yes, you read that right: there are such things as USED mattresses that are "renovated" and sold like new. In fact, they are sold as NEW when underneath the outer fabric cover on top is a dirty old mattress, probably teaming with bed bugs!

You can go here to read more on this report, but be careful. It just might scare you and cause you to feel itchy all over. Bed bug infestations are rampant in all 50 states now. But it's not just the bugs that can get you. How about mold, mildew, and other allergens?  Old oils and skin cells from strangers. Digested blood and excrement from old bugs. Bacteria.

Yes, the seller may tell you that the mattress has been sterilized, but how do you really know? If you ask "Does this bed have bed bugs?" do you really think a mattress seller is going to say yes?! It's worse than buying a used car that turns out to be a lemon. Way worse.

The Solution: Buy Your Mattress New!

I don't care how long you have to save your pennies for a new mattress. There are plenty of affordable mattresses out there, fresh off the assembly line. You sleep on this thing for a third of your life. Don't you deserve a new one just for you? Put it this way: what would you do to avoid wearing used underwear or a using a used toothbrush every day?

Thought so.

Tips for Buying a New Mattress

So, with that all in mind, here are a few tips to avoid the used mattress and get a good one:

• Shop at established mattress stores. Check the Better Business Bureau if you have any doubts.  Get referrals from friends and family. Mattresses sold at established department stores are less likely to have problems versus those coming from small, mom & pop shops.
• Be direct with your salesman. Insist that you buy only a 100 percent new mattress -- not a refurbished, renovated, or reconditioned one.
• For the best deal, wait for sales.
• Make your sales agreement includes a no-substitutions clause so if the bed you ordered is out of stock, you won't be surprised with another type. When it's delivered, look for damage, and request a replacement if necessary. If they bend it around a corner it can cause significant damage to the wire frame. Make sure you get what you ordered; check the mattress name with the invoice.
• If it looks too good to be true -- "New Mattress for only $49.99 with box spring"! -- it probably is. 

A story like this gives whole new meaning to the term "dirt cheap," doesn't it?

This post is cross-posted at Dr. Breus's blog, The Insomnia Blog.

Follow Dr. Michael J. Breus on Twitter: www.twitter.com/thesleepdoctor