Tips for Finding a Mattress on Craigslist We all know how expensive mattresses can be. We spend such a huge part of our lives sleeping on our beds, it's important that we get the best mattress possible, right? Sometimes it's a bit hard to afford an amazing mattress. Luckily I have compiled some tips for the terrifying task of finding a mattress on Craigslist. About a year ago I asked How Do I Make a Futon Work as a Bed? Hilariously enough, you all told me to never try and use a futon mattress over a regular mattress. Last year I purchased a dingy futon off of craigslist for $50 and struggled through back pain (hey, I'm only 23!) and sleepless nights. I feel as though I may have to apologize to you, my trusty readers, for not listening to your advice. I'm always trying to save money and do things the cheapest possible way. I now know the importance of owning a great mattress, but what if I can't afford one? So, it's time to look to Craigslist again. I think everyone is a little wary of buying something like a mattress of of Craigslist.
Might as well be purchasing someone's used tighty wighties right? Well, I've come up with a list of tips to make your Craigslist mattress search much easier! Look for honesty: You want to seek out the listings where the seller is completely honest. It's okay if they mention some minor wear on one of the corners. The best option is when they state how old the mattress is, what brand or manufacturer, or an explanation as to why they are purging. Look for personality: Find a seller that seems to give a little personality into their post. You want to interact with a seller that is going to be personable. That way you can feel more comfortable asking questions and hopefully they'll be nice enough to give you answers! Quality of photographs: This one is super important. Look for the posts where the mattress is well photographed. Never go for a mattress where the image is clearly the stock photo taken off a mattress store website. Bonus points if the seller takes a photo of the minor damage or label of the mattress.
Search "By Owner": If you select "By-owner" rather than "By-dealer" you won't get those cheap looking ads that almost always look like a scam. Yes, they are trying to sell you brand new mattresses, but usually from a warehouse or back alley. If you've had experience with the "by-dealer" option, let me know in the comments. I've always been curious to see if these mattresses are authentic. I would personally rather buy my mattress from a real person who can tell me the history of the mattress. Watch grammar: A lot of bots that post spam on Craigslist use weird grammar or throw in sentences that don't make sense. Unfortunately, you may just be looking at an ad coming from someone with terrible grammar. Be wary of bed bugs: Check the mattress for tell-tale signs of bed bugs — small red or brown spots and other signs of the little critters. If you see even the slightest indication, run the other way! Image: Flickr member robotpolisher. Licensed for use by Creative Commons.
Many vendors are offering mattress-cleaning business opportunities. Why is this service getting so much attention? Mattress cleaning and allergen removal really started in Europe about 15 years ago. It is a multi-million dollar business, with approximately 4,500 companies now offering the service.There is a growing amount of scientific data that reveals better environmental hygiene improves health. The Environmental Protection Agency has consistently ranked indoor air pollution among the top five environmental risks to public health, and according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, "50 percent of all illnesses are caused by or aggravated by polluted indoor air." So what are these indoor pollutants that can negatively affect our health? They include outdoor pollutants brought inside, combustion products, contamination from chemical products used by the consumer, and biological contamination. This is why EPA statistics show that levels of many airborne pollutants can be 100 to 500 percent higher indoors than outdoors.
Bio-pollutants include dog- and cat- dander, dust mites and cockroach allergens. These indoor pollutants act as triggers for asthma and other respiratory ailments. Over 40 million Americans suffer from allergies due to these pollutants. Children are the most at risk, as their lungs are still in the developmental stage. The No.1 indoor allergen source? The common house dust mite. Dust mites are microscopic, eight-legged arachnids (not insects) 0.3mm in, length. They are invisible to the human eye, so small they can crawl through the weave of bedding fabrics. Dust mites feed on tiny flakes of shed human skin cells. The average adult sheds about 2 pounds of skin per year. This will feed millions of dust mites. The dust mite is not what causes the problem; this lies with a protein found in the fecal matter called Der pl. The fecal mater is lighter than air and becomes airborne when disturbed by activity like fluffing pillows and tossing and turning during the night. The airborne particles are inhaled;
the protein Der pI breaks down the protective mucous lining of the eyes, nose, lungs and skin. The allergens enter the body and cause an overreaction of the human immune system. According to a study published by The National Institute of Environmental Health, 46 percent of North American homes have bedding with enough dust mite allergens to cause allergies. We cannot forget pets. Proteins in a pet’s dander, saliva and urine cause pet allergies. Grooming by cats cause the saliva on fur to become airborne, which in turn triggers the allergic reaction. Allergy sufferers should not have pets, but of course they do. We can help by introducing regular cleaning and treatment of their home furnishings. So what about mattresses? For allergy sufferers, the bedroom is the primary source of dust mite exposure in the home. About 60 percent of mites in the home are found in the mattress, as we spend one third of our life in bed - shedding skin and feeding dust mites. To effectively control dust mite allergens, the mattress should be regularly cleaned, about every 6 months for allergy sufferers.
For the customer who may not be convinced she has mites in her mattress, it is possible to do a test to determine the levels of mites. First, collect dust from the mattress by dry vacuuming. Place a black cloth over the vacuum hose and extract about 1 square foot of the mattress. You will be amazed at the amount of white dust on the cloth; skin particles and dead dust mites. The mattress should first be vacuumed, ideally with a truckmount so the allergens are vented outside, or with a vacuum cleaner equipped with a hepa-filter. After vacuuming, wet-clean the top and sides of the mattress, preferably with a non-allergenic product with an Internal Spray Upholstery Tool . Do not over-wet the fabric. Use an air mover to accelerate the dry time. At this point a dust mite-neutralizing product should be sprayed on the surface. This will control the mite allergens between regular cleanings. For allergy sufferers, applying a mitacide or pesticide to their mattresses is not recommended.
These materials are poisons and could cause discomfort to allergy patients, as their skin and face would be in close proximity to these materials. It is best to use a plant-based treatment that does not contain pesticides, perfumes, or VOC’s to control the allergens in between regular cleanings. Don’t forget the pillows. An old pillow can contain up to 20 percent of its weight in dead dust mites, dust mite body parts and their fecal matter. Pillows can be cleaned and treated with a dust mite-neutralizing product, or replaced every six months. Next, attention should be given to the carpets in the bedroom. Mites can be found here as we change clothes and prepare for the day, all the while depositing skin on the bedroom carpet. Clean the carpets using the hot water extraction method. For allergy sufferers, use cleaning agents free of perfumes, phosphates, hydrocarbons and solvents, as many allergy patients are sensitive to certain chemicals. Apply an anti-allergen neutralizing product to the carpet to control allergens between cleanings.
NOTE: To remove urine stains from the mattress, apply Heavy-Duty Soil Lifter to the stain, prespray with Preface® then extract with Natural Fiber Cleaner. We have determined the need to clean mattresses, but the big question remains: do you need to invest in a franchise and new equipment to be effective in your cleaning process? Call Bane-Clene to find out if we can help you with the right materials to enter this new and growing area without having to make a major expenditure. Our oldest dog has storm anxiety and was given a mild relaxant and then put on our bed to sleep by one of our children. Sometime during the night the accident occurred unbeknownst to our child. I called Bane and was told they had experience with shooting the mattress with a molecular solution that neutralized the urine. The representative came and spent time cleaning the mattress as was proposed. I put fans on the mattress for several days. The application and removal worked and I can sleep on the mattress again.