If you’ve had your mattress for awhile you may notice some ‘dipping’ or body impression in the surface, usually there will be one or two distinct areas.

Unless a mattress is very hard and unyielding in the top comfort layer, it will show some body impressions and this is not a defect. Most mattresses, regardless of fancy marketing terms, have comfort layers containing one or more types of foam.

With their different densities and responses, these foams are designed specifically to accommodate and adjust to your body. Under regular compression they settle and compress to conform to weight and shape, and because we tend to sleep in the same area, this forms a distinct body-like outline.

Some degree of body conformity or dipping makes a mattress more comfortable, not dissimilar to shoes where they become favourites once they have accommodated the shape of your foot.

In a well-constructed mattress, the depth of this body impression (when no one is on the mattress) would not exceed 3.5cm, any more than this and you should contact your mattress manufacturer. The key to look for in any warranty is what level of body impression does the manufacturer regard as acceptable.

Body impression can look worse than it is in larger mattresses like a Queen, King & Super King size, because often there is a distinct middle ‘hill’ strip that does little load bearing work!

How do you measure body impression? The easiest way is using a pole, broomstick or curtain rod for larger mattresses. Lay it across the bed around the hip area and then measure the gap from the bottom of the pole to the surface of the mattress underneath. Note that if there is any memory foam in the top layer you must leave the mattress without any weight for some time to let the foam recover before measuring.

Rotating the mattress periodically will help especially if there is a large weight difference between the occupants. Alternatively you can swap sides (good luck with that)!

Sleep Doctor Personalised Delivery Service

Standard Delivery

Includes mattresses, standard ensemble bases, drawer bases, bedheads.

• Arrive at delivery location at the specific scheduled delivery time (give 10 to 15 minutes either side of time for traffic etc.)
• Deliver items into the desired room or location in the house.
• Position the items as required by the customer.
• Reposition any furniture within the room to assist with the placement of purchased goods.
• Remove and take away any rubbish associated with unpacking the purchased goods
• Wait for customer to clean under bed areas etc. and can assist with preparation of the area.
• Attach glides/castors/legs onto standard base deliveries.
• Attach bedhead if required (may incur additional charges).
• Test drawers to ensure they area tracking well and functioning as intended
• Answer any bed/mattress related questions.

Installation

Includes adjustable bedding, bedroom furniture (standard bed, bunk bed, gas lift bed, case goods), mobility products.

• Arrive at delivery location at the specific scheduled delivery time (give 10 to 15 minutes either side of time for traffic etc.)
• Reposition any furniture within the room to assist with the placement of purchased goods.
• Install adjustable bed/s into desired location, test all functions of the bed, outline the functions of the bed to the customer and demonstrate the functions of the remote control.
• Install bunk bed in the desired location and leave instructions and any additional hardware with the customer.
• Install gas lift bed in the desired location and leave instructions and any additional hardware with the customer.
• Remove and take away cardboard, plastic and any other rubbish associated with unpacking the bed parts.
• Answer any questions the customer has about the purchased goods.