Cozytown Linens Blog

Frequently Asked Questions About Sofa Beds

Is a sofa sleeper the same thing as a sofabed?

Yes. They are also sometimes called a pull-out sofa bed or pull-out couch.

Is it unhealthy to sleep on a sofa bed long term?

Sofa beds are not designed to take the place of a standard bed. Not all sofa beds are made the same, so depending on the quality of the sofabed, particularly the mattress, it may be comfortable for a while before you being to feel the ill effects.  Many sofa bed frames have a support bar located perpendicular to the length of the bed, which can usually be felt through the mattress, causing a very uncomfortable sleep surface.

How can I make my sofa bed mattress more comfortable?

Before investing in an entirely new mattress, which could be quite expensive depending on the size and quality, there are some other options you can consider to improve the comfort level of a sofa bed:

1) Purchase a good quality sofa bed mattress topper. There are different styles of toppers on the market. Some are sized specifically for sofabeds and have corner straps to keep it in place when the bed is closed.

2) Invest in sheets specifically designed for sofa beds. Since sofa beds are not the same size as standard beds, regular bed sheets do not fit well and cause the sheets to bunch up in the sleep surface and sometimes slip off the mattress. Sheets made for sofabeds stay in place and provide a more restful night’s sleep.

What size sofabeds are there?

There are many size sofa beds. Here are the most common sizes:

Twin (38 x 72)

Full (54 x 72)

Queen (60 x 72)

XL Queen (60 x 80) – same size as a conventional standard queen bed.

Extra Wide Queen (66 x 80) – same size as the conventional Olympic Queen size bed.

King (76 x 80) – same size as a conventional standard king bed.

Do I need to use special sheets with my sofa bed?

Although some sofa beds are the same size as a conventional bed, the mattress is much thinner in depth than standard mattresses, ranging between 4” and 5” deep. With that, sheets specifically designed for sofa beds are needed for a proper fit.  Some furniture stores may carry sofa bed sheets as a complimentary service to new customers, but most times sofa bed sheets are only found in specialty linen stores.

Shallow mattresses to fit low profile and platform beds may seem like a new trend, but the fact is, shallow depth mattresses have been around for decades. Before deep mattresses became popular, standard mattresses were typically around eight to ten inches deep and step stools certainly weren’t needed to climb into bed. Beds were easy to make and you didn’t need muscles like Hercules to lift the mattress and tuck the sheets under.

Bed sheets were easy to find in department stores. You bought what you liked and they fit well. They weren’t too big or too small.

Like Goldilocks would say, they were “just right”.

Shifting Trends

As life goes, nothing stays the same forever, and somewhere in the 1990’s the trend shifted to very deep mattresses, with some as deep as 20” to 22” thick. When they first became popular, finding deep pocket bed sheets to fit these monstrosities was a problem, because bed manufacturers do not consult with bed linen manufacturers before deciding to make a certain size bed. Yes, as crazy as that sounds, it is true. As a result, those who bought the deep mattresses were left searching for sheets to fit, which were found only in specialty linen stores.

It took a few years before the bed linen manufacturers caught on and starting making deep pocket fitted sheets and it’s now very common to find sheet sets in department stores with fitted pockets of 18” and 21” deep. As a matter of fact, that’s pretty much all you can find in stores these days…deep pocket fitted sheets. That solved the problem for those who have very thick mattresses, but opened the door to……

A new dilemma

Now that only deep pocket sheets line store shelves, with no shallow pocket fitted sheets to be found, those who have a thinner mattress are now the ones searching for bed sheets to fit. As my father used to say, “It’s the same thing, only different.”

This is a complaint we hear every day and once again we’re here to help. At Cozytown Linens, we offer fitted sheets in one inch increments starting at 6” deep up to 25” deep, to accommodate both the shallow and deep mattresses. No matter what size mattress you have, we have sheets that fit. And best of all, they are made right here in the USA!

In this fast-moving society people often go without enough sleep. It seems that there just is not enough time in the day for the recommended 8-hour sleep. One way to combat the fatigue and sluggishness that result from this deficit is to take a power nap. Power naps are also incredibly beneficial for those who do get the recommended 8 hours of sleep, since the naps can provide the energy needed to be as productive in the latter part of the day as in the beginning.

Mercy, our little Toto, taking one of her many power naps. What a life!

Power naps can be as short as 20 minutes or as long as 30 minutes, and the benefits differ depending on the length of the nap. The 20 minute power nap which can easily fit into a work break or lunch hour, increases alertness and motor skills. A longer nap of just 30 minutes helps to get creativity flowing and improves memory capabilities. The key to power napping is to keep it between 20 and 30 minutes to avoid falling into a deep stage sleep and waking up groggy.

Tips for a refreshing nap:

1)  Keep it short:Set your alarm for 30 minutes or less, otherwise you may wake up groggy.

2)  Pull the shades if possible: Nap in a dark room or wear an eye mask.

3)  Blocking out light helps you to fall asleep faster.

4)  On a cool day cover yourself with a light blanket to maintain your body heat. It will also help you to fall asleep faster and rest more peacefully.

According to research, taking a 30 minute power nap is more beneficial than sleeping in an extra 30 minutes in the morning. Taking a power nap refreshes and resets the system, boosting energy levels, allowing you to be more productive during the day.

When I was newly married and setting up my house, my linen closet was immaculate. I would fold and refold towels so that they fit perfectly on each shelf. I was very meticulous, but only because I had the time to be. It was fun making the closet look like a photo shoot from the Better Homes and Gardens magazine. My mom told me that when I got older I wouldn’t care how the towels were folded, I would only be glad they were all clean and in the closet. I can remember that day like it was yesterday, and here I am twenty-one years and three children later, and she was right! My closet surely doesn’t look like it used to, but the towels are clean, they’re somewhat stacked, and I am happy.

Learning how to fold bottom fitted sheets wasn’t quite as easy as the towels. It took a little more time (and patience), but I’ve had many years to practice, and even more so being in the bed linen business. I stumbled upon this great video by Jill Cooper from www.LivingOnADime.com which demonstrates how to fold a fitted sheet. Neatly folded sheets really do save space in the closet. (I haven’t lost all of my senses – I still like a somewhat organized closet).

I hope you find this video to be helpful. Be sure to check out Jill’s website too. She has a lot of money saving tips, coupons, great recipes and more!

We do not remember days,

we remember moments.

Kids are usually curious about what happens in the kitchen. As soon as they can crawl, they spend time trying to get into this forbidden realm, only to find their parents constantly blocking their paths. In the long run, though, making the kitchen the forbidden place is not in the best interest of the kids or the parents.

When children lose interest in the kitchen, they also lose the opportunity to become more independent and secure, to spend real quality time with their parents and to become healthier. So, how can parents maintain and encourage interest in the kitchen, while keeping their children safe?

One good way to start fostering an early love of cooking is by allowing babies to hang out in the kitchen while the parents cook. Parents can narrate the process and allow the kids to play with some of the safe kitchen utensils as they cook. These babies will grow thinking about the importance of the act of cooking and will also begin learning early about healthy foods.

As the kids grow into older toddlers, parents can encourage their interest in the kitchen by getting them actively involved. Older toddlers and preschoolers can wash vegetables, pour ingredients and help stir when cooking. They can help knead bread and shape cookies. These hands-on activities are especially delightful to kids. They also serve a double purpose as parents can take the time to teach the kids about the different types of foods.

Once old enough, kids can be allowed to begin actual cooking over heat, with strict parental supervision. They can even help plan meals, which will show them that their contributions to family decisions are important. Eventually, older kids can actually be in charge of completing a meal a week if they want to. This is great preparation for when they move out on their own.

In this fast paced world that most of us live in, trading some precious sleep in order to accomplish one more task, might sound like a good idea, until we realize the cost of doing so. Getting the right amount of sleep is essential to maintain good health, and although the actual hours of sleep needed vary by age and quality of sleep, most adults should be getting approximately eight hours of sleep every night. A solid eight hours of quality sleep can yield benefits that include a more energetic body, improved health, good mood, enhanced creativity, quicker physical reflexes, stable, healthy weight, higher work productivity, emotional stability and overall general happiness.

Even our furry friends need their rest.

Quality of sleep is very important. And since sleep works in cycles, to receive the maximum benefits, it is vital that a person spends enough time in the deep sleep and REM stages. If too little time is spent at these stages, sleep will not yield the desired benefits, no matter the number of hours spent sleeping.

The consequences of too little, low quality sleep:

Sleep deprivation is said to lead to a weakened immune system, making a person more easily susceptible to illness. It can also interfere with concentration, memory, hand-eye coordination and reflexes. In fact, people who drive in a sleep deprived state actually experience the same kind of challenges as those impaired from alcohol consumption. Not getting the right amount of sleep can also interfere with mood, as too little sleep can lead to depression. Sleeping too much can also have negative effects, one of which can be increased mortality.

Getting too little sleep creates a sleep deficit, which is the difference between the hours of sleep a person gets and the hours of sleep a person needs. Once gone, you cannot get it back, even if you plan to sleep in on weekends. The only way to prevent sleep deprivation is to practice good sleeping habits to ensure quality sleep every day.

Tips for a restful night’s sleep:

1)  Start getting ready for bed at the same time every night. Being on a sleep schedule is not only a good healthy habit, but sets the internal clock to let your body know it’s time to quit for the day.

2)  Prepare your body and mind by dimming the lights and slowing down on activities a few minutes before crawling into bed. Reading is a great way to relax your mind and body.

3)  Don’t eat before going to bed, but if you can’t avoid the craving, eat only a couple of small bites. It takes energy for your body to digest food, so if you eat before going to bed, your body is working and not resting.

4)  Avoid alcohol and caffeine. Although alcohol may make you feel tired at first, it is considered a stimulant and can cause you to wake up during the night.

5)  Try to establish a comfortable sleep environment. If you’re a person who tends to sleep cold, a heated mattress pad or electric blanket is a great investment. When you’re cold you tend to wake up more often and your body is less likely to enter the REM sleep stage. On the other hand, an air conditioner in warmer climates is very helpful in maintaining the correct body temperature.

6)  Keep your room dark until it’s time to wake up. Invest in heavy curtains or room darkening shades. The darker it is, the better you will sleep, guaranteed.

7)  If you are waking up with back or neck pain, it may be time to invest in a good mattress and/or pillow. Proper body alignment while sleeping is crucial in obtaining a restful night’s sleep, as well as to your overall physical well being.

A recent news article from the Associated Press tells the story of an Ohio restaurant going out of business after 70 years. Another failed business is not a new story these days, and the reason, in general, is because the U.S. economy is not doing well right now. The reasons for this can be found aplenty in any number of newspapers and books written by economists from every point of the political spectrum, but I won’t go into any of that here.

What I want to talk about is how our saying the economy is bad somewhat obscures the element of individual human suffering that has quickly become a part of the lives of everyday Americans like you and me, especially in the last two years or so. We stand in the supermarket aisle gasping at the price of food, wondering if the children can get by with a little less protein or fewer vegetables. The companies we work for have had to make cuts, and we’re standing in line at the unemployment office wondering how we’re going to pay the mortgage this month.

In hard times, our parents and grand-parents did something simple and effective to combat rising food prices, sky-rocketing gas prices, and job loss: they stuck together. They joined with their neighbors, offering help and services, sharing what they had, and giving their business to the struggling shopkeepers in their own neighborhoods. In this way they hoped to keep everyone afloat—because everyone floating on a rickety homemade raft is better than most everyone drowning.

America is a great land populated by great people. We are like a neighborhood, where families live and work, stopping off at the neighborhood bakery after church on Sunday, or grabbing a couple of burgers at the neighborhood joint after a Saturday at the ball field with the kiddies.

But what happens to that neighborhood bakery and burger joint when we decide to pay for food at the larger fast-food chains? What happens to the florist down the street, or that cozy little book store on the corner when we buy from the “big guys” who import inferior—and therefore cheaper—products from overseas?

And this problem is not seen only on your street or just in your town. Online businesses run by Americans also suffer. For instance, fine linens sold online by American small businesses have a hard time competing with inferior linens imported from sweatshops overseas and then sold in major discount chains. When we buy foreign goods from overseas companies, we are “leaving the neighborhood.”  We are chasing each other to the welfare offices and helping to put each other “on the dole.”

Let’s keep our neighborhood businesses running. Let’s keep our Country running. Let’s buy American.

If you’ve been to the mall lately to do a little clothes shopping, you may have experienced a bit of sticker shock. That’s because retailers are raising clothing prices 10% on average to offset rising costs of materials and labor. The bottom line is, you’re paying more, but you’re getting less. According to Consumer Savings Expert, Andrea Woroch, some manufacturers are cutting down on the quality and extras, and instead applying inexpensive tweaks to con shoppers into thinking they are getting more for their money, when in fact they’re not. They’re using less material, cheaper fabrics and different items on the clothing to make it less expensive.

Some examples of this are:

Skinny Jeans and Pants – these are promoted as a hot new trend for fall and back to school, but what you will notice is that they are softer and there is less material. Although the softer denim is a lot less expensive, there is a subtle price increase.

Unfinished Clothing – yes, believe it or not, many items are not completely finished such as hems on pants, skirts, and jackets. Also, cheaper quality stitching is used on pockets to save on thread. These are being marketed as a new look, but according to Woroch, the real reason is because it costs less to manufacturer unfinished clothing.

Zippers vs. Buttons – surprisingly, zippers are less expensive than buttons, so when it comes to mass production, manufacturers save a lot by making little tweaks and using zippers in clothing instead of buttons.

Use of alternate materials to replace cotton – with the rising cost of cotton, more clothing is being made with rayon. It’s a soft fabric and many people like it, however, the real reason it is becoming popular these days is simply because it is a less expensive to manufacture.

Less fabric in clothing – this is especially noticeable with many of the women’s clothing. For example, blouses and shirts are low cut and more revealing, once again saving on manufacturing costs.

So, how do we combat “con-flation”? According to Andrea Woroch, here are some tips to help you get more for your money.

Coupons – look for coupons online that are printable. Many stores offer them.

Swap, don’t buy – this is a great way to save money on clothing for youngsters who quickly grow out of their clothes. Visit treadup.com and swap.com

Hold out for the holidays – this is when you will find the best deals on fall and winter merchandise.

Wait for Online Sale Days – Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Free Shipping days will offer the best deals.

Shop off season – the fall is the best time to shop for summer clothing when the left-over items are on sale. Likewise, late winter, early spring is a great time for winter clothing sales.

Outlet Malls – this is a great place to shop for brand name items at discounted prices. Factory outlet malls are the venue manufacturers use to sell their items directly to the public, saving you money.

The Good Housekeeping Research Institute recently conducted a test on 66 different types of pillows in search of those they thought was the most “snooze-worthy”. Their testing for top quality pillows included compressing, washing and inspecting of pillows stuffed with fiberfill, down, foam, wool, and a combination of materials. Their findings were quite interesting:

The top pick in the Fiberfill pillow category was the Aller-Ease Washable Allergy Protection Pillow.

For the best Down & Feather Pillow, the washable Lands’ End Essential Goose Down Pillow came in first place.

In the Foam Pillow Category, the Leggett & Platt Home Collection Brisa Pillow came highly recommended, bouncing back to it’s original shape after a night under 30 pounds of weight. The Cannon Ventilated Contour Pillow also passed the same pressure test.

The winner in the Wool Pillow category was the Natura All Season Wool Pillow, made with a soft, unbleached 100% cotton covering.

For the best Down/Foam Combo Pillow, the Stearns & Foster Down Caress Pillow ranked number one.

To read more about this interesting review and for tips on how to choose the right pillow for you, visit Best Pillows – Reviews of Best Pillows – Good Housekeeping

Have you ever wondered why your mom never slapped a sheet on the bed unless she’d placed a covering over the mattress first? There was a good reason for that then and there’s a good reason for it now.

It does not matter whether you use a simple cotton mattress pad or a waterproof mattress cover, you are protecting an investment for years to come. Think of it: gone are the days when you could get a good mattress for $150. Mattresses that won’t bend you into a painful question mark after eight hours of tossing and turning can easily cost $500 to up to $3,000 and $4,000! Amazing! Simply put: mattress pads PROTECT your mattress from spills and perspiration, and keep your mattress more sanitary longer!

Waterproof mattress covers are ideal for sick beds, but they are also a real time saver during those potty training years! If little Johnny or little Suzy has an accident, all mom and dad have to do is whip off the cover, and toss it in the wash. You can’t toss a mattress into the washing machine—not even the industrial size washers at the Laundromat!  So you see, a waterproof cover makes your life a lot easier!

And mattress pads are soft and add an even higher level of comfort to any mattress.

Protect your bedding investment, protect children’s mattresses during the potty training years, add extra comfort to your sleep experience, and make keeping your mattress clean as easy as tossing a cover in the washing machine. Pick up a cotton mattress pad or waterproof mattress cover today!