Before you walk into a mattress store and waltz into the jaws of an unscrupulous salesperson, get the facts by following the steps in this how-to.

Make sure the memory foam is of high enough density to support your body properly. The best way to know is to check the package for the density of the foam. Cheap foam is normally 2 to 3 lb. density, mid-grade foam is 3 to 4.5 lb. density and good foam is over 4.5 lb. density. Usually, 5.3 lb. to 5.9 lb is considered the ideal density to properly support the human body. The lighter grade foam won’t support you and will quit returning to its original shape after only a few months.

Look for memory foam that is temperature sensitive. The one thing that makes Memory Foam so unique is temperature sensitivity. When you first lay down on a memory foam mattress, your body weight causes the mattress to ‘melt away’ from that pressure until your weight is spread evenly over the surface of the mattress. However, after you ‘settle in,’ your body temperature begins to affect the material, causing it to soften in the places where there is increased temperature. This fine tuning is what accounts for the unmatched comfort of the genuine memory foam mattresses.

Read the warranty information carefully. See exactly what will be required of you when you have a warranty issue. Will you be responsible for shipping, packaging, etc.? Most importantly, how long has the manufacturer been in business? A lifetime warranty from a company that’s only been in business for a short while is probably worthless.

Check for ample testing done with real people. Many times, testing done in laboratories, without humans, isn’t a true picture of what happens out in the ‘field.’ The human body is unique and it affects materials differently than a mechanical testing device.

Ask for a ‘comfort test’ period. You should be able to sleep on a memory foam mattress for a short period, to see if you have any issues. A high percentage of people love memory foam mattresses, but a few don’t. Know what to expect if you are one of the few. Will you be able to get a refund of all your money? Or is there a re-stocking fee? Will you be required to ‘exchange only’ with that merchant? If so, make sure they carry a wide variety of products so you’ll have lots of choices.

Tips Get a written ‘comfort guarantee.’ Make sure it’s at least 10-14 days or more. If you can take ice, in a zip lock bag, you can verify if the material is temperature sensitive. It will become firmer in the place you put the ice after 5-15 minutes.