Taking care of your new bed

Proper care will keep your bed in good condition. Always read and retain manufacturers care instructions and ask your retailer for advice, too. Otherwise, the following tips will help you to get the best out of your bed during its natural life.

Use a washable, protective cover to protect the mattress (and pillows) from stains. Barrier fabrics for allergy sufferers are also available.

In the mornings, throw back the bed clothes and leave the bed to air for 20 minutes to allow body moisture to evaporate.

Turning your mattress over from side and side and end to end every few months (every week for the first three months) helps upholstery fillings to settle down more evenly. Some more luxurious mattresses, with much thicker layers of fillings designed to mould themselves to the contours of your body, may retain signs of these impressions, despite turning.

Don't make a habit of sitting on the edge of the bed and don't let the kids bounce on it.

Don't roll up or squash a mattress to store or transport it - this can cause permanent damage.

Handles are designed to help you position a mattress on its base - do not use them to support the full weight of the mattress - they may pull out and damage the fabric.

Don't leave polythene wrappings on a new mattress - dampness, mildew and rotting could all result from a build-up of condensation.

Vacuum your mattress and base from time to time to remove fluff and dust. This should be carefully done so as not to dislodge fillings or damage tufts. Open windows while vacuuming -especially if there is an asthma sufferer in the house.

When tackling stains, use mild detergent and warm or cold water. Never over soak a mattress or base.

Putting a new mattress on a base for which it was not intended, a new mattress on an old base or a board between the mattress and base can impede comfort and reduce the useful life of the mattress - as well as affecting any guarantees or warranties.

Out with the Old: Once you've bought yourself a new bed, make arrangements to have the old one disposed of. Don't give it to the children, relatives, guests or neighbours. If it wasn't good enough for you, it's not good enough for anyone else, either.

Here is some advice from Millbrook Beds...

Ten Simple steps for looking after your new bed
Handmade beds are made from the finest natural materials and handmade to the highest standards of workmanship. Your bed should therefore be treated as an investment as it will last for many years. The bed's lifespan will depend on how well it is cared for; therefore your new bed needs just a little care and consideration. The following points will ensure your achieve maximum comfort and sleep satisfaction.

1. The first few nights
Your bed may seem a bit strange at first - it always takes a few days to settle into a new bed. Your previous bed was probably quite old and past its best, your body will adjust to the superior comfort level of your new bed and you'll start to notice the benefits of a deeper sleep.

2. Settlement of fillings and bed dimensions
Our fillings are especially sumptuous - body indentations in the mattress caused by body weight compressing the fillings, is a normal characteristic. This settlement of fillings can be minimised by the regular turning of the mattress. Your bed is handcrafted and therefore is one of a kind. Because of these qualities we expect there to be some variation in standard size.

3. Turn mattress regularly
It is important that you turn your mattress regularly to aid even filling settlement and to prolong the mattress life. We recommend that you turn your bed from side to side and end to end weekly for the first four months. Thereafter it should be turned every month.

4. Assistance while turning mattress
We recommend that you seek assistance to turn the mattress. Apart from the risk of injury to yourself, you also risk damaging the springs, should you bang, bend or roll the mattress. This would invalidate your guarantee.

5. Do not bend or roll your mattress
Please avoid any unnecessary rolling or bending of your mattress as it is likely to damage the spring units and invalidate your guarantee.

6. Allowing the mattress to breathe
Our bodies generate over a pint of moisture during the night. It is important to let your bed breathe to allow that moisture to dissipate. By simply turning down your bed clothes will allow the bed to air

7. Protect your mattress
We advise that you protect your mattress with a suitable natural fibre mattress cover. This will help to protect the surface of your mattress from contact with moisture and the risk of staining. A mattress cover will keep your mattress looking pristine for years to come.

8. How to fit castors
Please read instructions for how to fit castors. Castors should be tapped lightly home with a hammer.
Avoid excessive force as this can cause damage.

9. Drawers
Your bed may have drawers - these drawers have been designed to accommodate lightweight items only. Please do not overload, as excessive weight can cause damage to the runners and may jam the drawer.

10. Use of detergents
We do not advise the use of detergents or chemical cleaners on your mattress as this may bleach or disintegrate the fabric