HELOISE: Bedding should be bought as a set

Dear Heloise: Mattresses and box springs frequently are sold as a set. Is it necessary to replace the box spring when replacing the mattress?

A Loyal Reader, via e-mail

Well, there is no law, but leading manufacturers of bedding advise that you should replace both at the same time. The box spring is built to work in conjunction with the mattress to give you your best night’s rest. According to the Better Sleep Council (www.bettersleep.org), the mattress and matching box spring work together. And putting a new mattress on top of an old box spring may void any warranty. It may seem like an added expense, but your sleep is important!

When your new bedding is delivered, the deliverymen usually will haul away your old mattress set, and some will relocate it for you to another room. (Please tip them if they provide extra service!)

When is the last time you replaced your mattress and box spring? The average life span of a bedding set is eight to 10 years. And yes, it might sound like a lot of money, but divide the cost by 10 years, then by 12 months, and it’s really worth the investment to replace it.

Heloise

Dear Heloise: I learn a great deal from your daily column, which I read in The Parkersburg (W.Va.) News.

In order to keep up with where things are going on in the world, our family of senior citizens has a child’s place mat of a map of the world and one of a U.S. map on our kitchen table. While we watch the news on TV, we pick up the map and see where things are located.

Carolyn H. in Parkersburg, W.Va.

Dear Heloise: After reading the hint about other uses for address labels, I was motivated to share my use. I am a retired children’s librarian. One of the things I used to do after story time was to either stamp the child’s hand with a decorative stamp or give out stickers. A free source was the pictures on the address labels. The ones I got from the Humane Society and environmental groups had pictures that were especially appealing to kids. I also used them for craft programs and at Halloween as a giveaway for one of the stops on our trick-or-treat costume parade.

Pat Houlahan Schieffer, via e-mail

Heloise

King Features Syndicate