I've Torn Apart Over 1 Million Mattresses
I'm Tim Sumerfield. I've spent over 20 years in the mattress industry — first building them, then recycling them. I've seen what's really inside every major brand.
20+ Years in the Mattress Industry
I didn't start as a blogger. I started on a factory floor.
Mattress Factory Worker
I started working in a mattress factory, learning how these things are actually built. I saw the materials, the construction techniques, the shortcuts manufacturers take. I learned what makes a mattress last — and what makes it fall apart in 3 years.
Founded My Mattress Recycling Company
I started my own mattress recycling business. What began as a way to keep mattresses out of landfills became a unique education in mattress quality. When you tear apart thousands of mattresses from every brand, you learn things no sleep lab ever could.
1,000,000+ Mattresses Recycled
My company has now processed over 1.15 million mattresses. Every single one gets inspected. I've seen which brands hold up for 15 years and which fall apart after 3. I've watched the industry change — mostly for the worse.
Started Sharing What I Know
After years of friends asking "what mattress should I buy?", I decided to share what I've learned publicly. Honest information from someone who's seen inside more mattresses than almost anyone alive — based on real-world durability, not 30-day tests.
My Advice Comes From the Job, Not the Commission
Most mattress review sites are affiliate marketing businesses dressed up as consumer advice. They test mattresses for 30 days, then recommend whatever pays them the highest commission.
I do things differently.
Yes, I have affiliate partnerships — I'm upfront about that. But here's the thing: my recommendations come from 15+ years of tearing apart mattresses, not from which brand pays the most. I recommend what I've seen hold up for a decade, period.
My primary income is still my recycling business. I don't need affiliate revenue to survive, which means I can tell you the truth. When I say a mattress is good or bad, it's because I've literally seen thousands of them after years of real-world use.
I'm not testing mattresses in a lab for 30 days. I'm seeing what they look like after 5, 10, 15 years. That's data no review site can give you.
What Tearing Apart 1 Million Mattresses Taught Me
Price Doesn't Equal Quality
I've torn apart $500 mattresses that outlasted $4,000 ones. The industry works hard to make sure you can't compare materials. I've seen the exact same components in a $800 mattress and a $2,500 one — just with different branding.
Warranties Are Mostly Worthless
That 10-year warranty? I see mattresses come through my facility after 3 years, completely broken down, with warranty claims denied. The fine print is designed to protect the manufacturer, not you.
Materials Matter More Than Marketing
Foam density. Coil gauge. Edge support construction. These things determine whether your mattress lasts 5 years or 15. But mattress companies hide this information because it would let you comparison shop.
Some Brands Consistently Hold Up
After seeing mattresses from every major manufacturer, I know which ones I see still holding strong after 10-15 years. I also know which "premium" brands fall apart embarrassingly fast.
I Don't Run a Sleep Lab. I Run a Recycling Facility.
When a mattress review site tests a mattress, they sleep on it for 30 days and write about how it feels. That's useful for initial comfort, but tells you nothing about durability.
I see the end of the story.
When I pick up a mattress, I know how old it is, what brand it is, and how it held up. Then I tear it apart and see exactly what's inside. Thousands of data points, across every major brand, over 15 years.
When I recommend a mattress, it's not because it felt good for a month. It's because I've seen that brand's products hold up for a decade.
Real Photos From My Work
Not stock photos. This is my actual business.
I Got Tired of Watching People Get Ripped Off
For years, friends and family have asked me what mattress to buy. I'd tell them what I knew — which brands I see holding up, which ones fall apart, what to look for, what to avoid.
Then I'd watch them go online and read "reviews" from sites that were clearly just pushing whatever paid them the most affiliate commission.
The mattress industry spends millions on marketing to hide basic information from consumers. They use proprietary names for the same materials. They make it impossible to comparison shop. They create "exclusive" models for each retailer so you can't price match.
I decided to share what I know.
Yes, I use affiliate links — I'm transparent about that. But my recommendations are based on what I've seen hold up for 10-15 years, not on which brand pays the highest commission. I recommend what I'd tell my own family to buy.
After 20 years in this industry — building mattresses, then destroying them — I've learned things no one else is talking about. It's time someone did.
Questions? I'm Happy to Help
If you have questions about a specific mattress or situation, feel free to reach out. I can't respond to everyone, but I try to help where I can.
Start with my main article — it covers what I've learned from 15 years of tearing these things apart.
Read What I've Learned →