21 June 2010

Flipping the mattress: Not a euphemism for anything


I don't think this is what they mean by Sleep Number Mattress (tm), but it's the key to an important ritual in our household. Longer ago than I can remember, the engineer in the family numbered the 4 short edges of our mattress -- head and foot, top and bottom -- consecutively. Every quarter, on the solstice or equinox, we turn and/or flip the mattress so the next number is at the head. When 4's up, we return to 1, and so on ad infinitum. The object of this exercise: even wear, longer life. For the mattress, anyway. Thrilling, I know, but it's one of the quirky little dances we do. I'm sure you have yours. Happy summer.

5 comments:

June said...

Well, I'm impressed. by the orderliness, the linearity, the exquisite sense of frugality and comfort -- oh, my. Impressive. And creative, too, in that it's the solstice ritual...

Mary said...

Prune on Superbowl Sunday

Clean out and tidy up bathroom drawers and cupboards January 1

Install flannel sheets Thanksgiving weekend

Un-install flannel sheets April 15

Revalani said...

Prune rosebushes Presidents' Day weekend.

Marcos Mais Terra said...

wow, in the hotel business they put 8 numbers on the bed. all four corner top and bottom are numbered. And they get flipped every month. Fun, fun, fun!

Jerry Shifman said...

But Marcos -- there are only 4 possible orientations of a mattress. I can't imagine what the extra four numbers do.