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Wednesday, December 20, 2023

The Best Ultrasonic Humidifier: Ultra Quiet, Easy to Clean & Fill

We live in New England, where the winters are cold and the indoor air is dry from the heating system. I am also susceptible to respiratory illnesses such as colds, flu, bronchitis, and pneumonia in the winter, so using a humidifier is necessary for both health and comfort.

We have found that ultrasonic humidifiers, which we prefer for reasons I'll go into below, tend to last only a few years. So, we have tried a variety of brands and models. The Levoit LV600S Smart Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier we purchased a month ago is our favorite by far.

Levoit LV600S Smart Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier

The Levoit LV600S is the New York Times Wirecutter's top pick as
The Best Humidifier of 2023. We love ours!

How to Choose a Room Humidifier

After purchasing multiple humidifiers over the years and doing a lot of product research before each purchase, we've gotten good at choosing a good one. Here are the key considerations when shopping for a humidifier.

Type

There are four main types of portable room humidifiers we considered, which differ based on how the humidity is generated.

Warm mist humidifiers heat the water to create the vapor, i.e., steam. They're great for cold, dry winter climates like ours, and the heat cuts down on germs and bacterial contamination. We have found that they can create a lot of humidity — sometimes too much if you don't keep an eye on the moisture levels. However, warm mist units tend to be noisy, use more energy, and be more difficult to clean than cool mist models. Also, if you have children or pets, a reservoir filled with boiling water may not be the safest choice.

Cool mist units increase the humidity of the room without raising the temperature, so they're ideal for dry, warm climates. They tend to be pretty energy efficient. The units emit a humming sound that may bother some people, while others may experience it as "white noise" that is acceptable. We have found that they can be prone to developing mold and mildew and need to be cleaned more frequently than other types.

Evaporative humidifiers are a subset of the cool mist category. These units create vapor by using a fan to blow air through a moist filter, speeding up the natural process of evaporation, and that vapor is emitted or blown into the room. Like other cool mist models, evaporative humidifiers are safe for children and pets (because the mist is cool or room temperature), and are energy efficient. The filter needs to be changed regularly.

Ultrasonic humidifiers use high-frequency sound vibrations to break the water into droplets, which are then expelled into the air. These units are very energy efficient and extremely quiet, making them a great choice for bedrooms. Many models offer the option of producing cool or warm mist. They may or may not require a filter.

After having tried several types, we prefer an ultrasonic.

Size of Room

As with choosing an air conditioner or space heater, it's important to choose a model designed for rooms of a similar size to the one for which you are purchasing the unit. The power of whatever is creating the mist determines the volume of space the unit can humidify.

Reservoir Capacity

The size of the reservoir determines how long the unit can produce vapor (not how much it can produce) and, therefore, how often you will need to refill it. For that reason, it's important to make sure the reservoir is at least large enough to continue producing mist throughout the night, while you are sleeping.

I look for a large-capacity reservoir that I can fill only once or twice a day.

Ease of Filling

A top-fill reservoir is much easier to fill than a bottom-fill tank. A top-fill reservoir can be filled without removing it from the base unit, whereas a bottom-fill reservoir must be lifted off the base, carried to a faucet, and inverted under the tap to fill it. This can be messy (the water drips) and, if you have a large tank, heavy after you fill it.

Our last ultrasonic humidifier had a bottom-fill reservoir, and we hated it. The sink in our master bedroom's en-suite bathroom is old and small, and we couldn't get the opening of the reservoir under the faucet. That meant we had to carry the dripping tank to and from the kitchen.

Also, since a humidifier should only be on when the reservoir is in place, we had to remember to turn off the power, remove the tank, fill it, replace it, and turn the unit back on.

Ease of Cleaning

It's important to clean your humidifier frequently to avoid breathing vapor filled with germs, mold, and mildew. So, choosing a model that is easy to clean has become one of our top criteria.

Consider the size of the reservoir opening (can you reach inside easily?), and the size and number of corners, nooks, and crannies in the base and tank.

Controls

Consider whether you want manual or automatic controls or a choice. For example, you might want to manually set the rate at which the unit produces mist (regardless of the ambient humidity level), or you might want to set a target humidity level and let the unit automatically start and stop producing vapor as needed to maintain that humidity.

If you live in a climate where the humidity is fairly constant, manual controls are fine. However, if you live in an area with more variable weather conditions, like New England (where the saying goes, "If you don't like the weather, just wait a minute"), a unit with an automatic setting to maintain a target humidity level will be important.

Price of Consumables

Some types and models require water filters, mineral absorption pads, or other consumables, some of which may be optional (like the aroma pads for our new unit) or may depend on whether you have hard or soft water in your house.

It's important to determine which consumables, if any, are required, how often they will need to be replaced, and how much they cost, to help you determine the total cost of ownership over the expected lifetime of the product.

Customer and Expert Product Reviews and Recommendations

When my husband and I are researching products like humidifiers, we always do our due diligence. We comb through Amazon product reviews and look to expert product reviews and recommendations such as those from Consumer Reports and The New York Times Wirecutter to help us narrow our short list of candidates and finalize our product selection.

Levoit LV600S ultrasonic humidifier and filtered water pitcher

The Levoit LV600S Smart Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier can crank out plenty of humidity when needed, and for a long time, thanks to its powerful output and large-capacity, 6-liter water tank.

Why We Love the Levoit LV600S Smart Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier

After trying so many different humidifiers over the years, here are the reasons we love our new Levoit LV600S humidifier.

The NYT Wirecutter's Top Pick

This ultrasonic humidifier topped our list of candidates after we read the New York Times Wirecutter article "The 6 Best Humidifiers of 2023" and saw that the Levoit LV600S Smart Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier was their top pick. That was a compelling expert recommendation, and when we looked at the Amazon customer reviews for this product we were extremely impressed with the overwhelmingly positive feedback.

Hybrid Warm/Cool Mist Ultrasonic

If you're not sure which type to buy, the Levoit LV600S Smart Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier gives you the best of all worlds. This model defaults to cool mist, but there is a Warm Mist button that cycles through your choice of warm mist settings (low heat, medium heat, high heat, heat off).

For example, if someone is sick and has chest congestion, you can select one of the warm mist options to help them breathe easier.

The brand's "exclusive" Warm Mist mode claims to have improved mist dispersion and a powerful output: "Set at 550ml/h, the warm mist function generates temperature variation, boosting air circulation for 4× faster relief from discomfort" vs. cool mist.

There is also no risk of being scalded by hot vapor, as the mist is released at a safe temperature of 86-120 °F.

Designed for a Large Room

With its powerful 550ml/h output, the Levoit LV600S is designed to humidify an area as large as 753 square feet.

Large Reservoir

One of the things we love about this model is the large 6-liter capacity reservoir. We keep our humidifier cranking 24/7 during the cold, dry, New England winter months, and although we top up the water daily, the tank is usually still about half full after 24 hours.

Depending on the settings, the manufacturer claims the unit can produce humidifying mist for up to 50 hours on a single tank of water.

Easy to Fill

The Levoit LV600S is a top-fill model. So, instead of having to turn off the power, remove the water tank, carry it to the sink, turn it over, unscrew the cap, maneuver it under the tap, fill it, replace and tighten the cap, carry it back to the base, and seat it properly before turning the power on again, as we did with our previous model, we can just lift the lid, top up the tank with filtered water from our Brita pitcher, and replace the lid. Easy peasy!

Easy to Clean

This is by far the easiest-to-clean ultrasonic humidifier we have owned. The large opening in the tank makes it easy to reach inside, and the interior corners of both the base and the water tank are very accessible. The cleaning brush that comes with this model is also larger than those from our previous units.

Ease of Operation

The Levoit LV600S has simple, intuitively labeled buttons on the front control panel and a large, easy-to-read, digital display (which is turned off automatically in Sleep Mode).

Automatic Humidity Control

Since we live in New England, the ability to have the unit adjust the volume of mist output automatically to maintain a desired target humidity level is essential. We love this set-it-and-foreget-it mode. However, you can also set the mist output level manually, if you prefer.

Reasonably Priced Consumables

The Levoit Replacement Mineral Absorption Pads should be replaced every 2–4 weeks depending on the hardness of your tap water. A pack of 10 costs $9.99 on Amazon at the time of this post's publication. You can also find less expensive replacement pads that claim to be compatible with this model.

The Levoit Water Filter Sponges should be changed about once a month, depending on the water hardness in your area. At the time of this article's publication, a 10-pack costs $9.99 on Amazon.

There are also optional Levoit Aroma Pads that can be used with essential oils and placed in the Aroma Box compartment at the back of the base. The mist will diffuse the aroma when the humidifier is in use. A pack of 16 costs $9.99 on Amazon as of this writing.

Extremely Quiet

At a noise level of less than 28dB, the default unheated, cool mist mode is practically silent, which we love. The sound increases when the Warm Mist settings are used to heat the water, but this model is still extremely quiet compared to our previous humidifiers.

Sleep Mode

The Sleep Mode turns off the lighted controls display and changes the mist setting from a manual mode (if applicable) to an automatic mode and uses the humidity sensor to automatically adjust the mist level to maintain 50-60% relative humidity.

Sleep Mode also turns off the warm mist, if applicable, to reduce noise, but you can press the Warm Mist button to turn it back on if desired.

My husband can't sleep well unless our bedroom is completely dark, so being able to keep the display turned off is a great feature for us. We keep our set to Sleep Mode all the time unless we need to change a setting manually, which makes this appliance much more unobtrusive.

Minimal "White Dust"

After running our Levoit LV600S nonstop for the past month and filling it with filtered tap water from our Brita pitcher, we still haven't seen any sign of the dreaded mineral residue on our furniture or floors.

Timer

Although we have not yet needed to use it, you can set a timer to automatically shut off the unit after a preset interval (between one and 12 hours).

Memory Function

This model will remember your Mist Level, Humidity Level, Warm Mist, and Wi-Fi settings even when the unit is turned off or unplugged. It will not remember your Sleep or Timer settings, however, and the display will turn on automatically when the unit is turned back on.

Aroma Box

At the back of the base, there is a compartment called the Aroma Box. You can pull it out, put 8–10 drops of essential oil onto an Aroma Pad, place the scented pad into the compartment, and replace it. This will lightly scent the water vapor. We have not tried this yet.

“No Water” Indicator With Auto-Shutoff

If there is no water in the tank, this indicator will blink 10 times and the humidifier will shut off automatically. The indicator lights up when the water tank is removed and remains on until the tank is re-seated on the base.

Mobile App

What makes the Levoit LV600S Smart Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier "smart" is that it is Bluetooth- and VeSync-enabled. VeSync is a smart home app that allows you to control connected devices remotely from anywhere.

https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/the-best-humidifier/

Screenshot of the VeSync smart home mobile app on my iPhone. The app lets you
control your humidifier and other VeSync-enabled devices from your smartphone.

We only started using the app this week, and it's a great option with an extremely intuitive, easy-to-use interface. It's also nice to know that we will be able to control our humidifier remotely when we travel.

The app allows also you to access additional smart functions including a sophisticated Plant Mode and is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice commands.

Sleek Design

Although appearance is less important to us than function and features when we choose an ultrasonic humidifier, this one has the advantage of looking streamlined and unobtrusive and doesn't detract from our home decor. A nice bonus!

Helpful Humidifier Tips

Optimize the Humidity Level

If you live in a climate with cold winters, keep the humidity level low enough so the mist doesn't condense on your windows (and potentially rot the wood window frames).

Consider a Standalone Indoor Hygrometer

A humidifier's built-in humidity sensor (humidistat) measures the humidity in the immediate vicinity. For a more accurate measure of the room's humidity, we put an inexpensive indoor hygrometer on the far side of the room and set the humidifier's target humidity so that our desired humidity level displays on the hygrometer.

Protect Against Possible Leaks

The only time we had an ultrasonic humidifier leak, it was the result of user error. (It had a bottom-fill tank and when we refilled and replaced it on the base, we didn't seat the reservoir correctly, so the water leaked onto the table.) So, as a precaution, we now put our ultrasonic humidifiers on an old plastic cutting board on top of a sturdy plastic 12-gallon lidded storage container. The cutting board provides a stable surface for the unit to sit on, and the interlocking flaps at the top of the crate are not water-tight, so if there is ever a leak, the water would fall through the interlocking flaps and be contained inside the crate with no risk of damaging our hardwood floors.

If you want to keep the humidifier manual and consumable supplies (e.g., filters) next to the humidifier, as we do, put them in a zippered plastic freezer bag to keep them dry and protect against possible leaks.

Use Distilled or Filtered Tap Water

If your tap water is hard, you can cut down significantly on the dreaded white mineral dust (the residue from the minerals in the water after the emitted mist evaporates) by using distilled or filtered water. We keep a Brita water filter pitcher next to our humidifier and use the filtered water to refill the reservoir.

In fact, the manufacturer of our model recommends that all users use distilled water or filtered water to fill the Levoit LV600S Smart Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier instead of tap water, which they say "might leave white dust and grow mold."

LEVOIT LV600S Smart Warm and Cool Mist Humidifiers for Home Bedroom Large Room, (6L) 753ft² Coverage, Quickly & Evenly Humidify Whole House, Easy Top Fill, App & Voice Control - Quiet Sleep Mode

Give the Gift of Health and Comfort

If you know someone who lives in a cold or dry climate, has respiratory issues, or gets colds easily, the Levoit LV600S Smart Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier would make a great gift!

The Best Ultrasonic Humidifier: Ultra Quiet, Easy to Clean & Fill by Margaret Schindel

Friday, July 14, 2023

Accidentally Engaged (2016) Movie Review

You might wonder, as I did, how does one become "accidentally" engaged.

I first thought of the popular movie "While You Were Sleeping" when Peter Callaghan wakes from a coma to find out he is engaged to a stranger. We have also seen movies where people do crazy things when intoxicated that they don't remember when sober. I'll start by telling you that the characters in "Accidentally Engaged" were neither comatose nor intoxicated.

I do love a good romantic comedy, so, needless to say, I was intrigued by the title of this movie. I recognized Lexi Giovagnoli from previous movies, but I was not previously familiar with Brant Daugherty. Turns out, both are adorable and fun to watch.

Since both the name of the movie and the actors shown on the cover compelled me to watch it, I recorded it to watch when I had time.

Weeks later, that opportunity presented itself and I settled back to see the show.

Accidentally Engaged

Accidentally EngagedCheck PriceClarissa Byers is a struggling actress working as a waitress to pay the bills. She has a small bit part in a movie starring Chas Hunter, a successful "heartthrob" actor.

Playing the part of a waitress, which should be a comfortable role for Clarissa, she accidentally spills coffee on Chas when the lid comes off of the coffee pot. She is fired from the movie for not properly checking the props.

When Clarissa returns home for her best friend's wedding, she is immediately hit with questions about Hollywood, her love life, working with Chas Hunter and what he is really like. She is too embarrassed to tell them she was fired from the movie. When one of the girls comes across a picture on social media that looks like Clarissa kissing Chas, the conversation gets completely out of control and Clarissa tells them she is dating Chas. Of course, her friends start sharing the dating information on social media.

Since Chas is actually dating a married woman in the middle of a divorce, he seizes the opportunity to claim the woman in the photo is Clarissa. They make a plan to cover for each other, but when the paparazzi snaps a photo that looks like Chas is proposing, they opt to make the best of it. Clarissa could use the press to help further her career and Chas needs a stand-in girlfriend. But, he does need a public breakup too, so Chas decides to join Clarissa at her best friend's wedding to stage the breakup. However, it's not that easy!

This turned out to be a really good romantic comedy and a nice break from a day's work. I do recommend it if you are seeking a fun and entertaining romantic movie.

As a side note, you will probably recognize Clarissa's talent agent. The part of Jeannette is played by Maureen McCormick who many of us know as "Marcia".

Where to Watch "Accidentally Engaged"

I recorded and subsequently watched Accidentally Engaged on Frndly TV. It is also available on Prime Video on Amazon and is free to Prime members or you can rent it if you are not a member.

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Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Reviewing My Experience Of Bamboo Sheets And Bedding Sets

We started using bamboo bedding a couple of years ago. Prior to this, we had cotton sheets in summer and fleece bedding in winter.

However, since I had a severe skin allergy and perimenopause my skin has become super sensitive and I cannot bear anything but the most silky soft materials next to it.

So I was finding our old cotton sheets a bit too crisp and a little irritating and even itchy. The winter soft fleecy sheets were still OK but too warm and unbearable to use in the spring and summer.

People often skimp on good bedding as it is not something people usually see but it is vital for our health. A good comfortable sleep is so important to our emotional and physical well-being. So I started researching alternatives and found that Bamboo bedding has become increasingly popular in the last ten or so years. Given the benefits of Bamboo bedding, we decided to try them.

Our Experience of Sleeping on Bamboo Sheets and Pillowcases.

I was incredibly happy the very first night with the bamboo sheets, duvet cover and pillowcases. They are so silky soft to the touch and did not irritate my skin at all. The pillowcases were lovely so soft and comfortable and had a nice cool feel to them against my face.

It was a real pleasure to get into bed and an added bonus was that they seemed to regulate heat better.

My husband sleeps naturally cold and in recent years I have been throwing sheets and covers off me in the night due to getting too hot.

However using Bamboo bedding for the sheets, duvet cover and pillowcases my husband is warm enough and while I cannot say I am completely cured of the night heat, it is significantly better.

We have bought them gradually and currently have two sets consisting of a duvet cover, a fitted sheet and two pillowcases, one is a light grey and one dark grey. Over time I would like four sets a white one and another dark grey or a soft colour so I can mix and match them.

Why Is Bamboo Bedding A Good Choice

If we are concerned about sustainability and being friendly to the planet bamboo bedding can be a sensible choice.

It grows very quickly and is a renewable resource that needs little water to grow. So if recurrent drought is going to be a factor in our future this is helpful.

Being naturally pest resistant it does not require harmful pesticides to grow as a crop which is helpful to the creatures in nature and ourselves.

Bamboo is resistant to dust mites, mildew and mould which is great for those of us who have to deal with sensitive, allergic skin or asthma.

I have found that the sizes easily fit our bed, duvet and pillows and with the Bamboo being so lightweight and easy to handle it is an easy task to make the bed. Ours came with a zip to close the duvet which is quick and easy and the sheets have an additional elastic strap and elastic edging, making it simple to fit and they never slip during the night. The pillowcases are a simple envelope fitting large enough to cover our pillows easily.

Our Bamboo bedding is very lightweight and folds into a remarkably small package so even in a larger King size it does not take up much room in the linen cupboard.

Also now I have found bedding that works for us, if like me, you like to take your own bedding with you on trips away and holidays it is possible to do that.

Tafts Bamboo Sheets Queen Size Bed Sheet Set, Pure 100% Organic Bamboo Viscose, 17 Inch Deep Pockets – Luxuriously Soft, Silky, Cooling Sheets, Double Stitched, Lifetime Quality Guarantee (Green)

Care Of Bamboo Bedding

As I change our bedding at least once a week I need sheets and covers that are quick and easy to wash and dry all year round.

Bamboo bedding fulfills these criteria easily. I simply put them in a 30-degree delicates machine wash. They are beautifully clean and washing at this low temperature saves electricity costs.

For drying I hang on the washing line whenever it s not raining or hang over a clothes horse inside with the window open or our dehumidifier on and they dry very quickly.

I have also put them in the tumble dryer on occasion on delicate and they come out lovely, though I do not do this often due to the cost of running a tumble dryer these days!

Whichever method you use to dry them there is no need to iron them which is a welcome bonus and they come out perfectly silky soft and gorgeous.

We have had our two sets for a couple of years now and they still look like new. Granted they are more expensive than our other sheets but they are stronger and look and feel significantly better for longer. They have not developed any holes or uncomfortable bobbles. If anything they feel softer now than they originally did and look beautiful on the bed.

Pure Bamboo - Sheets Queen Bed Sheet Set, Genuine 100% Organic Bamboo Viscose, Luxuriously Soft & Cooling, Double Stitching, 16" Deep Pockets, Lifetime Quality Promise (Queen, Ivory)

So in my experience, Bamboo bedding is a great find and something we will continue to use for our sheets, duvet covers and pillowcases.

It is one of the more eco-friendly choices, easy care, good for allergy sufferers and sensitive skin, beautiful to look at and feels so gorgeous against the skin.

They are incredibly comfortable and soothing to sleep on and have made a huge difference to our sleep comfort.

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Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Which Queen or King Saatva Solaire Mattress and Adjustable Base to Buy

This month I have published a series of posts about my experience shopping for a Saatva mattress for the first time, including the extensive product research I did so my husband and I could choose the best mattress for our needs and why we chose a Saatva Solaire mattress and Adjustable Base Plus and later exchanged our split-top, “upper-flex” mattress for a solid, standard king Solaire.

To wrap up this series (for now, at least) and help other mattress shopping couples who are considering a Saatva Solaire, I have created a detailed, side-by-side comparison chart of all the options for the queen and king Solaire mattress, along with their compatibility with Saatva’s two adjustable bases and the options that are best suited to different needs and sleeping preferences.

How to Choose the Best Queen or King Saatva Solaire Mattress & Adjustable Base Options for Your Needs

Disclosure: I have joined the company’s affiliate program, which means that if you choose to make a purchase through one of the links in this post I may be eligible to receive a commission, at no cost to you. I highly recommend the Saatva company and its products for their excellent quality, performance, price and customer service. The opinions, product reviews and recommendations in this post are my own and are based on my personal experiences. The decision to click on those links to learn more about the company’s products or make a purchase is greatly appreciated, but entirely up to you.

Recapping the Key Features and Benefits of Queen and King Size Saatva Solaire Mattress and Adjustable Bases

In a previous post, I shared my in-depth product reviews of the Saatva Solaire mattress and the Adjustable Base Plus that my husband and I chose.

Following is a quick recap of some of the highlights of the Solaire’s features and benefits and the differences between the Saatva Adjustable Base and Adjustable Base Plus.

Saatva Solaire Adjustable Firmness Mattress

Here are some of the key reasons you might want to choose a queen or king size Saatva Solaire mattress.

Customizable firmness settings (great for couples). Remote controls with precise, incremental adjustments that gradually inflate or deflate a layer of vulcanized air chambers allow sleeping partners to adjust the firmness on their respective sides of the mattress to perfectly suit their individual preferences.
Minimal motion transfer. The air chambers on the two sides are separated, so when one person tosses and turns their partner barely feels it.
Excellent back support, pressure relief and breathability. The layer of air chambers is topped with layers of contour hugging, gel-infused memory foam, ergonomically zoned, natural latex foam and a cushioned 3-inch Euro pillow top that provides extra lumbar support in the center third of the mattress, covered with a breathable, organic cotton sleep surface.
Quiet, hidden air inflator and hoses. These are enclosed in the bottom layer, keeping them out of sight and muffling the sound of the motor.

Saatva Adjustable Base

Pairing a queen or king size Solaire mattress with a Saatva Adjustable Base allows you to use a simple wireless remote (with a handy built-in flashlight) to raise and lower the head and foot of the bed. It is compatible with all queen and king size Solaire mattress options except the upper-flex configuration. It also works with most platform bases, thanks to a zero-clearance design and removable legs.

Saatva Adjustable Base Plus

The Saatva Adjustable Base Plus is compatible with all queen and king Solaire mattress options including the upper-flex configuration. As its name suggests, the “Plus” version comes with additional features including a wall-hugging design in the standard configuration (but not upper-flex king or queen), massage (with three speed options), presets for anti-snore and Zero-G and under-bed lighting.

How to Choose the Best Queen or King Size Saatva Solaire and Adjustable Base Option for Your Needs

When my husband and I were shopping for our king-size Saatva Solaire mattress and adjustable base, we found the many configuration options confusing. So, I put together the following chart to help other mattress shoppers choose the best option for them.

Queen and King Saatva Solaire Mattress and Adjustable Base Options and Configurations

	Standard Queen or King	Upper-Flex (Queen or King only)	Split King	California King	Split California King
Solaire Mattress Configuration	Solid, one-piece mattress	Upper portion has a split down the center	Two twin XL mattresses	Solid, one-piece mattress	Two 36” x 84” mattresses
Best for…	Sleep partners who prefer a traditional, solid mattress with no center seam or split.	Sleep partners who want to elevate and lower the head of the bed on their side without affecting their partner’s side, but prefer the “connected” feel of a solid mattress with no center separation under their legs.	Sleep partners who each want maximum customization options on their respective sides of the bed.	Sleep partners who prefer the extra length of a California king.	Sleep partners who each want maximum customization and prefer the extra length of a California king.
Adjustability When Paired With a Saatva Adjustable Base (No Upper-Flex Option) or Saatva Adjustable Base Plus	An adjustable base allows the sleeper(s) to elevate or lower their head(s) and/or feet.	Each sleep partner can elevate or lower the head of the bed on their side only. The foot of both sides of the bed can be raised or lowered in sync (but not independently).	Both sleep partners can elevate and lower their own head and/or feet independently, without affecting their partner’s side of the bed.	An andjustable base allows the sleeper(s) to elevate or lower their head(s) and/or feet.	Both sleep partners can elevate and lower their own head and/or feet independently, without affecting their partner’s side of the bed.
Configuration of Saatva Adjustable Base or Saatva Adjustable Base Plus	The standard adjustable base in all sizes except king is a solid, one-piece base. The king size adjustable base comes as two joined twin XL bases whose remote controls are configured to operate both bases in sync.	The upper-flex king adjustable base consists of two twin XL bases. The upper-flex queen consists of two narrower bases, each half the width of a standard queen base. In the upper-flex configuration, each adjustable base has a remote that operates the head of that base independently of the other base, while moving the lower part of both bases in sync.	The split king adjustable base consists of two joined twin XL bases. In the split king configuration, the remote for each base controls that side of the bed only.	The California king adjustable base comes as two joined 36” x 84” bases. The remote controls are configured to operate both bases in sync.	The split California king adjustable base comes as two joined 36” x 84” bases. The remote control for each base controls that side of the bed only.
Sheet Set Compatibility	Any standard queen or king size sheet set. Recommended: Saatva Organic Cotton Sateen, Signature Sateen, Banded Cotton Percale, Belgian Linen, Organic Embroidered Sateen or Cotton Percale sheet sets	Upper-flex queen or king fitted sheet,* standard queen or king size flat sheet and pillowcases. *Sometimes called split top, top-split, upper split, split-head or head split sheets Recommended: Saatva upper-flex Organic Cotton Sateen sheet set or Signature Sateen sheet sets	Split king sheet set, consisting of two twin XL fitted sheets, one standard king flat sheet and two king pillowcases. Recommended: Saatva Organic Cotton Sateen, Signature Sateen, Banded Cotton Percale, Organic Embroidered Sateen or Cotton Percale sheet sets	California king sheet set, consisting of one California king fitted sheet, one California king flat sheet and two king pillowcases. Recommended: Saatva Organic Cotton Sateen, Signature Sateen, Banded Cotton Percale, Belgian Linen, Organic Embroidered Sateen or Cotton Percale sheet sets	Split California king sheet set, consisting of two 36” x 84” fitted sheets, one 108" x 114" flat sheet and two king pillowcases. Recommended: Signature Sateen sheet set
Other Considerations	Saatva Adjustable Base and Adjustable Base Plus are final sale.	Saatva Adjustable Base Plus is final sale. The upper-flex configuration does not have the wall-hugger feature. Limited selection of split-top fitted sheets.	Saatva Adjustable Base and Adjustable Base Plus are final sale.	Saatva Adjustable Base and Adjustable Base Plus are final sale.	Saatva Adjustable Base and Adjustable Base Plus are final sale.

I hope you find this chart helpful in choosing the best Solaire mattress and adjustable base for your needs.

If you would like more information about the Saatva Solaire Adjustable Firmness Mattress, the Saatva Adjustable Base or the Saatva Adjustable Base Plus, I encourage you to check out my in-depth Saatva Solaire mattress and Saatva Adjustable Base Plus product reviews and also click on the links to the product pages, which are chock-full of information and helpful tips.

Happy mattress shopping!

Posts in This Series

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 1: The Journey Begins

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 2: How to Choose the Best Saatva Mattress for Your Needs

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 3: Ordering a Saatva Mattress and Adjustable Bed Online — A Candid Review

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 4: Saatva Organic Cotton Mattress Pad and Sheet Set Product Reviews

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 5: Saatva Mattress and Adjustable Base White Glove Delivery and Setup

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 6: Saatva Solaire Mattress and Adjustable Base Plus Product Reviews

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 7: Exchanging a Saatva Mattress: My Personal Experience

Confessions of a Saatva Mattress Shopper, Part 8: Which Queen or King Saatva Solaire Mattress and Adjustable Base to Buy

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Exchanging a Saatva Mattress: My Personal Experience

This post is the seventh in a series of candid, in-depth reviews about my experience as a first-time Saatva customer. In the six previous posts I have discussed what happened when I was researching Saatva mattress options, choosing the best mattress for my husband’s and my needs, placing an online order for a Saatva Solaire mattress, bedding and adjustable base and taking delivery of our mattress pad and sheets, as well as the white glove delivery of our upper-flex Solaire and removal of our old mattress and my detailed, candid product reviews of our new Saatva Solaire mattress and adjustable base.

Today I will review our experience with exchanging our split-top Solaire for the (solid) standard version.

Is It Really Hassle-Free? Exchanging a Saatva Mattress

As I explained in my last post, my husband and I loved nearly everything about our new Saatva Solaire mattress except the center split down the top portion. We had decided to give the “upper-flex” configuration of the mattress and adjustable base a try because the top split allowed one of us to elevate and lower the head of our side of the bed without disturbing our partner. For example, since my husband wakes up earlier than I do, he could raise his side to sit up and read next to me while I continued to sleep.

However, since we usually fall asleep snuggled together on our sides in the “spoon” position in the middle of the mattress, one of us would end up with our arm stuck in the center split.

After trying for more than a month to find a way around that problem, we finally decided we’d be happier with a solid mattress and exchanged our upper-flex king for a standard king Solaire.

Note: Even if you and your partner also like to "spoon" together, if you eventually return to your respective sides of the bed for sleeping you may love the upper-flex option. Exchanging ours for a standard Solaire wasn't an easy decision!

Initiating Our Saatva Solaire Mattress Exchange

The Saatva Mattress Home Trial, Warranty & Return Policies page provided simple instructions for exchanging a mattress: Call a toll-free number to initiate the exchange, pay a $99 processing fee (to cover Saatva’s fee to the delivery company for the white glove delivery and pickup service) “and we’ll take care of the rest!”

Saatva FAQ - What if I need to exchange my mattress?

Saatva's website made the exchange process sound hassle-free...and they definitely "delivered" in real life

It was the end of a busy, stressful week and I decided to send an email instead of calling the 888 number.

My email to Saatva requesting to exchange my upper-flex Solaire mattress for a standard Solaire

Instead of calling the toll-free number to initiate the exchange, I replied to the order confirmation email

An automated reply from Saatva appeared in my inbox almost immediately containing a ticket number to track my inquiry and explaining that, due to heavy customer demand, it might take “up to 24 hours” for someone to respond.

Since I had sent my email late on a Friday afternoon, and given the widespread pandemic-related staffing shortages at the time (August 2021), I wasn’t expecting a response until Monday. However, To my surprise, Ina, one of Saatva’s “sleep guides,” phoned on Sunday to help me initiate the mattress exchange I had requested.

She initiated a refund for the upper-flex king Solaire mattress, sheet set and mattress pad and placed our order for the standard king Solaire and bedding replacements. She let me know that the white king size sheets I wanted were backordered and expected to be in stock in two weeks, but the ivory color was in stock if I didn’t want to wait. I said I preferred to wait for white sheets and asked her to add a king size waterproof mattress protector to our order. She also asked us to donate the upper-flex sheet set and mattress pad to a nonprofit charitable organization of our choosing.

Ina explained that the delivery of our standard Solaire mattress would work the same way as our previous delivery. As soon as our new mattress was manufactured, the delivery company would contact us directly to schedule the white glove delivery and setup of our new standard king Solaire and the removal of our upper-flex Solaire.

I told Ina that since we had purchased an upper-flex king Lineal adjustable base (now called the Saatva Adjustable Base Plus), which could not be exchanged for a standard king version, we wanted the delivery service to reconfigure and sync the two joined twin XL adjustable bases to work with the new, solid king mattress. She said she would instruct the delivery company to take care of that for us when they delivered our standard king Solaire.

A few minutes later, I received an email from her confirming what we had discussed and updating the support ticket.

Email support ticket update - confirmation of mattress exchange and adjustable base reconfiguration

Saatva's Sleep Guides (customer service representatives) help customers 7 days a week

Saatva Customer Service Follow-up

As promised, two weeks later the delivery company emailed me directly and asked me to call them to schedule the delivery of our new solid king Solaire.

The email arrived on the Friday before Labor Day, just as my husband and I were headed out of town for the long holiday weekend, so we decided to wait until we got back to put our calendars together and find a date when we could both be home to supervise the mattress delivery.

On Tuesday, the day my back-ordered white organic cotton sateen sheets were due to be restocked, Ina called to let me know that they were still not back in stock. She said that if I didn’t want to wait longer, she would be happy to either cancel the order for me or send me the same sheet set in ivory, which they did have in stock.

I thanked her for calling to update me about the backorder delay and offering me the choice of several options, and said I would prefer to wait for the white sheets to be restocked. Ina promised to continue to monitor and keep me updated about the status of my backordered white sheet set. She proved to be true to her word and kept in touch with me until the sheets were delivered.

I also mentioned that I had gotten an email from the delivery company a few days earlier but that I hadn’t called them yet, since my husband and I had been away for the holiday weekend and we hadn’t yet had a chance to work out when we could both be available to supervise the mattress delivery. If she was able to stay on the call for another minute or two (and if I could catch my husband in between Zoom meetings), I could try to get her some options for delivery dates.

Ina explained that mattress deliveries are scheduled directly between the customer and the delivery company, but that once my husband and I determined our availability, she would be happy to pass on those possible dates to the delivery company on our behalf, if we would like. Even though I declined and said I would talk to my husband that evening and then contact the delivery company directly, I considered her kind offer another example of how Saatva employees take initiative and are empowered and encouraged to go above and beyond.

Our Second Experience With Saatva’s White Glove Mattress Delivery and Setup

Our second experience with Saatva’s white glove delivery was very similar to our first Saatva mattress delivery experience. After receiving the email from the delivery company, I called them to schedule our Solaire mattress exchange and setup.

Once again, the company contacted us the day before, this time by email, giving us a three-hour delivery window, confirming our address and phone number, and saying the delivery team would call us when they were 40 minutes from our house.

Once again, we did not receive a call from the team before they arrived, nor did their instructions mention reconfiguring our two twin XL adjustable bases to work with the new solid king Solaire mattress.

Apart from that, however, the team was extremely fast and efficient (perhaps even more so than the team that had delivered our upper-flex Solaire and adjustable base!) and very respectful of our property.

Not only did they reconfigure the adjustable bases so that the head and foot would operate in sync, at our request they also showed my husband how it was done in case he needed to fix any issues that might arise in the future.

They were extremely professional, friendly and accommodating throughout their visit.

Follow-Up Customer Service Interactions

At one point, the remote control for my husband’s side of our Adjustable Base Plus stopped responding. I called customer service and explained that he had tried putting in fresh batteries and re-syncing his remote, which did not fix the problem. The customer service representative, Paul, explained that accidentally pressing and holding down the Lock button was one of the most common reasons for the remote to stop working. Unfortunately, the non-working remote was not in its usual spot on my husband’s nightstand, so Paul talked me through how to lock and unlock the remote using mine. When my husband came home, we tried unlocking his remote, which still didn’t solve the problem, and Saatva immediately sent us a replacement.

The next day, we discovered that the problem was, in fact, user error (I can’t remember what) and I called back to let Saatva know that we wouldn’t need a replacement remote after all. They were extremely gracious and said they had already shipped it to us and we should keep it, “just in case.”

Another example of how Saatva’s customer service goes above and beyond!

Final Verdict on Our Overall Experience Buying a Saatva Mattress, Adjustable Base and Bedding

My husband and I spent six months shopping for, researching, selecting, ordering, taking delivery of and exchanging our first Saatva mattress, bedding and adjustable base. Throughout that time, Saatva’s commitment to excellence was obvious in every interaction we had with the company and its representatives.

We were able to find answers or get help using whichever method we preferred (email, phone, website or live chat), even on nights, weekends and holidays. Everyone with whom we spoke was knowledgeable, professional and proactive in helping us. They also appeared to be empowered to “go the extra mile” to ensure that we had a positive experience without having to get permission from a supervisor.

Based on my personal experience, Saatva consistently delivers on its promise to provide superb customer service 24/7/365

In a recent article, Saatva founder and CEO Ron Rudzin shared the story and significance of the company’s unusual name, which is well worth the read. For him and everyone else at Saatva, the name is “a reminder every day that we are committed to honesty, transparency, and putting our customers first. We try to live up to the principles embodied in our name, whether it’s through the helpful content we put on our website or the premium materials we put in our products.”

As a former marketing professional who has advised major corporations on improving their customer experience, I am a savvy and demanding consumer with high expectations. Saatva has thoroughly impressed me with not only its products and customer service but also its overall standard of excellence and ethics in doing business.

If you are thinking about a new mattress, bedroom furniture, bedding or gifts for better sleep, I encourage you to explore the Saatva website and talk to a knowledgeable Saatva Sleep Guide to help you make the best choice for your needs, regardless of what brand or model of mattress or bed you ultimately decide to buy.

What's Next: Which Queen or King Size Saatva Solaire Mattress and Adjustable Base Is Right for You?

Next week, I'll publish my final post in this series,

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