It may be time for a new mattress.
15 years ago, I made a commitment. I vowed to love, appreciate, and care for my beloved mattress until…
…okay, well, that's about where my analogy breaks down.
I scrimped and saved from my minimum wage job at a flower shop until I had saved $699. That was a lot of money for a 16 year old (especially one earning about $7/hr). But I did it because I'm stubborn, and dangit, I wanted that pillow top mattress.
Pillow top mattresses were all the rage, ya know?
No? You don't know? Pillow top mattresses weren't on the top of your priority list when you were 16? Am I totally alone in this?
Irregardless.
The $699 pillow top mattress was delivered to my parents doorstep a few weeks later and since that day, I've been putting it to use each and every day. I did the math – it equates out to about 5,840 sleeps (minus a few vacations, etc.).
5,840 sleeps.
And if I'm being honest here, it was all great until about sleep #3000.
At about sleep #3000, the ‘ol girl just wasn't cutting the mustard. My neck ached. My back ached. My hips ached. The four pregnancies didn't help.
But I slapped a memory foam on top and made due for the next 2000 sleeps.
But then, it got even worse. And no, it wasn't just because of the body pains.
Are y'all even ready for what I'm about to tell you? Brace yourselves.
The mattress had a temporary home in the living room while it was being removed.
A few months back, as I was drifting off into sleep, I heard a weird chattering noise. Kind of like a squeak. And then a sort of funky thumping noise. It got weird. Weird enough that I woke Stuart up (who always manages to fall asleep before me, magically) and said “I think there's something under the bed.”
“Like what?” he growled back.
“A demon, I'm pretty sure.” I chattered back. “Yep, I'm pretty sure it's a demon.” Now, I'm no sissy, after all – we live in the middle of orchard country on a farm. Pests and nasties happen. But… you'll never guess what I found in my mattress that night.
He rolled over in bed and threw his head down to peek underneath.
A PACKRAT. A PACKRAT. A PACKRAT THE SIZE OF A CAT.
Time for a new mattress, perhaps?
Before we could even process the fact that there was (literally) a cat sized rodent IN OUR MATTRESS we had the whole thing flipped up on its side against the wall. Now what makes this even more humorous (or frightening) is that our bedroom is literally the size of most people's linen closets. We have about 2 feet of room on each side of our queen bed to move about, so to flip the mattress and box spring up, and then maneuver around the bed frame still left in place, was ridiculous. I'm stumbling and stammering about trying to simultaneously scare the rat out of our mattress with my shephard's crook while handing Stuart a box large enough to catch the critter.
This isn't the type of critter you squish. I'm not talking about a wasp or even a mouse, here people. This creature was huge.
Thirty minutes later, we'd yet to catch it, as it kept burrowing up into the mattress and dodging our eviction actions. Burrowing into my mattress, y'all.
I won't tell you how we eventually got the rodent out, because I know there are enough squeamish people reading this blog to warrant some discretion, but know this: the packrat was eventually removed from the bedframe.
I, in shock, could barely sleep. Did it have babies in there? Did it leave it's disgusting rodent poop to fill our mattress with toxins? Had it chewed up all the insides? Did it have friends?
Nasty chew marks in the mattress courtesy of the hobbit, circa 2014.
The next morning, I began to research new mattress. Mattresses that hadn't ever been home to rodents. But I, like most consumers, found myself completely overwhelmed. Too many choices left me at an absolute loss for what to choose. So instead of acting, I froze in fear that I'd make the wrong decision (as if somehow the entire world would come crashing down if I chose the wrong one). Consumer fear. It's a reality, man.
So I did what I always do.
I went to my dearest, crunchiest friends and say “Give me your best suggestion for non-toxic mattresses. Stat.“
Years ago, when I first began researching a new mattress (back around sleep #4500), I was exposed to way too much information on the “off-gasing” of new mattresses and the toxic-load that is brought into your home with one. Regulations dicatate that new mattresses must be treated with flame-retardants (read: harmful chemicals). Mattress toxicity sounds made up, but it's reality. But there are a few companies out there fighting the good fight and producing non-toxic mattresses that use natural flame repellents that still meet regulation standards.
Free of rodents. For our sleeping pleasure.
Every single friend I asked had the same answer: IntelliBED.
Use code ‘HOMESTEAD' if you also need a new mattress, sans rodents, and save some money, baby.
Our non-toxic mattress arrives today which means in a few short hours, I'll be removing the worn, broken, stained, God-only-knows mattress from our bedroom for good. And possibly lighting it on fire or running it over with my truck.
Will a good mattress make a big difference in our sleep? In our aches and pains? Lord, I hope so. I'll keep you posted. Because these ‘ol farming bones need a bit of relief!
Isn't this how your living room looks on any given weekday afternoon?
It's time for a new mattress. And today is the day. Celebrate in the small victories with me, won't you?
Small victories at the moment: no further rodents living in the bed.
And Amen.
I can’t believe you posted this today. Our mattress was a 10+ years old pillowtop that had 2 different pads and toppers to keep it in use. And today…. out of nowhere… we found bought and brought home our own brand new mattress. Of course I don’t have the pack rat story but it’s ironic none the less!
How do I comment cause it feels like my matress is moving but not to look crazy I’m not going to cut it open
My pop n my son think I’m crazy when I said there are rats in my bed. They made me call my Drs about a chemical imbalance. Gotten mad at me for even saying rats or mice. Well she had babies in my mattress n they are big. Call exterminator n still they both called me crazy. Today I seen one of the babies n it scared me to no end. But if I say rat they want to take me to hospital. Mom your on chemo n they are taking alot of blood out of you. So I told my son to flip up bed so I can vaccum under it. All my little buddies just freaking out. I ran faster then my son. Be careful if u flip it they get mean
Hi Karen,
Even night after I am ready to sleep or am asleep, my (Top padded) mattress begins to have movement under me, beside me and at the foot of the bed. I thought that Had restless leg syndrome, but my legs are OK, it’s the mattress, which is a pillow top on the top and bed springs on the bottom. I recently purchased moth balls and (placed bags )on the four corners of the bed and the movement stopped on one side of the bed, but something is still there. It’s scary. You say that the rats that you found were BIG. It guess it’s time tom call for help. I just purchased that mattress 3 years ago off the floor room floor display, and it was expensive. My cat who died expectantly in December was working after these critters, maybe they were too much for him. He just up and died under the bed. The movement at night in my bed seems big. GET THIS-I have mouse deterants, clickers all over the house, but I guess that’s why these companies have been sued. These clickers seem to work in my hot tub building, because I do not want to replace the wiring that’s been chewed through. Well,I guess outside help is needed, because I do not want to come FACE-TO-FACE with any large rodents. I hope that these ones do-not have rabies, since they are so brazen and bold to just take over my bed with me in it. Good luck to both of us. Thanks for sharing your story.
I forgot to mention that the mattress with the rats living in it is a Foster & Stern $3000. I want to include the note that I sent to the company below.
Hi,
I purchased a queen Sterns&Foster plush mattress from JC Penney ($3000.00)
two years ago , a floor model, as they were not going to sell mattresses any more. I want to mention that your pillow top with a box springs bottom attracts mice and rats to nest in the plush pillow top.
I so enjoyed my mattress at first, that is until my cat passed away recently and rats have moved into the pillow top portion of my mattress.
Your company might consider building a mattress that will not allow this happen. I gogled my problem on line and learned that this is a problem with other mattresses as well.
I am in the process of informing my 2,000 friends on facebook about my problem to warn then to reconsider purchasing pillow top mattresses without boxspring bottoms, even the most expensive, and comfortable.
Thank you for your time. Gosh I am going to miss my first experience with a Sterns &Foster mattress, because it’s got to go! Thank you, La Verne
How did it get in there?! About a year ago we found a dead rat in the bottom drawer of our china hutch. We had a house FULL of company when it happened. Oh, the joys of country living!!
I have been tormented with the feeling of something in assumed were mice coming out at night in my bedroom, and taking up residence in my mattress and pillow as well as my chest of drawers that hold all my clothing. At night I heard the squeaking periodically. The scratches on the wall, window blinds shifting from lfmeft to right while the window was closed, the feeling like something is hanging on the some clothes I have on. Never been able to find droppings so everyone assumes I am crazy. Hut this is been on going for some time now exacerbated by recent rains. I eve. Tried taking xanax to calm me down enought to sleep but that didnt work.
I asked a dr. How likely it is for a hallucination include auditory, olfactory, tactile all at once and he told me that would be more than 3x of rare, so IMO there is really only one conclusion to come to.
WHAT CA N I DO???
More than anything I just want some insight from others. Nobody believes me but I know in my heart this is real.
I don’t know where to start. Congratulate you on your Intellibed… or tell you I’m grossed out by your rodents ????
I’m so glad you got an Intellibed!! Do you love it x1000?? We sure do!
I commend you for getting back on that bed. I must admit I probably would have taken one of the kids.
Consumer fear IS real!! I was paranoid about toxins and mold growing on our mattress and so we threw it away 3 months ago when I couldn’t stand the thought of our newborn sleeping on it with us! So we’ve been sleeping on two thick sleeping bags stacked ever since. We need a new one but intellibed is expensive for us right now as we’re paying off student loans! Someday 🙂 Soon I hope!
I REALLY want to know how you got the sucker out now! I think I would have just chucked the whole mattress out the front door and slept on the couch for the night. Bravo to you and your husband for eliciting him and having the guts to lay back down on it.
Wow fun times! I have my own rat-in-the-bedroom story from when I was a teenager. My brother ended up “evicting” it with his blow dart gun.
The timing of this post couldn’t be better! In fact, we might have purchased the SAME pillow-top type mattress- about 17+ years ago! It’s time to replace that sucker. These old middle-aged bones need something softer!!! A couple of questions for you: 1 ) How is your new mattress working out for you? 2) Which model did you choose of the three that this company makes? 3) How long will your HOMESTEAD promo code be good? Thanks!
This past winter when the mice moved in for warmer weather- in the house- one night I heard a similar sound- as you described- behind my head. I got up, looked fluffed and shook everything, then went back to sleep. Fast forward a few days and I lay down to go to sleep and smell the awful, highly distinct smell of death. I’m searching everywhere, but I can only smell it when I lay down….and then I find it: a dead mouse in my pillowcase!!! Needless to say that pillow and pillowcase went straight into the trash and I spent the next day fumigating my mattress. I completely understand your story!
There is one in my mattress in my college dorm and no-one believes me, because the thing only moves at night. Please tell me how you got it out. I have tried everything.
Glad to read that a mattress can have rats in them. I feel like mines has something in it. Exterminator is coming in 2 days. I can’t look.
I definitely have somthing.. started in my mattress then moved that outside far away .. blew up air mattress one was in there cant find him still kicking tho but bought a huge 8ft beanbag and now they are in it and idk how there is no hole to get in .. fml
So was there a jole in the nattress. I have movement in my bed like something noring away inside the mattress. Someone please tell me what at to do
I have that same problem now please can somebody help me by telling me how to get it out of my mattress please help
What do I do?? It feels like my pillows, bed, and pretty much everything at this point is vibrating and moving around
Thank you for your story. I first noticed some weird motion in the mattress an thought, it’s my cat walking on the bed. I raise up an yep, No Cat nowhere. Dismissed it. It keeps happening. Im not crazy but thought maybe i am. Now the thumping is stronger an in different spots. Im gonna get a new mattress an get this one gone before i wake up with some giant critter in my face. I know something is in this thing. Sadly my mattress is only hum 7 years old. Thank you for your story an letting me know this can really happen. 😖😩
I definitely have somthing.. started in my mattress then moved that outside far away .. blew up air mattress one was in there cant find him still kicking tho but bought a huge 8ft beanbag and now they are in it and idk how there is no hole to get in .. fml
I see this post is old but in case someone is reading this after March 2020, I want to caution you before you purchase your new mattress. Make sure you have gotten rid of the mice. My issue started the end of December with roof rats in my detached garage, who moved into my townhome once the exterminator got rid of them in the garage. I am in the middle unit yet neither of my neighbors are having issues. So, the roof rats got in and so did the mice. I noticed my bed moving but what freaked me out was when I realized they were burrowing under me to get warm. So I threw out that mattress, waited a month, still having roof rats decided to finally get a new mattress.Needless to say, the mice beat me there. No one believed me when I showed them the puncture marks, they said rats chew. Finally the second exterminator saw the mice droppings under my bed. Needless to say, I still have mice, roof rats as well as rats burrowing under my home. I have been here 5 years with no issues until now. So please, make sure they are gone before you purchase a new mattress. The unfortunate part is I haven’t even made a payment and after two weeks they have burrowed through the pillow top mattress and are sleeping right under me. Needless to say, I tossed it out this morning as I couldn’t do another night.
Best regards.
I feel as if something is living within my mattress as well. The whole thing vibrates at night. I tried to lift the top portion of my mattress and I couldn’t find anything. There are no holes in the mattress whatsoever so is it possible that when this thing was bought that a rodent was already in it? This mattress is probably about 10 years old.