Frances Daniels

Frances Daniels

Senior Sleep Staff Writer

Frances Daniels is a PPA-accredited journalist and Sleep Staff Writer at Tom's Guide with an MA in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University. Her role includes covering mattress and sleep news and writing sleep product reviews and buyer's guides, including our Best Hybrid Mattress 2025 guide. She is interested in the relationship between sleep and health, interviewing an array of experts to create in-depth articles about topics such as nutrition, sleep disorders, sleep hygiene, and mattress care. She is also our specialist on mattress toppers — producing bed topper reviews and taking care of our Best Mattress Toppers 2025 guide — and leads content relating to fiberglass-free beds for a non-toxic sleep. Outside of Tom's Guide, she has written for Ideal Home and Marie Claire.

Latest articles by Frances Daniels

Putting the Coop Percale sheet set into the washing machine
How often should you wash your bed sheets?

By Frances Daniels Published

This is how often you should wash your bed sheets to avoid allergens, according to a dermatologist.

4 Comments
Pillows & Bedding
A man cleaning a mattress with a spray bottle and cloth.
Not baking soda — this disinfectant is best for cleaning a mattress and getting rid of stains and smells, says upholstery experts

By Frances Daniels Published

Baking soda won't remove tough stains and odors from your mattress — but a certain disinfectant will. An expert explains how to spring clean your bed properly.

Mattress Care
A split screen of two images: one shows a woman sleeping soundly in bed with a striped eye mask. . The other image features another woman performing the cow-cat yoga pose.
This 5-minute bedtime trick provides instant back pain relief for better sleep, says chiropractor

By Frances Daniels last updated

A chiropractor explains how adding the beginner friendly cat-cow stretch to your nighttime and morning routine can reduce back pain and improve sleep

Sleep Problems
An image of the woman listening to white noise through headphones while sleeping. In the top left foreground, a Sleep Week 2026 badge can be seen.
Forget pink or white noise — these are the 3 sounds I use to beat insomnia and sleep through the night

By Frances Daniels Published

Presented by Helix Sleep

Pink and white noise are popular sleep sounds, but they could be stopping you from sleeping through the night

Sleep
A woman sits on the edge of her bed facing the window, stretching in the morning light shortly after waking up.
5 simple 'body clock hacks' that help you fall asleep fast and wake up with more energy

By Frances Daniels last updated

Want to fall asleep fast or wake up less groggy? These five cues will let your body clock know if it's time to rise and shine or hit the hay.

Sleep
A man with short brown hair wakes up in the middle of the night and makes the sleep hygiene mistake of looking at his alarm clock, which shows the time at 3.10am.
Waking up at 3 a.m.? Insomnia experts share 7 common sleep mistakes that ruin your rest — and how to fix them

By Lauren Jeffries Published

I speak to two doctors to find out the biggest sleep hygiene mistakes we're making and how they're causing 3.a.m. wakeups and insomnia

Sleep Problems
A serene bedroom setting, with neutral colors, matching nightstands, and warm golden-hour lighting.
Experts say creating a 'brain bedroom' could help you manage insomnia, stop 3 a.m. wake ups, and fall asleep fast — here's how

By Frances Daniels Published

Presented by Helix Sleep

Sleep and Feng Shui experts explain how to build a 'brain bedroom' for better sleep

Sleep
A split-screen comparison showing a woman brushing their teeth in a bathroom with harsh, bright white LED overhead lighting on the left, and a woman performing skincare in a warm, amber-toned dimly-lit bathroom on the right.
Almost 50% of US households use this item, but it can ruin your deep sleep — here's how to fix it to fall asleep fast and stop 3 a.m. wakeups

By Frances Daniels last updated

Trouble falling asleep at night? This common household item could be to blame — here's how to fix it

Sleep
A Feng Shui Bedroom with a cherry blossom wallpaper and matching nightstands and lamps for visual symmetry. A "Sleep Week 2026" badge is seen in the foreground.
Feng Shui "helps the mind feel safe in sleep," say experts — here's how to create a balanced bedroom for ultimate rest

By Frances Daniels Published

From earth-toned bedding to symmetrical nightstands, here's how to elevate your sleep with these Feng Shui finds

Sleep
Two Tom's Guide mattress testers sit on the Helix Twilight Mattress in our Sleep Product Testing Lab. A blue Sleep Week 2026 logo is overlaid in the top left hand corner
Helix has launched its Sleep Week 2026 sale — here's what we recommend for every sleeper, based on our testing

By Frances Daniels Published

Presented by Helix Sleep

Here are the luxury hybrid mattresses side, back, and stomach sleepers should buy in Helix's Sleep Week sale

Mattresses
A man in his late 60s, dressed in a striped red and blue sweatshirt, takes a nap on the couch after reading a book. He has no idea that his long daytime naps as the reason why he keeps waking up at 3 a.m. A blue Tom's Guide sleep week logo sits in the top left hand corner.
Over 65 and keep waking up at 3 a.m.? This common daytime habit is the likely culprit, says board-certified sleep doctor

By Frances Daniels Published

Presented by Helix Sleep

Board-certified sleep doctor shares simple rule to stop waking up at 3 a.m. if you're aged 65 and over

Sleep
A bedroom with sunny spring decor, complete with a yellow comforter, sage-green striped duvet, and a rustic, vintage-style nightstand.
'Grandma chic' is the ‘nostalgic and cozy’ decor trend for spring 2026 — here's how to use it to freshen up your bedroom after a long winter

By Frances Daniels Published

From comforting scents to delicate floral prints, these decor delights are ideal for bringing a little sunshine and joy to your bedroom post-winter.

Pillows & Bedding
A woman stretches as she wakes up to a hearty breakfast after sleeping through the night. Next to this picture, there is an image of a digital clock displaying the time of 3am.
The simple metabolism hack that helps avoid 3am wake-ups — and it's the Blue Zone secret to longevity, too

By Frances Daniels last updated

Can eating "breakfast like a king" help you fall asleep fast and stop you from waking up at 3am? We ask the experts about this Blue Zone diet

Sleep
A split screen of two images. The left image shows a grey-haired mature woman sleeping while wearing a sleep tracker on her wrist. The right image shows a woman's hand looking at sleep-tracking metrics on her smartphone.
The 3 biggest sleep issues over 65s face — and the 3 simple fixes to start using tonight, according to experts

By Frances Daniels Published

Over 65 and keep getting ‘poor’ sleep? Experts explain how to fix the 3 biggest sleep issues to fall asleep fast tonight

Sleep Tech
A side-by-side comparison of two images on a forest green background: a candid image of the tester's Birch Organic Pillow and a promotional image of the Birch Organic Pillow on a blue-sky background.
Birch's organic latex pillow promises neck support and cool comfort — here's what happened when I tried it for 3 weeks

By Frances Daniels Published

I tested an organic latex pillow straight after sleeping on a polyester one — here's everything that happened from the first night

Pillows & Bedding
A woman with insomnia checks her alarm clock, which displays the time of 2am. Beside her, there is a screenshot of a sleep-tracking apps's AI assistant asking her if she is having trouble sleeping.
My sleep-tracking earbuds discovered how this one thing in my nighttime routine ruined my sleep — here’s why I won't do it again

By Frances Daniels Published

My sleep tracker pinned the cause of my insomnia — an expert explains why this one activity made it harder to fall asleep

Sleep
A split screen showing an image of a young brunette woman walking in the daylight with her morning coffee, and another image of a woman with dark hair sleeping peacefully at night.
Experts explain why my simple morning habit is perfect for helping you sleep through the night — and may even improve life expectancy as a result

By Frances Daniels Published

Getting enough sleep can add years to your life, so here's my quick morning hack to stop those 3 a.m. wake ups — and it's recommended by experts.

Sleep
A young brunette woman relaxes against her bed while listening to a podcast through headphones.
Keep waking up at 3 a.m.? A board-certified sleep doctor explains how making this simple switch in your nighttime routine can help manage insomnia

By Frances Daniels Published

Who can resist scrolling and or binge-watching a new show before bed? Well, this simple swap can keep your evening entertaining without the disrupted sleep.

Sleep Problems
An eco-friendly green bedroom with organic sleep products and raffia wall art.
Soft, stylish and sustainable: 9 organic mattress and bedding deals to give your bedroom a five-star hotel refresh and make you feel like you're on an eco-luxe vacation every day

By Frances Daniels Published

Turn your bedroom into an eco-luxe hotel suite with these nine Presidents' Day sleep deals from Avocado, Naturepedic, PlushBeds, Birch, and more

Sleep
A collage shows the testing of three mattresses best for side sleepers. A Presidents' day deal badge is seen in the top-right foreground.
Last chance! These 3 super-comfy side sleeper mattresses are currently back to their cheapest price, but the deals end soon

By Frances Daniels Published

Our editors loved these three beds for side sleeping, and now is your last chance to invest for less before the Presidents' Day mattress deals disappear

Mattresses
A collage of the Saatva Classic Mattress. In the lower left-hand corner, there is a deals badge (featuring Mount Rushmore) for the Presidents' Day mattress sales.
Saatva Presidents' Day sale 2026: Last chance to save $300 on luxury, hotel-style mattresses

By Claire Davies last updated

Saatva Presidents' Day sale will be over soon, so we've rounded up the brand's best luxury deals that can still save you $300 on luxury mattresses

Mattresses
The Saatva Classic mattress shown on a gold plinth, with a blue Tom's Guide Presidents' Day deal badge overlaid on the bottom of the mattress. A LIVE badge is located in the top-right foreground.
Saatva Presidents' Day sale 2026 LIVE

By Claire Davies last updated

I'm tracking the 2026 Saatva Presidents' Day sale live, along with expert tips on how to find the brand's luxury mattresses for the cheapest prices

Mattresses
The image shows two mattress testers unboxing the Helix Midnight Luxe mattress and setting it up on a white bed frame in a blue bedroom
Thinking of buying your next mattress online? 4 reasons why you should — and the 2 teeny drawbacks to consider

By Frances Daniels Published

35% of all mattresses sold last year were bought online versus 23% the year before, so you won't be alone in your online bed browsing

Mattresses
A split-screen of the Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid at the Olympic training center and an image of our tester's hand feeling the mattress's cover. A Presidents' Day deals badge is seen on the top-left foreground.
We tried the luxury Saatva mattress used by Team USA — and we can see why it's a must after a long day of training

By Frances Daniels Published

We tried the Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid Mattress, the bed gracing the bedrooms of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center

Mattresses
The image shows a collage of different mattress toppers pictures on a white mattress. Overlaid on top is a Tom's Guide Presidents' Day deal badge
"A comfy solution for couples who can’t seem to agree" — before you buy an adjustable firmness mattress, try this much cheaper bed topper instead

By Frances Daniels Published

The Helix Dual Comfort Mattress Topper is up to $151 off in the new Presidents' Day deals

Mattress Toppers
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