Articles by Ruth Jones, Senior Sleep Staff Writer

Ruth is an experienced Senior Staff writer at Tom’s Guide, covering all things sleep and mattresses. She writes to help people sleep better, from how-tos to the latest deals to mattress reviews, and has interviewed an array of experts who share her passion. She is also our specialist on memory foam — she’s flown around the world to see memory foam being made — and leads our hotel mattress content. She has a deep interest in the link between sleep and health, and has tried enough mattresses, from Helix to Nectar to Simba, to know the right bed really can make a difference to your wellbeing. Before joining the team at Tom’s Guide, Ruth worked as a sleep and mattress writer for our sister website, TechRadar.

Latest articles by Ruth Jones

Saatva Classic Luxury Innerspring mattress on a white wooden bed frame in a blue bedroom

The best mattress sales in September 2026

By Claire Davies (CSSC) Last updated 1 September 26

Our experts have found the best mattress sales from DreamCloud, Saatva, Westin and more to shop today

Mattresses

Two women sit on the edges of the Nectar Premier Memory Foam Mattress in a modern bedroom.

Nectar mattress sales for September 2026: The top deals this month

By Claire Davies (CSSC) Last updated 1 September 26

Our expert guide to finding the biggest Nectar mattress deals this month, including how to navigate the brand's Labor Day sale

Mattresses

A collage of images showing our mattress testing process. Left, the Nectar Premier on a bed frame in our sleep studio. Right from top: a thermal cam trained on a person resting on a mattress. Two mattress testers conduction a motion isolation test. A weight being placed on the edge of a mattress

The best memory foam mattress 2026: Tested by our sleep experts

By Claire Davies (CSSC) Last updated 1 September 26

Our expert guide to the best memory foam mattresses you can buy online, based on unbiased testing and data from our Sleep Lab.

Mattresses

A woman gets ready to climb into a bed that's been dressed in sheets

Get rid of mattress smells with this 5-second daily habit — no baking soda required

By Ruth Jones Published 31 August 26

You're trapping smells in your mattress every morning without realizing it. Here's the quick 5-second hack that fixes it.

Mattress Care

Two mattress testers sit on the Saatva Classic mattress on a bed frame in the TOm's Guide sleep studio

I tested the Saatva Classic mattress and it's my dream bed — here's how you can save big in this weekend's sales

By Ruth Jones Published 30 August 26

The 5-star Saatva Classic is worth the splurge in the Labor Day mattress sales — here's how you can save today.

Mattresses

On the left, a close up of a set of dull, gray bed sheets. On the right, the same sheets on a washing line, looking sparkling white. In the middle, an insert of dish soap, oxygen bleach and vinegar on a kitchen counter

I restored my graying bed sheets back to bright white using this simple 2-step soak

By Ruth Jones Published 30 August 26

Bring those graying bed sheets back to bright white with an oxygen bleach plus vinegar pre-machine laundry soak and dive into brand-new looking sheets tonight.

Pillows & Bedding

An image showing two women sitting on the Leesa Legend Hybrid Mattress. A Tom's Guide price drop deals badge is in the top left foreground to show that the mattress is 30% off in the Labor Day sale.

Labor Day mattress sales — it's your last chance to save this summer now that the best sleep deals are live

By Claire Davies (CSSC) Last updated 28 August 26

We've been tracking the Labor Day mattress sales, and we predict you'll have to wait until Black Friday in November to see savings this spectacular again

Mattresses

The Sleepal AI Lamp in our reviewer's bedroom, with the lamp lit.

I let my bedside lamp track my sleep for 3 weeks — and it's the next frontier of sleep tech

By Ruth Jones Published 28 August 26

The Sleepal AI Lamp is a sleep tracker, sunrise alarm clock, white noise machine and more. But does it pack too much in one small package? I put it to the test.

Sleep Tech

A split screen of an anxious woman with insomnia staring at the clock and a woman waking up with a smile because she's well rested.

I asked an insomnia doctor how to stop waking up at night — here's the easy 3-step routine he uses to sleep through

By Ruth Jones Published 24 August 26

Neurologist and author Dr. Pedram Navab reveals the simple routine he uses to calm stress and skip 3 a.m. wake-ups

Sleep

The DreamCloud Softer Topper on a mattress, with a corner lifted to show the mattress beneath

DreamCloud Softer Mattress Topper review: Soothes hip and shoulder pain, even on the firmest mattresses

By Ruth Jones Published 24 August 26

Recommended

I slept on the DreamCloud Softer Mattress topper — can it turn my firm bed into a mattress for side sleepers? Here's my honest review.

Mattress Toppers

The new Hatch Sleep Clock on a white wooden nightstand in our reviewer's bedroom

I tested Hatch's new sleep tracking sunrise alarm clock — and it helps you get deeper sleep and wake up refreshed

By Ruth Jones Published 22 August 26

The Hatch Sleep Clock sunrise alarm clock is the most exciting sleep tech I've seen in months — I've been hands-on with this sunrise alarm clock and sleep tracker.

Sleep Tech

How long does a Saatva mattress last? What we've discovered from 5+ years of testing

By Ruth Jones Published 21 August 26

Before you buy a mattress in the Saatva Labor Day sales, read this guide to understand how long you can expect your new bed to be delivering comfort.

Mattresses

Image shows the Saatva Classic luxury innerspring hybrid mattress on a dark blue background with gold accents, with a light blue Tom's Guide price drop sales badge overlaid in the bottom left hand corner

Saatva's Labor Day sale is live, but here's how to save more with our exclusive deal

By Claire Davies (CSSC) Last updated 17 August 26

The Saatva Labor Day sale has landed and our semi-exclusive links unlock $400 off all mattresses over $1k — here's the best of the current deals

Mattresses

A Sleep Number ComfortNext Lux mattress on a bed frame in a bedroom. A blue border surrounds the image and there's a Tom's Guide Price Drop deals graphic in the bottom right corner

'The best sleep I've ever had' — save up to $2,200 on a smart mattress in the Sleep Number Labor Day sale

By Ruth Jones Published 16 August 26

Sleep Number's Labor Day sale is underway and with 25% off the ComfortNext Lux smart bed, it's one of the biggest sales of the year.

Mattresses

The Plank Firm Luxe mattress in the Tom;s Guide Sleep Lab, dressed to look like a bedroom

Plank Firm Luxe mattress review: Lab-tested

By Ruth Jones Published 16 August 26

I slept on the Plank Firm Luxe mattress for over a month and the extra firm feel delivers incredible support. Here's my full honest review including the results of our lab testing.

Mattresses

On the left, a woman lies in bed asleep in the dark. On the right, a close up of a reMarkable Paper Pure tablet covered in notes, lying on a mattress

Expert says these 2 factors wake you up at 3 a.m. — but this $0 hack is helping me sleep through the night

By Ruth Jones Published 16 August 26

A sleep expert explains why you find your thoughts racing before bed and the simple hack that can help you reduce stress and sleep through the night.

Sleep

This luxury hybrid mattress earned 5 stars from our experts — and now's the time to buy

By Ruth Jones Published 14 August 26

The Saatva Classic mattress is our favorite mattress for every sleeper and this Labor Day sale is the best time to buy. Here's why...

Mattresses

On the left, a close up of a hand holding a pipette adding Reishi mushroom extract to a glass. On the left, sleep writer Ruth Jones sleeps in a dimly lit room. In the bottom right corner is a screenshot of a month of sleep tracking from a Withings Health app.

I replaced my 3 a.m. wake-ups with mushroom adaptogens — did it actually fix my sleep?

By Ruth Jones Last updated 13 August 26

I'm a supplement skeptic but as research into the benefits of adaptogens adds up, I decided to see if reishi mushrooms could actually help me sleep. Here's what happened after testing for a month.

Sleep

I made 7 viral snacks TikTok swears will help you sleep and measured the results with my fitness tracker — this is the one that got me a sleep score over 90

By Ruth Jones Published 11 August 26

I can't scroll TikTok without coming across a recipe for the best sleep of my life. I put them to the test and asked a registered dietician if there's any science to back it up.

Sleep

Are Sleep Number beds worth it? I’m a sleep tech tester and here’s my take

By Eve Davies Last updated 10 August 26

Here's everything you need to know about investing in a Sleep Number bed in 2026, from its bankruptcy to its collection revamp

Mattresses

The main image shows a woman in bed asleep. In the bottom right corner is an ident showing a close up of an alarm clock at 3 a.m..

I kept waking up at 3 a.m. with racing thoughts — now I fall back asleep in seconds thanks to this expert-backed method

By Ruth Jones Published 9 August 26

The 'fake blink' method is a simple way to calm busy thoughts and help you feel tired. It helped me fall asleep fast after waking up at 3 a.m. — and here experts explain why.

Sleep

SilkSound Bluetooth Sleep Mask review: A must for busy dorm rooms and noisy homes

By Ruth Jones Published 7 August 26

I tested this Bluetooth Sleep Mask and it helped my sleep in a noisy hotel room I was sharing with a snorer — here's everything you need to know.

Sleep Tech

The best Sleep Number mattress sales in August 2026

By Ruth Jones Last updated 5 August 26

Save up to $3,812in Sleep Number's August sale — how to get the best price on top smart beds with adjustable firmness and built-in sleep trackers

Mattresses

A blonde lady in bed with Eight Sleep Pod 5 Ultra+ in elevated head position reading

Best Eight Sleep mattress deals for August 2026

By Alison Barretta Last updated 4 August 26

The Eight Sleep Pod 5 is a cutting edge smart mattress cover that's ideal for sleeping soundly in the heatwaves — here's how to score a saving.

Sleep Tech

The PurpleFlex Mattress on a wooden bed frame in a bedroom, a Tom's Guide price drop deals graphic in the top right corner

Purple mattress sales for August 2026: Save $300 on Purple's cheapest bed

By Ruth Jones Last updated 3 August 26

Purple's August mattress sales are here, and the brand's most affordable bed is up to $300 off in this month's deal

Mattresses

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Archives