Ruth Jones

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

This image shows a close up of a hand holding a spray bottle spraying water on the corner of a mattress. In the top left corner is an ident of a close up of a bed bug.

That's not how you get rid of bed bugs — new study discovers what they really hate, and the methods that will banish them

By Ruth Jones Published

Scientists have found bed bugs hate water but this has some unexpected implications for your DIY bed bug treatments — here's everything you need to know.

Mattress Care
The DreamCloud PressureSmart Plush Mattress on a bedframe in a decorated bedroom

Is this the ultimate mattress for back pain? DreamCloud debuts new collection to rival our favorite luxury beds — from $849

By Ruth Jones Published

The PressureSmart might be DreamCloud's most supportive mattress yet. Here's everything you need to know, including price, design and where to buy.

Mattresses
A photo of the Linenspa Mattress Encasement on a mattress on a bed frame in our reviewer's bedroom. In the bottom left corner is an ident showing a close up of a bed bug

I'm using a $25 encasement to stop bed bugs and dust mites from infesting my mattress — but there's one thing I wish I could change

By Ruth Jones Published

The Linenspa Mattress Encasement offers 360-degree protection for your bed — but here's what it did to my sleep.

Pillows & Bedding
This image shows a mattress decorated in white linens in a calm, brightly lit blue room. On the bed is the FEPPO mattress vacuum while on the nightstand next to the bed is a bottle of DealMed Hydrogen Peroxide and a bottle of Cliganic Lavender Oil, plus a box of Ortho Bed Bug traps. In front of the bed is a Phueut steam cleaner and a bag of Harris Diatomaceous Earth

Forget baking soda — this is the ultimate mattress cleaning toolkit to keep bed bugs and mites out of your mattress

By Ruth Jones Published

Your mattress cleaning must-haves and everything you need for a clean, fragrant, bed bug and dust mite-free bed, starting from just $7.

Mattress Care
Making a bed

This is how luxury hotels get their bed sheets crisp, white and smelling fresh — and the secret is in your cabinets, expert says

By Ruth Jones Published

Citric acid is the affordable secret behind the clean and white bed sheets in your favorite hotel. An expert explains how to use it at home.

Pillows & Bedding
A man sleeping on his back with his mouth open snoring

A massive new study reveals how snoring is linked to accelerated heart aging — what we know and tips to stop

By Ruth Jones Published

Snoring is more than just a nuisance, as this massive study exploring the link between disordered breathing and vascular aging reveals.

Sleep
This image shows a woman lying on her back in bed and stretching as she wakes up with a smile. On the left are two inserted images: at the top is a woman outside in the sunlight, on the bottom is a woman eating a bowl of fruit

Waking up exhausted even after 8 hours sleep? Expert says follow this simple 2-step routine to start the day with energy

By Ruth Jones Last updated

Forget coffee — this easy 2-step routine is even "faster than "caffeine" at waking you up, according to the expert.

Sleep
An older woman lying on her back on a new mattress, smiling and stretching in the sun

Science says sleeping this amount extra per night cuts heart attack risk by 10% — doctors explain why

By Ruth Jones Last updated

Dr. John La Puma and Dr. Daniel Cham speak to us about why sleep is essential for heart health and the small changes to make today to protect your heart

Sleep
On the left, a woman lies on her back in bed stretching with a smile on her face, as if she's had a good night's sleep. On the right, a woman lies in bed with her face covered looking stressed.

I was sleeping 8 hours a night but waking up exhausted — until a doctor taught me 3 tricks for ‘switching off’ before bed

By Ruth Jones Published

I thought 8 hours of sleep was enough, but stress was ruining my rest and recovery each night. These 3 simple doctor-approved tips have finally restored my morning energy levels.

Sleep
A collage of sleep products against a blue background with stars, clockwise: A SiJo sheet set, a Brooklinen Sleep Mask in its box, a BedSure blanket, a Coop Sleep Goods pillow, Marriott Slippers, a DreamCloud Classic Mattress

How to create a hotel bed for under $1,000 — the mattress, pillow, and bed sheet deals I'd snap up for luxury comfort

By Ruth Jones Published

We've found all the best sleep deals to transform your bed into the pièce de résistance of any luxury hotel, all for under a budget of $1,000.

Mattresses
A woman sits up in bed smiling with her arms spread, as if she's had a good night's sleep. In the bottom left corner is an insert of a woman taking a shower at night.

A warm shower or bath before bed helps you fall asleep fast — but timing is key, sleep expert reveals

By Ruth Jones Published

Showering or bathing before bed is a simple habit that tricks your body into going to sleep fast and waking up with energy, but timing it right is key.

Sleep
A woman inspects her sage-colored bed sheets. In the top right foreground, a circular frame shows an extreme close up of dust mites embedded in the fabric of a mattress cover.

‘More bacteria than a toilet seat’ — study reveals exactly when we need to wash pillowcases and bed sheets for healthier sleep

By Ruth Jones Published

'Dirtier than a toilet seat': I found out how quickly bacteria teems on pillowcases and bed sheets and, well, I’m stripping my bed immediately

Pillows & Bedding
This image shows a warmly lit bedroom with a MUSICOZY sleep headband, Gritin sleep mask and Alpine Silence Sleep earplugs resting on the sheets. On the nightstand next to the bed is a lamp, JALL Sunrise alarm clock, BreatheRight nose strips, and a box with L LOHAS LED amber lightbulbs. The image has been edited by Gemini

Trouble sleeping? 12 products under $30 I recommend in Amazon’s Big Spring Sale for reducing 3 a.m. wake-ups, nighttime anxiety, and morning fatigue

By Ruth Jones Published

I've found everything you need to build the ultimate sleep set-up for less in Amazon's Big Spring Sale, starting from just $4.

Sleep
A collage of images of the Zinus Green Tea mattress: on the left, the Zinus Green Tea Mattress in a bedroom. Top right, a hand pressing into the surface of the Zinus Green Tea Mattress. Bottom right, a close up of the corner and label of the Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress

Side sleepers, this is one of the coziest mattresses I've tested and it's less than $200 for a queen in Amazon's Big Spring Sale

By Ruth Jones Published

I've been scouring Amazon's Big Spring Sale and this deal from Zinus is a must for side sleepers looking for a mattress to ease aches and pains.

Mattresses
A close up of a hand holding a bottle of 70% isopropyl rubbing alcohol with a yellow label (Getty), in the top right corner is a close up of bed bugs in a mattress (Shutterstock)

This $4 household staple might help you prevent a bed bug infestation naturally — but there's a catch

By Ruth Jones Last updated

Rubbing alcohol can be used to kill bed bugs but we recommend using these affordable alternatives instead.

Mattress Care
Edited by Gemini, this image shows a mock up of a luxury hotel-style bedroom. At the center of the room is the Saatva Classic mattress on a bed frame, dressed in white sheets and white pillows.

Build a 5-star hotel bedroom at home with these luxury bedding finds from Marriott, Ritz-Carlton and more

By Ruth Jones Published

Everything you need to turn your bedroom into a hotel suite — the tips, tricks and products you'll find in resorts and hotels around the world.

Pillows & Bedding
Woman wakes smiling and stretching in a bed with light-coloured bedding.

I'm waking up full of energy after a doctor helped me fix this simple sleep hygiene mistake I didn't realize I was making

By Ruth Jones Published

Doctors explain how my pre-bed routine was harming my sleep and the easy changes that have me sleeping through the night and waking up before my alarm, full of energy.

Sleep
On the left, a close up of the Withings Sleep Tracker on a white sheet in our reviewer's bedroom. On the right, sleep tech writer Eve Davies sits up in bed checking her Withings Sleep App to assess her sleep score

This 'gold standard' sleep tracker is the closest I'll ever get to a real sleep study — 3 ways it has already improved my sleep, from sleeping longer to sleeping deeper

By Ruth Jones Published

My Withings sleep tracker is helping me identify and solve problems in my sleep so I can wake up with a spring in my step — here's how it's taking my sleep scores higher and higher.

Sleep Tech
On the left, a close up of mattress tester Nicola Appleton lying on her side on the Siena Signature Mattress in our sleep studio, with a laser line indicating the straightness of her spine. On the right, the Siena Signature Mattress in the bedroom of our sleep writer Ruth Jones.

I thought this cheap firm mattress would never suit side sleepers but after a week of retesting, I’ve been forced to eat my words

By Ruth Jones Published

I've changed how I sleep on the Siena mattress and discovered a new world of pressure relief — here's everything side sleepers need to know.

Mattresses
A woman sleeping on her side in a bed with all white bedding.

Vagus nerve stimulators promise to ease nighttime anxiety and prevent 3 a.m. wakeups — here's how to do it at home (without spending $900)

By Ruth Jones Last updated

An expert explains how to employ vagus nerve stimulation for free at home, to ease anxiety and improve sleep. All you need is some cold water...

Sleep
The Saatva Classic Mattress on a bedframe in our Sleep Studio, decorated like a bedroom. In the bottom left corner is a Rom's Guide Sleep Week deals graphic

Saatva's Sleep Week sale is nearly over, so don't miss this year's biggest saving so far on our favorite luxury hotel mattress

By Ruth Jones Published

Save $400 on the luxury mattress that revolutionized our editor's sleep in this last-chance Sleep Week sale at Saatva.

Mattresses
An older woman lies in bed asleep

Over 65? Doctors say spending less time in bed could increase how much deep sleep you get — here's how and why it's vital for ageing well

By Ruth Jones Published

Presented by Helix Sleep

Deep sleep declines with age, but experts explain how maximizing sleep efficiency can help seniors enjoy more deep sleep and avoid 3 a.m. wake ups.

Sleep
A woman with brown hair sits up in bed holding her lower back because she's in pain

5 signs your mattress is why you keep waking up during the night — plus, 3 quick fixes to boost your comfort

By Ruth Jones Published

Presented by Helix Sleep

Insights and hacks from a professional mattress tester

Mattresses
The main image shows a women lying on her front and snoring during her sleep. In the bottom right corner is an inset image of a close up of a sleep tracker showing the different sleep stages that have been tracked overnight

'80% of people with sleep apnea don't know they have it' — the signs and sleep tracker metrics to look for, according to a Samsung Health scientist

By Ruth Jones Published

Snoring is the 'hallmark of sleep apnea', a doctor says, but there are other signs and metrics to look for on your sleep tracker. Here's what you need to know...

Sleep
A woman sits up in bed in a sunny bedroom with with her arms raised above her head, looking ready to jump out of bed. In the top left corner is a Tom's Guide Sleep Week logo

3 doctors recommended this sleep hygiene tip and it's why I'm finally waking up with loads of energy — here's how it works

By Ruth Jones Published

Here's the simple, doctor-approved sleep hygiene tip that's finally helping me to wake up with energy

Sleep
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