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

A woman with a cold lies in bed and blows her nose, struggling to sleep. In the top right corner is a close up of a hand adjusting the temperature on a thermostat set to 68°F

Expert warns this common mistake could prevent you from sleeping when you have a cold

By Ruth Jones published

An expert explains how a simple thermostat adjustment can help you sleep better when you have a cold or the flu, plus advice on getting quality rest when you feel unwell.

Sleep
A member of our mattress testing team jumps onto the Nolah Original All Foam Mattress on a bed frame in a bedroom. She dives onto the bed ready to hit the cushioned comfort layers

5 red flags you bought the wrong mattress — and what you can do about it

By Ruth Jones last updated

Three budget-friendly tips to turn your fresh-out-the-box mattress into a sleep snctuary, plus what to do if none of them work.

Mattresses
On the left, a woman lies in bed with her hands over head, experiencing insomnia. On the right, a close up of a thermometer showing temperatures that have dropped below zero. The thermometer is covered in ice

Expert warns this common sleep complaint could be caused by the current cold snap — here's what you can do about it

By Ruth Jones last updated

Your chilly bedroom might be the reason you're waking up at 3am, plus expert tips on creating a cozy bedroom all night long.

Sleep
A collage of three images: on the left, a woman stands under the spray of a shower (Shutterstock.) In the middle, a woman stretches in her bedroom (Getty Images.) To the right, a hand reaches out to turn off an alarm clock (Getty Images.)

The easy hacks I'm using to fix my sleep after an exhausting Christmas break

By Ruth Jones published

My snooze took a backseat over the holidays but with these simple tips you can enjoy better sleep, beat the Sunday Scaries and go back to work refreshed.

Sleep
Mattress tester Becky George sits on the middle of the Emma Hybrid Airgrid mattress on a bed frame in our sleep studio, testing the edge support and comfort of the mattress

The 5 best mattresses for better sleep in 2026

By Claire Davies last updated

Editor's Choice

Make 2026 the year you take your sleep seriously. Browse our guide to the 5 best mattresses for your needs and budget, based on our in-depth testing and hands-on experience.

Mattresses
Zinus Cooling Hybrid Mattress

Zinus mattress sales December 2025: Up to 40% off mattresses in Zinus winter sale

By Ruth Jones, Alison Barretta last updated

Explore our expert guide to this month's Zinus mattress deals and grab additional savings on these affordable beds.

Mattresses
Emma Hybrid Airgrid Mattress

Emma mattress sale January 2026: Up to 30% off mattresses plus exclusive bundle offers

By Ruth Jones last updated

December Emma mattress sales bring huge savings on quality mattresses in the UK— get up to 30% off and other bundle offers.

Mattresses
An image of sleep writer Becky George sleeping on a bed in our Sleep Lab. To the left is a cut out image of a blackboard showing basics of learning Chinese, implying she's learning a new language as she sleeps

Sleep, learning and memory — experts explain the 'magic elixir' that can make 2026 your best year yet

By Ruth Jones published

Want to learn a new skill? Sleep on it. Experts explain why sleep is key to memory and how you can maximize your rest to level up your New Year's resolutions.

Sleep
The Emma Divan Bed with a mattress and bedding made up in a yellow painted bright room

The best beds and bed frames in 2026: Top 5 picks tested by experts

By Claire Davies last updated

After our expert team put the best beds and bed frames of 2026 to the test, these are the 5 we recommend for all sleep styles and budgets

Mattresses
The Simba Earth Escape Mattress on a wooden bed frame in a bedroom. In the top right corner, a Tom's Guide Boxing Day Best Deals graphic.

Act fast! The mattress that transformed my bedroom into a luxury hotel now comes with free bedding

By Ruth Jones published

The eco-friendly Simba Earth Escape mattress comes with a free bedding bundle in the Boxing Day sale — but not for long.

Mattresses
A young woman wearing tartan Christmas pajamas and a Santa hat decorates a Christmas tree.

This popular Christmas pajama set is a big no-no for this type of sleeper

By Ruth Jones published

You might end up sweating around the Christmas tree if you wrap your self up in flannel and fleece pajamas this festive season.

Sleep
A woman lies in bed in the dark with her phone directed at her face. In the top left corner is a faded screen from a video game

Can't sleep? The 'relaxing' habit that kept me awake and how I got my sleep back on track

By Ruth Jones published

I thought de-stress games would help me wind-down before bed but gamifying relaxation just kept me awake.

Sleep Problems
Mattress tester Lauren Jeffries sleeps on the Birch Elite mattress, surrounded by a collage of sleep hacks. Top left, bedding writer Becky George folds a set of bed sheets. Top right, a woman stands under the flow of a shower in darkness. Bottom right, a close up of a person writing by hand in a journal

I tried every kind of sleep hack in 2025 — these are the only 3 I’m taking into the New Year

By Ruth Jones published

From drunken monkeys to cashmere socks, I've tried all kinds of sleep hacks during 2025 but only a few have had a positive impact on my rest.

Sleep
On the left, sleep writer Becky George makes a bed in our Sleep Lab. On the right, a woman sits on the floor surrounded by mess, including Christmas presents and cards

The one thing you can do to your spare room to keep your guests happy — and it doesn't cost a thing

By Ruth Jones published

Tips to declutter your spare room and turn it into a sleep sanctuary, right in time for holiday guests.

Sleep
Left, a close up of a pair of hands wearing yellow gloves using a pray bottle to apply cleaning solution to a mattress and a scrubbing brush. Middle, mattress tester Lauren Jeffries starts stripping the bed. Right, a close up of a Jimmy mattress vacuum being used to vacuum the surface of a dirty mattress.

It's the last weekend to clean your mattress before Christmas — why you should and the 3 vital steps to get rid of winter germs, smells and stains

By Ruth Jones published

Easy cleaning hacks to get your mattress festive fresh before Santa (and your guests) arrive, using things you already have in your cabinets.

Mattress Care
A woman lies in bed in the morning rubbing her eyes as she lays on gray and white bedding.

How to sleep well when you're not in your own bed — plus 3 sleep essentials you need in your suitcase

By Ruth Jones published

Can't sleep in a new room? Don't let the first night effect ruin your holidays with our guide to sleeping well in a different bed.

Sleep
A person wearing rubber gloves uses a spray bottle and a clean cloth to clean the surface of the Emma Elite mattress.

Expert warns everyone should check their mattress for this dangerous stain in the winter

By Ruth Jones published

An expert explains how a moldy mattress might be making your sick and what you can do to keep your bed (and your health) safe.

Mattress Care
On the left, a woman lies in bed blowing her nose because she doesn't feel well. On the right, a man sits on the edge of the bed in the dark with his head in his hands, feeling stressed and experiencing insomnia.

Doctors warn this common sleep problem could leave you at risk of 'super flu' — here's how to prevent it

By Ruth Jones published

A new study explores how insomnia and anxiety are linked to a weakened immune system. Here's why, plus expert tips for sleeping better in flu season.

Sleep Problems
On the left, an image of two women closely inspecting the bedding of a mattress as they make the bed, in our Sleep Lab. On the right, a close up of bed bugs giding in the seams of a mattress

Stop bed bugs from ruining your guest room mattress this holiday season — all you need is a credit card

By Ruth Jones published

Bed bugs love the busy holiday season so keep them out of your mattress with this handy bed bug prevention kit you already own.

Mattress Care
A woman drinking from a mug sits on her bed wrapped up in a blanket and multiple layers to try and stay cozy

This one piece of bedding can help you stay cozy at night without turning the heating on — and it's not an electric blanket

By Ruth Jones published

Struggling to stay cozy at night as the temperatures drop? How a weighted blanket can keep you warm, help you sleep and save you money.

Pillows & Bedding
This image shows two of our sleep team testing mattress in the Sleep Lab, debating when's the best time to shop. On the left, Nicola Appleton sits on a Helix Midnight Luxe mattress. On the right, Ruth Jones sits on a Saatva Classic mattress, a laptop open in her lab as she checks for sales. In the top right corner is a Cyber Monday vs Black Friday mattress deals graphic

Cyber Monday vs Black Friday mattress deals: when is the best time to buy a mattress?

By Claire Davies last updated

Are the Black Friday mattress deals the best time to buy a mattress or do bigger sales arrive on Cyber Monday? We’ve analyzed past sales to find out.

Mattresses
A Simba mattress with a Tom's Guide Black Friday label

Simba Black Friday mattress sale: The best deal of the year is back

By Ruth Jones last updated

You can save up to £864 in Simba's Black Friday mattress sale, which is offering up to 30% off for a limited time.

Mattresses
A closeup of the MUSICOZY Bluetooth Sleep Headphones Eye Mask in green on a white surface against a white background

MUSICOZY Sleep Headphones: An effective blackout mask with average sound quality but a great price

By Ruth Jones published

The MUSICOZY sleep mask features soothing blackout and is my new travel companion — but it's not for audiophiles.

Sleep Tech
The Saatva Classic mattress on a bed frame in a bedrom. At the top of the image is the Saatva logo, the Team USA Olympic and Paralympic logo, and the words "Official mattress and restorative sleep provider of Team USA"

"Unlocking a super power by taking sleep seriously" — Saatva's CEO on luxury mattresses, gold medal moments and why we should treat sleep like a workout

By Ruth Jones published

I spoke to Saatva CEO Ron Rudzin on how this luxury mattress partnership might create some gold medal moments and why we should all treat sleep like an Olympic final.

Sleep
A collage of images showing the memory foam mattress testing process in our sleep lab. Top left, we test thermal imaging by using a phone with a thermal imaging camera, looking down on the mattress on which a member of our testing team lies. Top right, we test motion isolation, as one tester lies on the left side of the bed and the other jumps onto the right side. Bottom left, another motion isolation test, as two testers stand on the right side of the mattress using a tape measure and rig to determine where to drop the slam ball. Bottom right, we test pressure relief using a laser pen, trained on our testers back as she lies in side sleeping position

Memory foam mattress myths debunked — 4 things I’ve learned about all foam beds after testing them from head-to-toe

By Ruth Jones published

Memory foam mattresses have a certain reputation but after extensive testing both at-home and in our sleep lab, it's time for a foam rethink.

Mattresses
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