Returns and Testing Transparency

At Eat Clean, Train Clean, we believe readers deserve complete honesty about how products are tested, handled, stored, and returned.

Sleep products are expensive and personal, and transparency helps you make better decisions.

This page explains exactly what we do with every mattress, pillow, topper, and bedding product that appears on our website.

1. We Buy or Order Every Product Ourselves

Every product we review has been physically handled by us.

We do not publish reviews based on:

  • Stock photos
  • Manufacturer descriptions
  • Press releases
  • Third-party summaries
  • AI-generated testing

If a product is reviewed on our website, we have:

  • Unboxed it
  • Photographed it
  • Measured it
  • Tested it
  • Slept on it
  • Evaluated it honestly

Everything comes from real, hands-on experience.

2. What We Do With Products After Testing

Because we are a small, independent husband-and-wife team, we cannot store dozens of large products at once.

After testing, products may be:

  • Kept for long-term comparison
  • Returned through retailer policies
  • Donated locally (when allowed)
  • Recycled responsibly

Our choices are based on space, usefulness, and ongoing testing needs.

3. When We Return Products

We return a product when:

  • We no longer need it for testing
  • It does not perform well in our evaluations
  • Storage space becomes limited
  • It is too large to keep long-term
  • It can be easily returned through a retailer

Mattresses in particular are large and expensive, and returning them allows us to test more models without outside funding.

4. Returns Have No Influence on Reviews

A return decision has no effect on how we score or describe a product.

We report:

  • Real strengths
  • Real weaknesses
  • Who the product is best for
  • Who should avoid it
  • How it compares to alternatives

If a product does not perform well, we explain why.
If a product stands out, we highlight what makes it exceptional.

We do not adjust our reviews to match the fact that something was kept or returned.

5. When We Keep Products

Some products are extremely valuable for ongoing comparison.

We keep products when:

  • They become long-term reference models
  • We need to compare them with new products
  • They continue to perform well over time
  • They offer unique features worth retesting later

These long-term items help us maintain consistency and accuracy across reviews.

6. How We Document Returns

When we return an item, we document:

  • How the return was initiated
  • Whether packaging was required
  • Whether pickup or drop-off was needed
  • The time it took to receive a refund
  • The overall experience

This helps readers understand the real customer journey, not just performance.

7. We Do Not Accept Products In Exchange for Positive Reviews

Some companies offer free products in exchange for guaranteed positive coverage.

We decline all such offers.

If a brand sends us a product voluntarily, our review is still entirely independent.

A gifted item does not influence what we write, score, or recommend.

We are committed to honest, data-backed evaluations only.

8. Full Transparency About Affiliate Links

Some links on our website are affiliate links.
If you purchase through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

This revenue helps cover:

  • Product purchases
  • Return shipping
  • Testing equipment
  • Website maintenance
  • Long-term storage of test items

Affiliate relationships do not affect our opinions.

If a product fails our testing, we say so.

9. Our Commitment to You

We started Eat Clean, Train Clean because the sleep review industry needs more transparency and fewer biased recommendations.

Our commitment is simple:

  • We test everything ourselves
  • We show real results
  • We do not hide weaknesses
  • We do not change opinions for brands
  • We explain our testing honestly
  • We reveal our return process
  • We put the reader first

Our only goal is to help you make confident decisions about sleep products that affect your comfort, health, and daily life.

Thank You for Supporting Transparency

Testing sleep products takes time, energy, and resources.

Your trust makes it possible for us to continue sharing clear, honest results.

If you have questions or want to know more about our process, reach out anytime.

We respond personally.

-Casey and Jeannie
Eat Clean, Train Clean
Independent Husband-and-Wife Testing Team