Buying a memory foam mattress or topper is an important investment that will improve your sleep for years to come. Memory foam is a little different than conventional sleeping surfaces. However when used properly, it has excellent longevity and compares favourably with conventional mattresses. Depending on the density of the foam it can last 5 to 10 years or more, and a good manufacturer will provide a guarantee to cover that time period. Here are some tips to maintaining your viscoelastic foam to ensure it lasts as long as it can.
Preserving the Foam’s Shape
Memory foam mattress pads normally are shipped rolled and compressed. When you receive your mattress pad, you’ll want to unroll it onto your mattress and leave it flat for a few hours before you start using it so that it has time to decompress. To ensure your topper wears evenly, you’ll want to rotate it 180 degrees every few months. Needless to say, if you use your memory foam topper on a futon or folding sleeper sofa bed, you should remove it during the daytime. Rolling it loosely is preferable to folding it during storage or transport. The degree to which the foam loses it ability to expand will depend on its density. Note that if you are extremely heavy then memory foam is probably not an ideal product for you, and you should probably look to more conventional foam pads.
Other Considerations
Cleaning your memory foam should be unnecessary with normal use. Never soak or immerse memory foam with liquids of any kind, as the porous foam will lock in the moisture which will change its memory properties. Cleaning should only be done with a damp cloth. If accidents are a danger, use a waterproof cover. During summer months you can use a cotton pad to make the foam feel cooler and prevent perspiration from reaching the foam. Leave the covers off in the morning to allow dampness to evaporate.
Memory foam overlays should always be used on a solid surface to preserve their longevity. They should never be used on a sagging mattress, which will work against the posture enhancing properties of the memory foam. If your mattress is old, you might consider buying a complete memory foam mattress rather than spending money separately on a mattress pad.
Latex and memory foam are two popular sleeping options for people looking to replace their old mattress or improve it with a foam topper. Although they are similar in some ways and sometimes confused as meaning the same thing, they are actually two unique products with different properties. This article will describe how they differ, and help you to decide which is the right option for you.
Latex
Latex mattresses are composed of soft, rubbery foam. It is often the preferred solution for those seeking an “organic” sleeping option since latex is derived from natural, biodegradable tree rubber, although there is an extra-supple “Talalay” option which is created using synthetic processes. While latex mattresses and mattress pads provide a soft cushioning experience, they are also very resilient, and can add extra support to a soft mattress. Latex is soft, buy springy and retains it shape very well, outlasting conventional coil spring mattresses and never requiring flipping.
Memory Foam
Memory foam is porous, like latex, but more solid and not springy to the touch. It is always composed of synthetic, petroleum-based foam, although some also include plant-based components. Memory foam’s main characteristic is it’s heat-activated compression properties. When it comes into contact with body warmth and pressure, it melts away creating a solid-feeling cradle and eliminating pressure points, thus reducing pressure-related joint discomfort and improving circulation. Additionally its ability to retain heat provides added comfort for arthritic and elderly sleepers. These properties often make it the preferred choice for those with sleep problems related to chronic pain.
While it feels solid, memory foam lacks the resilience of latex, and is therefore not ideal as a topper for sagging mattresses.
Similar in Many Ways
Despite their different compositions, they are both considered to be hypoallergenic, due to their resistance to dust mites and microbes, and they are both durable sleeping surfaces. They are sometimes even combined into a single mattress to utilize the unique benefits of each product, and one manufacturer has attempted to give memory properties to latex, using their own formula.
If only we were all the same shape! All mattresses could then be manufactured to perfectly fit our bodies, and finding the perfect sleeping surface would be as simple as buying a pair of socks. Sadly in terms of our posture, most mattresses whether firm or soft can only flex and conform to our bodies to a certain extent, and so we end up in uncomfortable positions during the night and often sleep at awkward and unhealthy angles. This is why memory foam mattress pads can offer such a benefit to our health and well-being.
The importance of Posture
Maintaining a good posture throughout the night can help to reduce back and muscle pains. Chiropractic medicine traces a number of health problems to the alignment of the spine, due to the close relationship between the spine and the nervous system. Since our spines are curved, it is important to have a sleeping surface that can flex and adjust to fit us.
 Memory foam reacts to body temperature and conforms to your shape. While standard mattresses can yield to the heavier parts of your body, such as the hips and shoulders, they do not yield as well to lighter areas, leading to poor sleeping positions. Pressure points develop and you find yourself growing more uncomfortable during the course of the night. You begin to shift position and your sleep is often disturbed as a result.
The Benefits of Memory Foam
The contouring effect of memory foam allows for a tailor-made sleeping surface which supports and maintains your orthopedic health. Benefits of proper sleeping posture increase over time, improving your overall wellness. The cushioning foam discourages movement during sleep, maintaining a healthy sleeping position and a more restful night. In addition your weight is better distributed on a memory foam surface, with fewer pressure points, allowing for better circulation and less joint discomfort. The benefits for people with chronic pain and arthritis are easy to see.
If you have to deal with sleeping discomfort, you know that finding a comfortable mattress seems nearly impossible. While soft mattresses lack support for your posture, harder mattresses have their own set of problems, often creating uncomfortable pressure points at your joints and hips. Memory foam solves this problem by conforming to your contours while providing firm support at the same time. If you are sleeping on a firm mattress, then a memory foam mattress pad will give you a new level of sleeping comfort. If your mattress is soft or sagging, another solution may be necessary such as a complete memory foam mattress or other foam options.
Different Memory Foam Choices
Memory foam mattress pads come in a variety of thicknesses, usually from 1 to 4 inches. While thinner toppers do provide affordable cushioning, they may not be sufficient if you tend to sleep on your side and feel pressure on your hip and joints. Memory foam is manufactured in various densities, from 2 to 5 lbs. Higher densities offer more support while lower densities fell more like regular foam. The characteristic body impression will stay in a dense mattress pad longer when you get up, hence the foam’s “memory”.
Manufacturers sometimes try to add more features to memory foam, such as elaborate covers. However a quality piece of foam should provide all the cushioning and support you need, and is best used with a thin or no cover under your bedsheet. Having another layer of padding would actually reduce the benefit of the memory foam by interfering with its contour-moulding effect.
Finding Quality
Memory foam manufacture is a complex process which used to be restricted to only one or two major companies. Now, however there are many quality manufacturers, meaning that the consumer can find discount memory foam and save without the name-brand price. There are manufacturers who offer discounts by selling inferior products, but this should not deter people from saving money by shopping online, so long as the seller is recognized as legitimate and offers a money-back guarantee.
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