Memory foam mattresses have become much more popular over the past few years. There are a number of renowned brands marketing a range of mattresses designed with memory foam and natural latex. Naturally, there is a lot of difference between each individual type of mattress out there, and this is where our guide to purchasing memory foam mattresses can help you to make a good decision by providing you with all the information you will need to know about these in-demand mattresses.
Things to Know About Memory Foam
Memory foam is a high-density material that was first designed by NASA for the purpose of providing a comfortable low-pressure surface for astronauts in space. However, this original foam that was used by NASA is not the same as the type of memory foam that is used in modern mattresses, regardless of what mattress manufacturers tell you.
This older material was not anywhere near as comfortable as the sort of memory foam available now and it also had a tendency to break down over extended periods of time. Tempurpedic, a Swedish company, set out to add improvements to the material design of memory foam. The result of the efforts can be found in the popular mattress range known as Tempurpedic.
Although products designed with memory foam have existed for well over 40 years, they have only just recently become hot sellers on the furniture market. One of the reasons to explain this is that the manufacturing method used for memory foam products used to be quite expensive. They were typically only used in hospitals until companies took over manufacturing and improvements were made to the process, dragging down prices as time progressed.
How Does Memory Foam Work?
Memory foam is designed with billions of what are called "open cells" made to adapt to your body's temperature and pressure points. Initial manufacturing begins with synthetic polyurethane that is combined with chemicals, resulting in visco-elastic foam that is non-toxic. However, different memory foam mattresses are made differently, so let's look into the way the materials are graded.
IFD Rating
The IFD (Indentation Force Deflection) of a memory foam mattress indicates its overall firmness and level of quality, which will provide you with information on the softness, comfort, and texture of the mattress you are interested in.
Mattresses that have a higher IFD (sometimes referred to as ILD) will have a greater degree of firmness, while those with lower IFD will be softer. It is important to recognize that although an exceptionally soft mattress might be comfortable at first, it could eventually aggravate conditions experienced by those with lower back problems. As such, it would be a good idea to purchase a mattress that has various layers of memory foam with different IFDs. This will help to ensure that an appropriate level of firmness is achieved without having to sacrifice comfort and pressure point softness.
Mattress Weight
The density of a mattress and its visco-elasticity are achieved by the addition of chemicals during the manufacturing process. More chemicals mean that the mattress will have higher elasticity, density, and overall weight.
Resilience
Resilience of memory foam indicates its durability. A higher resilience rating means that the mattress will be more firm and bouncy, while a lower resilience will make the mattress softer and more likely to sink in. Popular memory foam mattress companies design mattresses that have several layers with different levels of resilience, so as to provide both support and softness.
Some of the Problems Encountered
Although people do experience a number of problems with memory foam mattresses, the majority of these can be avoided or resolved simply by making a well-informed purchase decision. In any case, here are some of the problems that are occasionally encountered.
- Too Much Heat - People sometimes complain that memory foam gets too hot at night, making it somewhat uncomfortable to sleep on. This can be resolved by purchasing a CoolMax fabric to cover the mattress.
- Odor - Memory foam mattresses do tend to smell when you first buy them, but this smell tends to wear off within a few days. If you find this initial smell uncomfortable you can try airing out your mattress regularly and applying an air freshener to the area.
- Bad Quality - There are a lot of inexpensive mattresses out there designed by companies who claim to use memory foam. However, in many cases the foam that is used is an imitation of original memory foam and may have much lower quality. As such, if you purchase a cheap mattress you are taking a risk. The memory foam might have properties that make it less supportive or conversely, too firm. To avoid such problems, stick to purchasing mattresses from companies that have a well-established reputation (there are only a few top brands available that are often highly recommended among consumers, so pay attention to reviews, ratings and comparisons before buying).
- The memory foam contained within a mattress is its primary component and the most expensive material. Companies selling mattresses at an extremely low price are forced to purchase memory foam at a lower price as well. This means that some level of material degradation can usually be expected from "memory foam" mattresses sold at very low prices.
- Too Expensive - Mattresses designed with memory foam could easily be considered the most expensive mattress types available on the market. Top brands tend to sell their mattresses at 4-digit prices, and this is not good news to those on a limited budget. However, if you are willing to spend some time doing a bit of research, you might be able to find seasonal sales or discounts on certain brand name models.
Other Things to Look Into
There are a few things that you should consider before you choose to purchase a memory foam mattress. Buying a new mattress is an important decision, and like all important decisions you should consider your options carefully.
- Size - Mattresses are sold in various sizes, ranging from queen-sized mattresses to singles. It would be a good idea to take a look at the overall size of the bedroom you plan on purchasing a mattress for, as this will help you to determine which mattress size will provide you with enough freedom of movement and will look good.
- Memory Foam Depth - There is a difference between the depth of the memory foam within a mattress and the depth of the mattress itself. If a dealer advertises a mattress as having a specific depth, information related to the depth of the memory foam itself might be unclear. The higher the density and depth of the memory foam, the more unlikely it will be to cave in and also be durable.
- Warranty - Make sure that your mattress comes with a valid warranty. Top name mattresses always come with a good warranty, so this will provide you with reassurance of the quality of the mattress as well as the ability to return it if it is defective or if you are unsatisfied with its performance.
Where Is The Best Place To Purchase A Memory Foam Mattress From?
It can sometimes be difficult to make an appropriate comparison between memory foam mattresses, as there are many different models available to choose from. However, most decisions will be based on both your personal tastes and the amount of money you are willing to spend. You can find useful information by reading third-party reviews or by looking for additional information in online forums related to mattress purchases. In any case, take some time to compare options and do some research before diving into a mattress purchase, else your decision might be costly in more ways than one.
A Comparison of Memory Foam Mattresses to Other Types
- Latex - Latex mattresses tend to be more elastic and springy than memory foam mattresses, while mattresses with memory foam are softer and provide reduction of pressure points. In some rare situations, latex might cause certain allergies to occur.
- Air - Air mattresses are not only useful for outdoor excursions. They have become increasingly popular within regular households as well, and many people find them to be extremely comfortable because of the ability to get different support levels simply by adjusting the amount of air contained within the mattress. The only major downsides to these mattresses are that they tend to have limited warranties (in comparison to major memory foam models) and they do not offer the same level of pressure point reduction (air is simply displaced to either side of the body).
- Spring - These are the most common mattress type available. They are also the cheapest, making them good news for the low-budget mattress shopper. However, they are losing their popularity because of the limited support options they provide and also the fact that they lose their shape as time goes on. An old mattress with a spring system can be extremely uncomfortable to sleep on.
- Mattress pads with memory foam - These are thin pads (1-4 inches) that are designed to be placed on top of the mattress. This will provide an additional layer of support, potentially increasing comfort. You can always choose to purchase a memory foam topper instead of a full mattress if you do not want to spend a lot of money on a brand-new mattress made entirely of memory foam. A mattress pad can still offer you many of the same benefits provided by a full mattress. If you buy a mattress pad with a high IFD rating and a good level of thickness, this could provide you with enough spinal support and comfort to replace the need to buy a complete mattress.
Taking Care of Your Memory Foam Mattress
There are several ways that you can care for your mattress in order to prolong its longevity and help it to function properly. One way is to rotate it feet-side to head-side every few months. This distributes your body weight over the entire mattress area, prolonging the overall life of the mattress.
One problem that is experienced with mattresses is the tendency for dust mites or bed bugs to breed within their interiors. Although this is a definite possibility with spring system mattresses (as they have a hollow core), memory foam mattresses are less likely to have these problems. Additionally, higher-end memory foam mattresses often feature anti-microbial and anti-dust mite treatments, making life easier for people who have asthma or other allergies.
To clean your mattress, you can apply a small amount of baking powder over the surface area and then vacuum it. This will remove the baking powder and any debris that is collected. Additionally, you can remove spots by applying a very small amount of warm water and mild detergent to the affected area and cleaning it with a cloth. You can then use a towel to dry out the damp area.
In Conclusion
After looking through this guide, it might be difficult to think of any other mattress type being capable of providing the same benefits as a memory foam mattress. With the therapeutic benefits of the contour support system in combination with anti-microbial properties and excellent comfort, these mattresses offer something that other types cannot.
If you are interested in purchasing a memory foam mattress, set aside some time for research and review. Once you have found a model that you like, you can purchase it at an online mattress store or alternatively from a local one. However, you can usually find a much broader range of options online.
