As you are likely aware, mattress pads are a piece of material you place on top of a bed for added comfort and support. Fitted directly to your bedding mattress they can dramatically improve the feel, comfort and support of any mattress.
History Of Bedding:
Since the beginning of time people have been trying to find comfortable sleeping materials. The first mattresses simply consisted of several throw pillows strewn about the floor.
Then, people started using such items as palm bows and during the Roman Empire, they used ticks stuffed with reeds, hay, wool or feathers. Later on straw, pea shucks or corn shucks were used atop a frame covered in rope. My how far we have come in our search for comfort.
Today you can take your pick of the type of bed, mattress, or even mattress pad you desire. Beds are available in a variety of materials from down feathers to memory foam and even straw, the most common mattress toppers and now made from latex, polyurethane foams, cotton/polyester blends or memory foams. Some modern day pads contain air, water or a variety of cotton fibers (most commonly used in futons).
A mattress pad is a soft protective cover used on the top of a bed to provide a little extra comfort for the sleeper and to improve the longevity of the mattress. When your mattress starts to get a little age on it, the comfort level may drop considerably.
An inexpensive solution can be to purchase a mattress pad instead of investing in a whole new mattress. There are a variety of types and materials to choose from when considering a mattress pad purchase.
Types of Mattress Toppers
There are many types available on the market these days. They are made of a variety of materials and functionality. Here are some examples:
* Foam
* Heated
* Magnetic
* Electric
* Waterproof
* Tempur-Pedic
* Pillow top
* Wool
* Water bed mattress tops
* Down
The Memory Foam Mattress Pad
Originally developed in 1966 by NASA, memory foam has become one of the favorite materials to use in the mattress pad. It’s high density gives it the ability to shape to your body, it has the ability to retain the heat from your body and remains firm in cool temperatures and somewhat softer with increased room temperatures.
Normally made of polyurethane or polyfoam (the industry term). This type of foam is hypoallergenic and does not promote the growth of harmful bacteria or mold unlike other bedding materials used in the past.
Polyfoam can actually be used in anything requiring padding including mattresses, furniture, pillows and even in daycares to cover those areas where little heads often bump. Polyfoam comes in five grades rated by density with the best being used in today’s most comfortable mattresses and toppers.
Most memory foam toppers are made from ultimate polyfoam which is available in soft, medium, and firm. For the most luxurious the different grades of polyfoam are often layered with a memory foam layer on top.
These pads are designed to be sensitive to weight and heat which is why it conforms to the body so well. This type of polyfoam is specifically designed not to exert any upward pressure and to retain your shape which makes it ultra comfortable.
Another common name for this type of pad is the memory mattress pad, although some memory pads can acutally be made of a refined latex instead of the polyfoam.
Memory Foam Toppers
Made from the same visco elastic memory foam as the memory foam mattress these pads provide a further level of support and comfort for the discerning sleep enthusiast. Commonly referred to as Mattress Toppers they can be further classified according to their size and/or use:
* Crib or toddler
* Mini single
* Twin single
* Twin single extra large
* Double full
* Double full extra large
* Queen
* Olympic or expanded queen
* California queen
* King
* California king
* Super king
* Grand king
Other Types Of Pads
Cotton: Another type of mattress pad available is the cotton mattress pad. One advantage of cotton is the obvious soft texture against your skin. These pads are not as bulky as many of the foam pads.
Some are one hundred percent cotton while others are layered with soft fabric fillers such as polyester. They are graded much like sheets with the thread count.
A Heated Pad: also referred to as an electric mattress pad, hether you need to save on the heating bill and cut the heat at night or you use wood and wake up to crisp morning air, a heated mattress pad will keep you cozy all night long.
These are available in all sizes with the queen and king sizes including controls for both sides in case you and your partner cannot agree on a setting. Heated pads are about three inches thick and are washable. Just disconnect the electric cord to wash. These pads are graded by the thread count as well.
Waterproof Mattress Pad: can be just what you need for a child or elderly person’s bed. When you need to protect your mattress and their dignity, a waterproof mattress is an excellent solution.
The Waterproof Mattress: pad offers a waterproof barrier often made of vinyl or an absorbent breathable cotton top and three to four layers of extra protection. They come in sizes fitting mattresses ranging from sixteen to twenty-two inches deep.
Conclusion:
As you can see when you’re thinking of adding a mattress pad to your bedding ensemble there are a variety of types and solutions available. Some thought ahead of time will help with your selection. Good luck in purchasing the right pad for your comfort level, here’s to a peaceful night’s sleep!