Does Your Mattress Really Gain Weight Over Time? Everyone has seen those commercials the ones that feature a chirpy spokesperson from your local mattress superstore, telling you that your mattress can double in weight in ten years so you clearly need a new one. But does this really happen? The idea behind the claim is true. Mattresses gain weight over time as they absorb dead skin , colonies of dust mites (which feed on dead skin ), oil and moisture. But surely if a mattress is gaining weight at a rapid 10 percent per year, someone would have studied the heft? Or mattresses would start breaking bed frames with their bulk? "To the best of my knowledge, there is no scientific answer to the mattress weight and dust mite query," says Glen Needham, an entomologist at Ohio State University. "I've heard that mattresses double in weight every 8 years or so, but I'm not aware of any scientific study that backs this up," says Karin Mahoney, a spokesperson with the International Sleep Products Association.
She adds that it's well known that beds, in general, are a prime habitat for dust mites where one third of their nasty and brutish life occurs. According to materials published by Ohio State University, a typical used mattress may have 100,000 to 10 million mites inside. Ten percent of the weight of a two-year-old pillow can be composed of dead mites and their droppings. Mites prefer warm, moist surroundings such as the inside of a mattress when someone is on it. One of their favorite foods is dead skin, and people shed about one fifth of an ounce of the stuff every week, some of which surely ends up flaking into your mattress. (Also gross: About 80 percent of the material seen floating in a sunbeam is, in fact, flakes of dead skin.) So with all those mites and dead skin, the mattress is bound to be heavier than a new one but doubling in weight is probably ridiculous. What's the Most Disgusting Thing in the World? Could Humans Live Without Bacteria? Busting the 8-Hour Sleep Myth: Why You Should Wake Up in the Night
Send us an emailThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we'll crack it. Follow Katharine Gammon on Twitter @kategammon.If you’ve been researching beds, you may have heard that memory foam mattresses are heavy. But, heavy compared to what, and does this really matter? This article will look at some of the most common questions about memory foam and weight in order to clarify the subject. Linking Memory Foam Mattress Weight & Quality When it comes to memory foam, a heavier mattress is indicative of higher density. Density refers to how much a square foot of material weighs. Low density memory foam mattresses (below 4.0 lb) are lighter because they are made up of fewer, larger cells. Denser memory foam (over 4.0 lb) is heavier because it contains a greater density of cells, resulting in a more responsive and durable product. Weights of these mattress types can range from about 40-60 pounds for a Twin, to 120-160 pounds for a Queen and around 130 to 180 pounds for a King size.
The overall weight is a combination of the mattress core density, the density of the memory foam layers, and the amount of material in the bed. Hence, larger sizes will weigh more as will thicker mattresses. Should I Be Concerned About the Weight? The weight of a mattress is irrelevant for the majority of its lifespan. The primary occasions that one might have concerns about this issue is in moving the bed into the room and with rotating or maintaining the bed. Most modern bed frames and furnishings should have no problem supporting a memory foam bed. Memory Foam Mattress Setup Amerisleep mattresses come compressed into a cylinder, making maneuvering the new bed into your room easier. Two people should have no problem carrying a packaged king mattress inside. This would be the only part in which someone who lives alone might require assistance. Once the package is on the bed frame, you simply unwrap it and the bed does the rest. If you should move in the future, again, two people should be able to move the bed on most occasions.
Memory foam beds require less maintenance than most other types. It will never need to be flipped. Rotation every 6 to 12 months can be helpful for even wear, but is not essential. If you do decide to rotate the bed, the majority of the weight can be balanced on the frame as you turn the bed 180 degrees. Many memory foam beds also feature 4-sided zipper covers that can be removed for washing without having to lift the bed. How Does the Weight of Memory Foam Compare? Memory foam (density < 4.0 lbs) Memory foam (density > 4.0 lbs) Mattress weight estimates are taken from a queen size (midsize) mattress Memory Foam vs Innerspring Memory foam mattresses will be heavier than most innerspring counterparts due to the nature of construction differences. Spring beds feature internal support systems made of open or pocketed metal coils, topped by foam or padding. Because the core contains open space and is much less dense than the memory foam material, the end result is lighter.
On average, a spring bed can weigh between 20-150 pounds depending on size and materials. Beds with thick pillow tops that contain dense foams will weigh more. Memory Foam vs Latex Memory foam and latex beds tend to be similar on weight, though it is likely that quality latex foam will weigh more than even most high-density memory foam beds. This is because heavy latex is used throughout the mattress. On average, an all-latex mattress might weigh between 60-250 pounds depending on thickness and size. Memory Foam vs Air Bed Air beds are composed of inflatable rubber chambers set within a mattress encasement. The support system made of air creates mattresses that are lighter than memory foam in general. Some models contain foam pillowtops that can affect weight significantly. Air beds will weigh between 20 and 90 pounds, on average. Learn more about how air beds compare to memory foam mattresses. Memory foam mattresses are heavier than most mattresses besides latex, but will enable you to get a better night’s sleep.