If you have trouble getting a good night's sleep on your mattress, a mattress topper might be the perfect solution. It can boost the comfort level of an old mattress for a fraction of the price of buying a new one. Sometimes called a pillow-top mattress pad, a topper is a cushion you place on top of the mattress to add softness or support. The terms "mattress topper" and "mattress pad" are often used interchangeably, but the latter also refers to a thinner type of cover that's placed over a mattress to protect it from stains. This report focuses mainly on the type of toppers used for added cushioning, but we do recommend waterproof and non-waterproof mattress pads as well. The most common reason people decide to add toppers to their mattresses is to add new life to an older bed. Innerspring mattresses in particular tend to compress over time, losing their ability to shape themselves to a sleeper's body. A mattress topper can add an extra layer of cushioning, relieving pressure points and enhancing sleep quality.
However, mattress toppers can't compensate for major problems such as sagging, sinkholes or springs poking through the mattress cover. If your mattress is that bad, you need a new one. We have recommendations for the most popular types in our separate report on mattresses. Mattress pads aren't just for old mattresses, though. People often add a mattress topper to adjust the firmness level of a newer mattress. If you buy a new mattress and determine after a short time that it's too soft or firm for your taste, adding a topper can make it softer or firmer without the hassle and expense of trading in a nearly new model (returning a new mattress often involves shipping and restocking fees, not to mention the logistics of dealing with returning a large item). Placing a topper on just one side of the bed can also help couples who prefer different levels of mattress firmness. Memory foam is the most popular type of mattress topper, and it tends to be the most effective at improving mattress comfort.
Made from polyurethane, memory foam contains millions of open, spherical cells that respond to pressure and heat. It comes in many thicknesses and densities: In general, a thicker topper will have a softer feel, while a denser foam will provide more support. However, memory foam can trap body heat, and some say that the way it cradles the body can make it difficult to move around on. Many memory foam toppers also give off an unpleasant odor when new, although a good airing usually takes care of that. Latex foam is similar to memory foam, but it's made of either natural or synthetic latex rubber. It comes in many grades of thickness and firmness like memory foam, but generally tends to be a bit firmer. It's also somewhat less likely than memory foam to trap body heat and emit an unpleasant odor, but the "new mattress smell" can still be a problem for some users. Latex excels at providing both softness and support and it's a good choice for allergy sufferers because it's resistant to both mold and dust mites.
However, latex itself can be an allergen for some people and latex toppers are among the most expensive. Featherbeds are basically cushions stuffed with feathers or down. These add softness to a mattress, but not support. While they don't retain body heat as much as foam toppers do, they tend to compress under a user's weight and must be fluffed or shaken regularly to restore their shape. Featherbed mattress toppers are usually less expensive than foam ones. If you're sensitive to feathers, fiberbed and wool mattress toppers are very similar to featherbeds, but are made from hypoallergenic materials. Mattress pads are not mattress toppers, they are just a thin pad, with corners like a fitted sheet that go over your mattress to protect it from moisture and stains. Deep-pocket mattress pads can even fit over both a mattress topper and a mattress. Mattress pads are very affordable and there's little variation in quality. With the high cost of mattresses, we highly recommend that everyone protect their investment from spills, stains and other accidents.
analyze thousands of owner reviews and break down the data to provide specific information about different mattress topper types and brands. Our research turns up three main factors to consider when shopping for a mattress topper. Since a topper's job is to improve the comfort of a mattress, we give particular importance to how well each pad cushions and supports the body, as well as such criteria as whether it retains body heat. A good mattress topper also needs to stay comfortable over time, so we examine how well each model holds up with use and whether it needs special maintenance to keep it in good shape. Based on these factors, we identify the best mattress toppers of each type and list their pros and cons. One is sure to be the perfect choice for your best night's sleep.Dust Mite Covers and Encasings Frequently Asked Questions Answers to common about dust mites questions. Answer: Dust is the accumulation of very fine particulates, the kind that you can sometimes see floating around the air when the light streams through the windows late afternoon.
It is not healthy to breathe in dirt. Dust mites are live microscopic creatures which inhabit our bedding, carpets and upholstery. Mites feed on human and animal dander, pollen, fungi and bacteria. The food consumption and development of the mites increases with higher relative humidity (70 to 80%) and common indoor temperatures (75 to 80 degrees fahrenheit). Since you spend up to 1/3 of your life in the bedroom and need a good night's sleep it is essential to take care of the dust mite problem there first! To keep it simple, dust mite proof covers on your bedding cut off their food source. Encase mattresses, boxsprings, pillows and comforters in non-allergenic tightly woven zippered dust mite encasings. Keep your room at a low humidity level and eliminate any dust harboring articles in the room. Answer: Here are some of the signs of dust mite allergy: persistently stuffy nose and ears, repeated sneezing on awakening, itchy watery eyes, worsening of symptoms when beds are made, improving symptoms outside the house.
To check for the dust mite level in your rooms before you begin a plan of attack you can use a simple home dust mite test kit to see how bad the problem is. To check your humidity level you can purchase a low cost hygrometer from AllergyBuyersClub. Answer: Our encasing offerings are comfortable, noiseless and cool. The fabric has a gentle, light-weight finish which provides an effective yet luxurious feel. We offer three cotton choices with high thread counts which makes the fabrics tightly woven yet have exceptional breathability that allows air and perspiration to flow through but not the mites or their allergens. The fabric is not hot or sweaty to sleep on! We have evaluated other dust mite protection barrier products and found these to be the most comfortable, effective protection you can buy. You won't even know that they are there! Answer: The dust mite encasings are used over your pillows, mattress, mattress pad, boxspring and comforter and underneath your pillowcases, sheets and duvet covers.
Here are the best products that we could find. Note all off our products are cotton based which makes them better than most other products do not have any cotton in them. If you are comparing these to other products on the market please check their cotton content first! Note: Some of our customers buy one of the encasing sets and a set of Cottonfresh encasings as well. They put the Cottonfresh on the most allergic person's bed and use the Pristine or Natural Allergen barrier cotton pillow encasings for other beds in the home. Answer: You buy the size that matches the bed that you want to cover (twin,queen, etc.) However, we sell the encasings in two different depths within these sizes. We sell the mattress covers in three depths: 9 inch (standard) 12 inch (deep - These will fit standard beds as well) and extra deep 15 inch mattress encasing sets. See the previous question's links to go directly to the link that you need. We suggest that you measure your mattress height (without sheets) from at least 3 different sides of the mattress including any pillowtop or foam mattress pads if you have them.
Buy the encasing set that best fits the mattress size plus topper depth. Answer: We suggest that you get someone to help you since putting them on requires that you remove the mattress and boxspring from the frame. Put the mattress or boxspring up on its end and gently pull the encasing evenly over the width of the mattress. If you try to pull too much on one side it could tear. When you have the encasing over the entire mattress or boxspring - zip it up and return it to the bed. Click here for further detailed instructions. Answer: We recommend that you wash your regular bed linens and pillow encasings in hot water once a week (130°F/54.4°C). A cooler temperature will not kill the mites. You do not have to remove the mattress and boxspring encasings and wash them every week. You can remove the bed linens and vacuum the encasing with a HEPA vacuum or use a vapor steam cleaner over the surface of the mattress. Answer: These encasings are completely hot water machine washable and can be tumbled dry.
Do not use chlorine bleach on the encasings. Answer: Encase your mattress, boxspring, pillows and comforter in dust mite encasings. Keep humidity below 50%, ideally between 30-40%.Keep your closet door closed. Clothes can harbor dust if the door is left open. Avoid upholstered furniture when possible. Use plastic, leather or wood furniture instead. Remove carpeting when possible or use a low pile carpet or throw rugs on bare floors. Wash throw rugs frequently.Use a "Swiffer" or "Grab It" for dusting instead of regular mops or cloths. Use light washable curtains, valances and shades or vertical blinds on your windows. Use a high quality HEPA (High Efficiency Particle Arresting) air filter to filter out airborne allergens. Find one that will do the job at low frequency so that you do not have to live with noise of a filter at high speed. Dust and vacuum twice a week using a HEPA vacuum cleaner or central vacuum cleaner that vents particles to the outside of the house. This will reduce the small particle dust in the room.