Some pillow-top mattress pads can be removed for washing and maintenance. A new pillow-top mattress may be just what the body ordered when it comes to a comfortable night’s sleep. Over time, however, that mattress may develop lumps that could make you feel more like the sleep-deprived main character from “The Princess and the Pea.” Rather than replacing that lumpy nightmare of a mattress, return it to a usable state with a little hands-on care involving a mild workout. The Beatdown Some pillow-top mattresses have a removable pillow layer for more manageable cleaning and maintenance. Look for a zipper along the mattress, pulling the pillow layer out of its pocket, if possible. Hang this pillow pad out over a clothesline and beat it with a clean broom, covering the entire area of the pad. If the pad is permanently affixed to the mattress, beat down the mattress with the broom while the mattress is on the bed after removing all bedding. In the Rotation Rotating a pillow-top mattress helps prevent lumps and sagging spots.
Since a pillow-top cannot be flipped like a traditional mattress, rotation is the best option for keeping the mattress in tip-top shape, comfortable and free of lumps. Turn the mattress so the area at the foot of the bed becomes the area at the head of the bed every couple of months. Rollin', Rollin', Rollin' With all the bedding off the mattress, roll around on the bed from top to bottom, bottom to top, and side to side, acting as a human rolling pin to roll away those mattress lumps. If there are kids in the house, this is a project they’ll most likely love to do, with no complaints. Roll around for five to 10 minutes to smooth the pillow top. An actual rolling pin also comes in handy over specific lumpy areas. If necessary, set up the mattress vertically against a wall with a friend holding it up as you roll the lumps smooth, using gravity to help work the pad fibers back into place. Wash and Fluff A removable pillow-top pad often is machine washable. Wash it according to the care tag, then place it in the dryer with a few clean tennis balls, which help fluff up the pad and remove lumps.
Hang it over a sturdy clothesline after drying, then feel it with your hands, smoothing areas that need it by rubbing them between your hands or by beating it with a clean broom. Photo Credits Andrew Olney/Photodisc/Getty Images Suggest a CorrectionOur bed is sagging: Can we fix it? August 27, 2012 Subscribe My now-wife (then-girlfriend) purchased a new queen-sized mattress from Macy's about 3 years ago. We've recently noticed that the bed is sagging on both sides where we sleep, and the middle and sides are firmer and the way they were when she purchased it. It has a split box spring so that it could fit up her narrow staircase in her former apartment. We no longer have that restriction. So, is this the fault of the split box spring (and should we replace it with a normal one), or is it simply a problem with the mattress? What can we do to fix it, if anything? Back to U.S. Website, APO/FPO FurnitureExtra 15% offSelect Furniture by Christopher Knight*RugsUp to 70% offSelect Area Rugs by Safavieh*DécorUp to 50% offSelect Curtains by Exclusive Fabrics*Bed & BathSave onSelect Bedding & Bath by Laura Ashley & MoreHome ImprovementExtra 15% offHome Improvement*KitchenShop AppliancesOutdoorUp to 50% offSelect Outdoor Furniture by Portfolio*JewelryUp to 50% offSelect Auriya Jewelry*WatchesUp to 50% off Featured Branded Watches*Shop WatchesWomenUp to Extra 15% offClothing
, Shoes & Accessories*MenUp to Extra 15% offClothing, Shoes & Accessories*Kids & BabyExtra 10% offKids Furniture*MoreExtra 10% offPet Supplies* How to Fluff a Pillow-Top Mattress Published April 28, 2010 | Updated June 30, 2015 A pillow-top mattress can be comfortable for anyone who sleeps on their side, but without the proper maintenance, it can lose some of its comfort. Fortunately, you can restore your pillow-top mattress with minimal effort, and once you know how to do it, you'll never have to sleep on a flattened mattress again. Fluff Your Pillow Top: Shop Pillow-Top Mattresses ▸ Rotate the MattressPeriodically rotate the mattress from end to end, putting the foot end on the headboard side and vice versa. This will help reduce the need to fluff the mattress, which can cause stress to the fabric. Because pillow-top mattresses are often only padded on one side, this is generally the best method for reducing wear. However, if you have a mattress with double-sided pillow-top, you may also want to flip it over once a year.
Clean the MattressRemove all the sheets from the mattress; you'll want to wash them before you replace them. Sprinkle baking soda over the top of the mattress and let it sit for about an hour. Baking soda will help remove odors as well as oils that could be keeping your pillow-top from being as fluffy as it could be. Vacuum the MattressVacuum the outer surface of the mattress and pillow-top using a canister vacuum with a hose attachment. This will clean up all the baking soda as well as remove dust, dust mites, and other particulates from the material. Even if you're not fluffing the mattress, you may want to vacuum it monthly to reduce allergens and keep your bed fresh. Hang Up the Mattress TopRemove the mattress top, if possible, and take it outside to hang over a sturdy clothesline. If your mattress does not have a removable pillow-top, skip straight to the next step. Beat the MattressPut on a dust mask and beat the mattress top with a clean broom head, moving all around the pillow-top's surface.
If the pillow-top is hanging on a clothesline, do this outside. Then, climb on the bed and roll with your body straight from one end to the other. It should take about 10 to 20 minutes to fluff the pillow-top mattress. Now lie down for a nap; After a long night’s rest, you expect to rise feeling refreshed, ready to take on the new day. It can be a real downer to wake up with back pain.The most common cause of sleep-related back pain is poor sleep posture. Thankfully it’s often simple to correct.Poor sleep posture is typically the result of one of three things:We sleep 1/3 of our lives away. With that much practice you’d think we’d all be really great sleepers. Unfortunately not all of us are getting the best rest we can get.When you climb into bed, you might initially feel comfortable, but after you drift off, your sleep position can inadvertently put unnecessary stress on your back. After a bit, your back might get agitated. Your sleeping brain might do you a solid and command your body to reposition itself so that your back gets a little relief.
Alternatively, your lazy sleeping brain ignores the agitation, exacerbating the strain. Presto, you’ve got back pain the next morning.“But I used to sleep so well,” you say… Sleeping twisted up like a pretzel on a futon filled with hay and beer cans might have worked fine when you were 20. Unfortunately, as we age, the padded discs between our vertebrae wear out and we become more sensitive to our sleeping conditions. *sad trombone*Your spine is best off when it’s straight. It’s simple: unnatural bends and twists in your back can cause muscle strains and put pressure on nerves. Keep your back straight and you’ll potentially eliminate your back pain.In most cases stomach sleeping will cause your upper body to arch upwards. It’s a good bet that this is the root of your problem; try to acclimate to a different sleeping position. Rolling to your side will be easiest for most stomach sleepers—put a dense pillow under your top arm to simulate the feeling of the mattress under your chest.
If abandoning your cherished stomach sleeping position is just not feasible, try placing a pillow under your hips so that your back isn’t arched. Read More: Sleeping on Your Stomach: Make the Most of It!Side-sleeping works pretty well for most. It is the most common sleeping position and will help to keep your spine straight and elongated.Most doctors and sleep experts recommend sleeping on your back – if you can pull it off. For most, back sleeping will help you maintain a neutral sleeping position. There’s little opportunity for twisting or bending the spine, so back sleepers are likely to get better rest and wake up refreshed. Read More: I’ve tried to adjust to back sleeping myself. It was not easy.Already a back sleeper and experiencing back pain? While it’s touted as a great way to sleep, back sleeping can sometimes cause back pain as well. If that’s the case, try putting a pillow under your legs and/or stretching your hip flexors before bedtime. Otherwise, try rolling to your side.
If your pillow is too thin or soft, your back will bend downward at an awkward angle. Conversely, if it’s too thick, your spine might bend unnaturally upward. Both situations can cause pain.If your head is supported at the correct level, the muscles in your neck and back will be able to to completely relax. Pressure on your discs and muscles will be diminished and, as a result, your back pain reduced.We westerners are acclimated to traditional “soft” pillows containing down or polyester fibers. Most of these traditional soft pillows will collapse under pressure and can not support your head adequately throughout the night. In fact, many find themselves using two pillows or folding their pillow in half in an attempt to support their head at the proper level. Fiddling with pillows in the middle of the night is not conducive to good sleep!We are huge fans of buckwheat pillows due to their adjustable and malleable nature. The buckwheat hull fill is really unique—it will perfectly conform to the space between your head and the mattress eliminating potentially pain-causing pressure points in your neck and back.
Most buckwheat pillows are adjustable; you can add or remove fill to dial in the loft (height) so that your spine is straight rather than bent upwards or downwards.Your pillow is probably pretty nasty anyway! Toss it out and treat yourself to a new one.Like pillows, your mattress needs to provide proper amount of support to maintain proper sleep posture.Pillow top mattresses have become quite popular in recent years. They’re not necessarily better than non-pillow top types. Laying on a squishy compressible surface all night long can cause back pain for some, particularly stomach sleepers. They can allow your body to bend too far downward at the waist. This can be a result of the pillow top’s foam:If your mattress is too firm, it won’t compress sufficiently to allow your body to sink downwards in the appropriate locations. This can result in an unpleasant upward bend in your lower back.The large mattress manufacturers are frequently criticized for their marketing practices.
They often distribute the same mattress under different names to each retailer intentionally making it difficult for consumers to comparison shop.Your best bet is to ignore the goofy marketing lingo and purchase whatever is comfortable and well-reviewed. Unfortunately it’s difficult to determine what’s genuinely comfortable with online shopping or even a short visit to a brick and mortar location. Ideally, you need to sleep on a mattress to truly know if it’s right for you. Fortunately, some retailers have generous return policies, making it feasible to try their products in your own home for a period of time. Before you make a purchase, make sure you understand the retailer’s shipping and return policy.Spending money on new bedding or changing the way you sleep aren’t quick or easy solutions. Here’s a few things you can do for immediate pain reduction:If your back pain isn’t specific to sleep and persists during the day, you most likely have a more serious issue that cannot be resolved with the suggestions above.