Make your bed every morning and smooth the topper with your hands for a flat, even surface come nightfall. A memory foam mattress topper adds a plush layer to your bed that conforms around your body to create a cocoon-like effect. But cold weather makes it difficult for the foam to release the indentation left by your sleeping form, and if you place the topper over a lumpy or sagging mattress, it imitates the shape of the mattress just as easily as it does your body, resulting in a lumpy, uncomfortable surface. For the best results, address the problem from two angles. Give the memory foam the space it needs to regain its shape and treat the underlying issue causing the uneven surface. Remove the memory foam topper from your bed. Take this opportunity to vacuum your mattress with an upholstery brush attachment, removing dirt and dust mites. Relocate the mattress topper to a warm room and lay it flat on the floor. If you see any noticeable lumps or indentations, massage the area with your hands to warm up the material, smoothing it out.
The material is flammable, so do not use an iron, hair dryer or other appliance to heat the foam. Memory foam responds well to the heat of your hands. Let the topper sit for 24 to 72 hours: The more distorted the surface, the longer it needs to release the lumps and indentations. Memory foam naturally reshapes itself when left alone on a flat surface. The warmer the room is, the faster the process will go. Rotate a single-sided mattress 180 degrees, moving the current head area to the foot board. This prevents uneven wearing in the mattress, and any indentations causing lumpiness will work themselves out over time, provided the mattress itself isn’t damaged. Repeat this process every 4 to 6 months. Flip a double-sided mattress over and rotate it 180 degrees. This moves the flat, smooth surface previously sitting on the box spring or platform to the top and the lumpy side of the mattress to the bottom, while relocating the head of the mattress to the foot. The weight of your body and the flat surface of the box spring or platform will smooth out lumps on the previously slept-on side over time.
Rotate the mattress again in 4 to 6 months, and flip it over every 8 to 12 months. Cut a piece of plywood to the size of your mattress and place this in between the box spring and the mattress. A worn box spring causes sagging and promotes the creation of lumps in the mattress; the plywood acts as a solid, firm barrier, increasing support. Remove the pillow-top portion of the mattress, if possible, and machine-wash it according to the care directions on the tag. Dry the pillow-top on low with two to three tennis balls to flatten out any lumps. Reinstall it on the bed. Adjust the temperature in your bedroom if possible, at least during waking hours. An excessively cold space causes the memory foam to seize, making it difficult for it to return to its normal, flat form during the day. During the day, open curtains, allowing sunlight to naturally warm the space. Temperature preferences are personal, so use your best judgment. If your mattress is in good condition, yet the memory foam still shows your body shape after sitting all day, adjust the temperature by 2 to 4 degrees and gauge the topper's response.
Things You Will Need Vacuum with upholstery attachment Measuring tape 1/2-inch plywood Table saw Laundry detergent Clean tennis balls References Sleep Innovations: Frequently Asked QuestionsSTL Beds: Top Ten Problems With Memory Foam Photo Credits Andrew Olney/Photodisc/Getty Images Suggest a CorrectionThe ProblemIn recent months I’ve suffered from pain in my right hip and mid to lower back. I attribute this to age, having a sedentary job (writing), having put on some pounds and lack of exercise to lubricate my joints. I sit on a high density cell foam donut as I write this. The donut relieves pressure from the coccyx, something I learned when I was pregnant many moons ago. I’ve learned to contort my body to the left when I rise from a sitting position in order for the pain in my hip to not bring me to my knees. Having this condition checked out by a doctor is out of the question. When I retired from the corporate world I also relinquished my rights to company paid health insurance.
So I make do. However, sitting is not my only uncomfortable position. Although I bought a new mattress recently, I awaken with a sore back and my right hip screams with every movement. Do I need to tell you I’ve not been sleeping well? Oh, I guess I just did. The fact is I sleep in 3-hour shifts because my body wakes me up. Oh, what I would give for just one night of uninterrupted sleep! Something had to be done. I can’t afford medical diagnosis or treatment. Going through Advil like candy is not good for my innards and doesn’t fix the problem anyway. Buying one of those high end mattresses that “have your number” is also out of the question. So, what does a not-so-young-but-not-so-old struggling writer do to alleviate the pain? Ingenuity is the answer, my friends; that and watching the paper for sales on mattress toppers. The SolutionSometimes commercialism comes in handy. It seems everything under the sun goes on sale just before holidays. Memorial day is one of those holidays.
My local Big Lots had a flyer in Sunday’s paper. They advertised a ‘famous maker’ 3” gel memory foam mattress topper for queen beds at a doable $99.99. The next day I went to Big Lots in hopes I wasn’t too late. Sure enough, they had plenty in stock and the ‘famous maker’ turned out to be Serta. Well, shoot, if the sheep on TV fear Serta because the public no longer has need to count them (the sheep) in order to go to sleep, that’s enough reason for this little girl to give the brand a shot. Not only did I make the purchase, but I treated myself to a new set of sheets (in my favorite color, although it doesn’t match my bedding!). I came home excited that, perhaps, I can now get a good night’s sleep. I rolled out the Serta Rest 3” gel memory foam topper and encapsulated it in the accompanying fitted cover (thank you Serta!). I spent the rest of the day washing bedding, including my comforter. I was really looking forward to bedtime! Although, by the looks of my freshly-made bed, I’d need a step stool to get my 5’2” body up on the bed and under the covers!
FeaturesUpon reading the instructions (yes, I read the instructions. My name is Shauna, not Shaun!) I was a little disconcerted to discover it may take up to 72 hours for the mattress topper to conform to my bed. I was absolutely delighted when it rolled out flat and fit my bed perfectly! The comfort gods were definitely on my side. In addition to that, I was elated when I read that the gel in the foam is formulated to be cool and regulates itself to your body temperature. As a post-menopausal woman, I still suffer from night sweats. Well, not really night sweats so much anymore as night heat. That’s another reason I don’t sleep comfortably. I need to have my bedding cold in order to sleep well. It’s a good damn thing I sleep alone; my queen size bed allows me to switch sides when I become too hot – which is another reason I don’t sleep well. By the way, when does that shit end?? Oh, I almost forgot to mention that this product is made in the USA. Way to go, Serta!
My rating of this product Do you suffer from back pain? What do you do to alleviate back pain? I take drugs, man! I suffer with it. I exercise and never sit for too long. Nothing yet, but I'm going to try a gel memory foam mattress topper. I prefer to bitch about it. The ResultI’ve only spent two nights on my new set up, but I am tickled to death with the results. I have awakened just once each night - which is a blessing - and I’ve been able to go right back to sleep. Unfortunately, my body puts out some heat when I’m trying to sleep. Nevertheless, the gel memory foam topper is living up to its promise. The verbiage on the box reads “adds support and comfort – eliminates pressure points”. I can attest to that. In a mere two nights, my pain is at a much lower level. I no longer have to contort my body when I get up from the couch in order to avoid pain in my right hip. Now, if the night heat I still experience would just go bother someone else, I’d be a completely satisfied customer.