Think mattress pads are just a required cover for your bed? Well, you’re partly right—every mattress does need a cover to protect from typical wear and tear. But the right mattress topper can do more: Some protect mattresses from dust, dander, and spills, some help the bed stay at a comfortable sleeping temperature, some reduce how much the bed moves when a sleeper tosses and turns, and some can even make a so-so feeling mattress a fabulous place to sleep. If you want to find the right mattress topper for you, this guide can help. Why do you need a mattress pad? Most people buy a new mattress pad because they either have a new mattress that they want to protect or because they're looking to make their bed more comfortable. What are you protecting your mattress from? Everyday wear and tear A basic cotton mattress pad A waterproof mattress pad Allergens like dust, dust mites and pet dander A mattress pad enhanced with anti-allergen properties
A mattress protector with bedbug barriers What would make your mattress more comfortable? Temperature control: A mattress pad that stays comfortable relative to how hot or cold I am in the night. Mattress pads filled with natural fibers like cotton, wool, or down. A bed that adjusts to my body: I'd like a mattress pad that makes my bed feel more custom-fit to me. A down-filled mattress pad, which is fluffy and comfortable-and will help keep the temperature even while you sleep. (If you're concerned about allergies, you can also opt for a down-alternative mattress pad.) A Visco Elastic mattress pad (aka, Memory Foam ) can also conform better to your body-these synthetic pads respond to body heat, getting softer in the spots you press the mattress most, and staying firm elsewhere-so they feel like they're supporting you where you need it. And if you opt for a cotton mattress pad, look for one with a higher fill count, which will feel softer. More firmness: I'd like my mattress to feel a little firmer than it currently does.
A latex mattress pad or a Visco elastic pad can add more firmness to the mattress for a more supported feeling. Reducing motion: I need a way to make my partner's tossing and turning less jarring to me when I sleep. A mattress pad made with Memory Foam or latex will reduce the transfer of motion, meaning one side won't move as much when the other one does. Mattress pads and mattress toppers are often confused. Here are the most common types of bed toppers. Type of mattress toppers Mattress Protector (a non-padded mattress covers) Non-padded mattress covers (sometimes called encasements) are designed to help protect a mattress from exposure to things that might damage it-like water, dust and dust mites, mold, pet dander, and other allergens. Non-padded mattress covers can be made of cotton, vinyl or super-tightly woven polyester fabric, and they usually zip up to totally surround the mattress. (You can get these encasements for box springs, too.) A fitted mattress pad works like a fitted sheet-a ring of elastic around its bottom edge helps secure it to the bed.
Unlike a sheet, however, a fitted mattress pad is quilted on top to provide a comfortable sleeping surface-and to circulate air to help sleepers' body temperatures stay more even during the night. Fitted mattress pads are a good match for most standard-size mattresses. Because it has a quilted top, a guaranteed-to-fit mattress pad helps make a bed feel more comfortable. It also offers better temperature regulation. The side panels of a guaranteed-to-fit mattress pad are made with an elasticized fabric that helps it attach securely to deeper mattresses, usually up to depth of 24". (These mattress pads are sometimes referred to as Tailor Fit or Expand-a-Grip.) Visco Elastic Mattress Toppers These mattress toppers, sometimes called memory foam, are designed to provide additional support to sleepers. They conform to the body because they're made with a temperature-sensitive material that contracts more where the body is warmer, but stays firmer where the body is cooler. These mattress toppers can also dampen motion when a sleeper moves.
Visco elastic mattress pads are placed on the bed underneath the fitted sheet. These mattress toppers are essentially mattress-sized pillows designed to create a more comfortable sleeping surface. Fiberbeds and featherbeds cradle body areas that don't come into contact with the mattress. These stuffed pads are made with natural materials like down and cotton or with man-made materials, and can be placed underneath or on top of a fitted sheet. Also referred to as egg crates, these dimpled foam pads are designed to improve body weight distribution. They add support, help reduce tossing and turning, and add a layer of cushioning to the bed. These mattress pads are electric and come with warming controls. Some come with dual controls that let you have different warmth settings for each side of the bed. The cover's fabric content: 100% cotton covers will provide superior comfort and durability over cotton/polyester blends; many are treated with fabric protection that makes them stain- and water-repellant as well as anti-microbial.
The cover's thread count: This number stands for the number of threads per square inch of fabric. A higher thread count of a better quality yarn will provide a mattress pad with greater resistance to wear and tear (it will feel softer, too). The mattress pad's fill: Most mattress pads have a polyester fill. As you'd expect, thicker fill provides more cushioning. Down-alternative fills, which are made of super-fine gel fibers, provide extra support and comfort. All mattress pads are machine washable. The general rule is to launder them less frequently than you wash your sheets, but more frequently than your comforter.The main reason to invest in a mattress topper is to upgrade the quality of your bed, and hopefully the quality of your sleep along with it. Replacing your mattress can be very expensive, so a mattress topper is a great way to revitalize or change the style of your bed instead. With some careful research, the right one will give you what you need at a fraction of the cost of a brand new mattress.
In this article you’ll find both a list of the key factors which can help inform your decision making, and also a breakdown of the pros and cons of each type of material. By cross-referencing the two sections, you’ll hopefully have a clearer idea about which type will be the right kind for you. You can also find out about some of the more popular brands in these detailed mattress topper reviews. First of all, it’s important to understand that there can be some confusion between mattress pads and mattress toppers. A mattress pad tends to be thinner, and usually serves either to protect the mattress or to provide only a little extra softness. A mattress pad can address specific needs, such as adding a water-proof layer or an anti-allergenic feature. You can also find heated mattress pads for use in the winter, and if you have issues with heat. A mattress topper on the other hand serves to add a much more significant layer of softness, cushioning or support for your body.
And you can if you wish use both at the same time to further improve the quality of your bed. By placing a mattress pad over the topper, you can help protect both the topper and the mattress, as well as helping hold them all together as one unit. Having said that, some companies use the terms interchangeably. They may call their product a topper or pad, but actually it is much thicker or thinner than you would usually associate with that category. So it’s always worth checking how much padding it actually provides. With so many types of mattress topper, it’s perhaps more helpful to first decide what you want or need from a topper. Then you can work out which material will best meet your needs. Personal preference and a gut feeling will probably play a role too. But if you do like to weigh up the pros and cons before making decisions, here are some of the key factors to take into account: The price can vary wildly, from 30 dollars to several thousand.
But a higher price doesn’t necessarily guarantee it would be better for you. It’s about meeting your needs, not simply buying the most expensive you can afford. Plain egg crate foam, polyester and some cotton toppers tend to be the cheapest. With higher quality cotton, feather and down in the middle. Memory foam and wool can be quite expensive, with latex even more so. If it’s extra support for your back and limbs that you need, then memory foam and latex are generally more effective than the other materials. They are better at holding the shape of your body and supporting your natural posture. With such a dizzying range of materials, brands, densities and thicknesses you should be able to find the perfect level of softness and comfort. But your definition of comfort may be different from the next person’s. Would you prefer a topper which molds to your body, such as with latex or memory foam? Or are you more suited to a naturally soft material such as down or cotton?
Toppers tend to fall in the range of between 2 and 8 inches thick. If you need to revitalize an aging mattress, sleep on your side, or if you weigh more than average, you may need to look at thicker options. The materials with the best range of thickness are memory foam and latex. In addition the density of a topper is important in determining how much support it will provide you. Memory foam and latex toppers tend to have the most choice, allowing you to find just the right comfort level you need. Memory foam and latex are good at reducing the transmission of movement from your partner. So if you sleep with someone whose tossing and turning keeps you awake, they are good choices. Memory foam and latex mattress toppers tend to retain body heat more. The thicker and denser they are, the hotter they feel. Wool, down and feather toppers are good all year round, as they provide extra warmth in winter yet reduce heat in summer. Don’t forget that the outside material can also contribute to the temperature by wicking away sweat for example.
Some materials are better for certain allergies, so it’s worth checking the list below. Some are also more resistant to bed-bugs, mites, mildew and mold than others. Remember that you need to remove it from the packaging, get it onto the bed and potentially remove it for cleaning. So do be aware of the overall weight of the mattress topper. Egg crate is the easiest to transport, whilst feather, down and cotton are easier to move than memory foam or latex. Feather and down are the most difficult to clean. The standard warranty time seems to be around 2 years for many mattress toppers. But this can be as short as one year and as long as 5 years. But remember that you won’t get a replacement just because it has compressed under your weight over time. Mattress toppers come in a range of very different styles and materials. So it’s important to know both what you hope to gain from using a topper, and what the pros and cons are of each material. Let’s take a look now at the different types in turn to give you a better idea of what your options are.
Latex toppers can be quite expensive, but like the memory foam styles, can provide excellent support and comfort. Natural latex is made from the liquid in rubber trees. Not all latex toppers are natural though, so be sure to check before buying if it’s important to you to avoid synthetic materials. Memory foam is probably the most popular material people choose. A memory foam mattress can be incredibly expensive, so a topper can in part imitate a more costly mattress. At the opposite end of the material spectrum is the natural material of wool. It can be fairly expensive, but there are some good reasons for this. Bedding made from goose or duck feathers, or softer and more luxurious down, is known for its softness and comforting feel. If you’re an allergy sufferer or need a firmer topper though, it may not be right for you. There is a vast range of mattress toppers and pads made from cotton, and often with a mixture of cotton and polyester and other materials.