Mattress FAQs

1. New developments in foam, have made foam the fastest-growing sleep surface.
2. Foam is the key comfort ingredient used on all mattresses.
3. The right firmness of foam helps to relieve pressure points.
4. The layering of different grades of foam gives you proper posturizing and maintains your spine in its natural alignment.
5. Foam is non-allergenic, dust mite free, and recommended by doctors all over the world.
6. Consumers don’t really know what to buy. Educated consumers go directly to manufacturers, like Foamite, to provide them with better quality sleep options at a variety of price points.

First is basic comfort. Above everything else, any and every bed has to be physically comfortable. You can’t have a relaxed, healthful sleep without it.

We disagree. Comfort is objective and measurable. It’s a maximum of 0.5 lbs. of pressure on a square inch of the body surface. Regardless of your body’s size or shape, any increase beyond that begins to restrict circulation and starts the muscle tension that produces restless tossing and turning.

Comfort, absolute physical comfort, is nothing more than the absence of pressure points. PERIOD.

It allows more of the body to contact the sleep surface. The more square inches of contact, the less overall pressure per square inch, and the less opportunity for discomfort in any local area. In effect, foam’s contourability allows every inch of the body to literally carry its own weight. Every type of sleep product, even water, and air beds, are using more and more foam to add comfort.

The sleep surface should hold the spine as close as possible to its natural alignment while standing, regardless if you are a side or back sleeper.

There are a couple of other support considerations we can touch on later, but I agree completely with the natural spine alignment criteria. Support is nothing more than the absence of sag. Sag is the enemy, not soft.

You maintain a straight natural body line only when the sleep surface has the ability to conform to your shape. That can mean being able to accommodate as much as 3″ of shoulder or hip for a side sleeper. Foam does it best but you should have at least 3 inches of foam next to you, with the possible exception of water or air beds.

Deep contouring can create problems. Both air and water operate within enclosed reservoirs. The volume of fluid that is displaced by a hip or a shoulder moves to another unpressured part of the bed, usually the corners, and can distort the shape of the sleep surface.

It generally produces a ‘hammock’ or sag effect, exactly what you don’t want for natural spine alignment. At the same time, this action can also tighten the surface causing a tough membrane that can actually work against comfort. However, a number of engineering refinements, including isolated and separate chamber reservoirs, and foam toppers, have greatly reduced both the distortion and the membrane feeling in these flotation systems.

In foam flotation, the volume of air displaced by the same hip or shoulder moves easily through the open cell structure of the foam and is vented to the atmosphere without distorting the shape of the sleep surface or support system.

Foam has had more impact on the design of sleep products in the last decade than any other single material or element. It’s providing great opportunities for innovation. It’s encouraging a better understanding of sleep product attributes. Overall, the consumer wins with better quality sleep.

Support should be independent. Unequal weight, or toss and turn activity should be restricted to the individual, and not influence the other sleeping partner. Only foam, without a rigid connected structure, and with its ability to react only to the immediate area of applied pressure, or weight, makes these attributes a practical reality.

Noise is something every bed should be without. Another is moving response. When you move in bed, the surface literally follows you around. Its reaction to your moves can range from ‘bouncy’ to ‘tranquil’. Foam is quiet, and with its lack of moving parts and accompanying inertia it reacts very gently to body movement.

In summary, those are the sleep benefits that quality sleep products should offer. They may, or may not line up with the attributes as seen by the merchandiser, or the consumer. The uncomfortable, overly firm bed is still very much in vogue.

Consumers don’t really know what to look for in sleep products. They buy what they are sold. The onus of providing a better quality sleep lies with sleep products manufacturers, like Foamite, and their deeper understanding of true sleep attributes, and the ways to meet them.

New developments in foam, have made foam the fastest growing sleep surface. Foam is the key comfort ingredient used on all mattresses. The right firmness of foam helps to relieve pressure points. The layering of different grades of foam gives you proper posturizing and maintains your spine in its natural alignment. Foam is non-allergenic, dust mite free, and recommended by doctors all over the world.

Mattress shopping can be very confusing and often consumers don’t really know what to buy. Instead they have to rely on salesman who are very good at selling you what they have on the showroom floor than making you something that is right for you. Educated consumers go directly to manufacturers, like Foamite, to provide them with better quality sleep options at a variety of price points.

Be careful not to choose a mattress that is too firm for your weight. An overly firm mattress causes pressure points in your shoulders and hips and leaves you tossing and turning throughout the night in an effort to get comfortable. A firm mattress may be good for your lower back, if you suffer from back pain, but not for the rest of your body. Since we are not shapped like a fridge and we have curves, your bet mattress is one that is layered with different compressions to give you that initial comfort and deep-down support.

Expensive mattresses are often associated with being of higher quality. However, that is not always the case. Some mattresses have a higher quality construction, but those qualities may not be noticeable to the consumer in practical use. For example, an expensive mattress may have a more durable cover and more elaborate interior coil system to distribute weight more evenly.

The best mattress is one that is made with the right qualities of foam that can give you lasting comfort and deep-down support. Equally as important as the foam is choosing the right firmness for your weight, back condition and preference. If we were shaped like a fridge you could go with the firmest mattress possible, since we are not you need some softness in the top layers so that your curves can contour into the mattress and relieve pressure points. The firmer core can provide you with support and maintain your spine in its natural alignment.

Foam is the keep comfort ingredient used in all mattresses, it can last 20 years if you buy the right grades of foam. The biggest complaint with pillow top spring mattresses is that people’s 20 year-old mattress only lasted 3 or 4 years. This is because the toppers are made with light-weight foam and fibre that sags or softens prematurely. We you go for warranty they call it this “normal wear” and you are not entitled. Buyer beware.

Bed bugs are all over your house. They normally accumulate on the top of your mattress, on the cover, and in the quilting under the cover. To reduce the number of bed bugs you should protect your mattress with a waterproof removable and washable mattress pad.

A mattress is one of the most expensive purchases a household will make, so it makes sense to buy the best. The average life span for a mattress is 10 years, but there are some mattresses that can last up to 20 years if they are made with better comfort ingredients. You should know that foam is the key comfort ingredient used in all mattresses. If you want to buy a good mattress, get to know your foam first.

You can if the old mattress is not softer and if it doesn’t show any sagging. If there is sagging in the bottom mattress then the new top mattress will not have a proper foundation to sit on.

Memory foam is not recommended for people that have curved spines. However, the only thing that can cause back pain is what is under the memory foam topper. Memory foam mattresses are often layered with different types of foam under the memory foam or with pocket coil springs. If the core is not durable it will soften or sag and leave you sagging or hammocking into your mattress. The unnatural spine alignment will cause discomfort and the back if slept on for longer periods of time.

A mattress is the most important piece of furniture in the bedroom. A good quality mattress is essential to a good night’s sleep as it provides spinal alignment and comfort. Sleeping on an old, worn-out mattress can cause back pain, while new mattresses can provide relief from pain.

You can fix dips in your foam mattress if the cover is made with a zipper and it is easily removable. Actually, Foamite in Vaughan has a mattress makeover program that will re-work your foam mattress at a fraction of the cost of buying a new one.

Mattresses are typically a hotbed for bacteria and dust mites. The mattresses contain organic materials that can store harmful pathogens. This means that you are at risk of getting sick if you come in contact with the mattress or have been exposed to the bugs previously.

Foamite’s Simon mattress is a lifetime mattress that is made with removable and adjustable parts. You can replace layers, in the midsection, and the zippered cover. If you protect your mattress with a removable mattress pad, the Simon mattress can last a lifetime and that is forever.

First is basic comfort. Above everything else, any and every bed has to be physically comfortable. You can’t have a relaxed, healthful sleep without it.

Comfort is objective and measurable. It’s a maximum of 0.5 lbs. of pressure on a square inch of body surface. Regardless of your body’s size or shape, any increase beyond that begins to restrict circulation and starts the muscle tension that produces restless tossing and turning.

Only a sleep in space or on a clinically perfect flotation system will do that. But foam does minimize their effect better than any other practical material available today. Its characteristic ability to contour and conform to any irregular shape, in this case, the human body, is unsurpassed.

Dust mites are microscopic bugs that live in bedding. They feed on dead skin cells and are attracted to mattresses with a high concentration of dust. Some research suggests that the average person sheds 10 pounds of skin each year, meaning that a mattress can collect as many as 100,000 dust mites.

It depends on how old the base is and if its in good condition. The springs in inexpensive box springs tend to develop pot holes. This does not provide a good foundation for your new mattress and may void the warranty. The best foundation for a foam mattress is a wood foundation with 1 to 2 inches of foam on top that acts like a shock absorber which prevents the bottom of the mattress from wear and tear.

You can use a piece of plywood instead of a box spring; however, if you put it on an old box spring you want to make sure that it provides an even plane for the plywood to sit on.

Yes, you can, but if your mattress starts sagging prematurely it could be due to a faulty box spring. The best way to test this is to put the mattress directly on the floor and to see how it feels when you lay on it.

All mattresses eventually sag in the top layers. however, how quickly they sag depends on the quality of the comfort ingredients that are used in the top comfort layers.

Pillow-top mattresses especially show indentations prematurely because the top layers are made with fluffy polyester fibre and low density light-weight foam that does not keep its shape well when you start using the mattress.

Dust mites are microscopic bugs that live in bedding. They feed on dead skin cells and are attracted to mattresses with a high concentration of dust. Some research suggests that the average person sheds 10 pounds of skin each year, meaning that a mattress can collect as many as 100,000 dust mites.

Side sleepers can benefit from a layered mattress that is softer in the top layers but firmer in the core. Since more weight will be concentrated in a smaller area, the best mattress for side sleepers is one that contours to your upper body and is soft enough, initially, to relieve uncomfortable pressure points that will cause restless tossing and turning.

Even Sleep Number beds use foam on top as the key comfort ingredient. If its not the right quality of foam it can sag prematurely and require constant replacement, depending on the weight of the person sleeping on it.

Softer mattresses are made with foam toppers. The foam toppers will wear out quicker than the hard springs under the foam. However, the hard springs that make for a firmer mattress are not that comfortable to sleep on. How long the softer mattress will last depends on the quality of the foam used in the top comfort layers. All foam is not created equal.

A heavier person needs a firm mattress for better support. A layered mattress with a medium topper and an extra firm core (with the right foam compressions) can achieve both your needs for comfort (no pressure points) and support (relieve back pain and avoid sagging). High resiliency foam that is used in commercial applications, is better suited for heavier people. HR foam will not sag or soften as quickly as conventional polyurethane foam.

There are many ways to know when it’s time for a new mattress. Do you wake up feeling tired and sore? Do you toss and turn all night? Does your partner complain that they can’t sleep because of your mattress? Do you feel like you are sagging into your mattress and that it no longer supports you? Those are just a few signs that it may be time for a new one.

The moment you get home and unpack your new mattress, you’ll need to remove the plastic and search for more information on how to best care for it. This article will help you understand the importance of buying a mattress that fits your firmness preference, washing it properly, and storing it correctly.

You know that your mattress is causing back pain when you wake up with back pain but it gets better throughout the day.

Buy a mattress that is made with better foam in the top layers. If you want to buy a good mattress, that doesn’t sag prematurely, make sure you get to know your foam first. Also, its better to buy your mattress from a foam factory than from a carpet store.

Your back will let you know. You will either get uncomfortable pressure points, in your shoulders and hips, from sleeping on a mattress that has lost its comfort layers or you will get lower back pain from a mattress that has to soften and no longer provides you with the support that you need to maintain your spine in its natural alignment.

The average person will keep their mattress for around 7-8 years. However, due to economic reasons, most people keep their mattresses longer than they should and don’t do anything about it until they suffer from aches and pains and they can’t take it anymore.

The lifespan of a mattress can vary based on the material it is made of, how often it is flipped, and how often you use it. The average lifespan for an innerspring mattress is 8-10 years. Memory foam lasts 10-15 years and latex lasts 20-30 years.

That’s a hard question to answer. Mattresses will wear out depending on regular use, the quality of the materials that were used to make them, and the weight of the people that are using them. By doing your homework up front you will be able to keep your mattress much longer and be more comfortable in it, than if you didn’t.

The price you pay for a mattress does not accurately reflect how long the mattress will last. If you buy a mattress from a factory direct location, you can get much better quality for less than what you may pay at a mattress store.

For warranty purposes a mattress should not sag more than 1.5″ for a pillow-top mattress. This is considered normal wear and should not affect the overall quality of your sleep.

You should buy a waterproof mattress pad that goes over a good quality mattress. The mattress pad should be washed monthly to remove dust-mites and keep your mattress in a sanitary condition should you require work to be done on it in the future.

There is no set time frame for when your mattress needs to be replaced, but the signs are not always clear. If you are sleeping poorly and waking up with aching muscles, sore joints or feeling like you can’t breathe, it’s time to look into getting a new bed. The life expectancy of a mattress varies by the quality and materials used in manufacturing as well as the number of people using it

It is good provided you bought the right comfort ingredients, in the first place, and you took care of it throughout its lifetime.

A memory foam mattress can be good for a heavy person provided that it is layered properly. People should know that a memory foam mattress is not made completely with memory foam. Usually, the top 2 or 3-inch layer is memory foam and that is laminated onto other foam, that can be firmer high resiliency foam, that is recommended for a heavier person.

It is better to sleep on a mattress that offers you both. A soft topper for comfort and a firmer core for better support. Where it gets tricky is buying the right firmness for each layer depending on your weight, back condition and preference.

Some people complain that they get hot on memory foam or that it is too soft for their liking. If you don’t like to mould into memory foam you can go with a super soft High Resiliency (HR) foam as your topper and instead of using memory foam. The HR foam has larger open cells for better air circulation and it is not slow to come back like memory foam.

You want to get the best value and pay the least amount possible for a new mattress. In order to do that you should go to a factory direct operation that by-passes the middleman and goes directly to the end consumer.

Mattresses are no longer Flippable or reversible so that manufacturers can cut their costs and retailers can increase their profit margins. By removing the layers that are required to make a mattress 2-sided, there’s savings to be had but unfortunately the consumer does not get to share in that.

The sample mattresses that are on the showroom floor have been tried by many people. This loosens the thread that the fabric is made of and crushes the cells that are in the foam. This will make the mattress feel softer, which means more comfortable, than the brand-new mattress that you will receive at home. Start using it, break it in and it should feel better than it initially did when you first received it. In any case, you should know that it takes at least 2 weeks to get used to a new mattress and there may be some discomfort during that period while your back gets adjusted to a better sleep surface.

A mattress can last for eight to ten years, but there are a few telltale signs that it’s time for a new one.
You may notice that you are waking up with aches and pains more often than before. You might also be having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. And if you have allergies or asthma, your symptoms might be worse on your mattress.
Another sign that it’s time to get a new mattress is if the springs in the bed start poking out of the surface of the mattress. This is caused by wear and tear, and it can lead to painful pressure points when sleeping on the bed.

– Poor sleep quality
– Unhealthy mattress or bedding
– Painful muscles and joints
– Foggy or short-term memory loss
– Headaches
– Runny nose
– Coughing and sneezing

The best way to test a mattress is to take the bedding off and lie on the mattress in the position that you sleep, on your back, side, or stomach. You can also lay on the mattress with a partner to try out the feel.