It's no secret that the quality of our life largely depends on the ability to fully sleep. Whether we can sweetly sleep through the night or we'll toss, trying to make ourselves comfortable, is determined by how comfortable our bed is. Therefore, the question "How to choose a mattress?" Will never cease to be relevant.
Which mattress to choose?
The modern mattress market pleases the eye and the body with a huge variety of models: spring and springless, with natural and artificial fillers, airy, like a featherbed and a little softer than a board - it's hard to immediately figure out how to choose a mattress for a bed. To buy does not cause a disorder, you should follow the following rules:
- Give preference to a proven manufacturer. Contact with the mattress will have at least 6-8 hours a day, so it is especially important that all materials used for its manufacture have a quality certificate and do not emit toxic substances.
- The size of the mattress should match the size of the base for it. If the standard line of a suitable size could not be found, you will have to pay for custom manufacturing.
- The stiffness of the mattress should be chosen based on the age and body weight of its future owner. When choosing a double model for a pair that is very different from each other in these parameters, it is worth giving preference to a mattress with an independent spring block, springless medium hardness or to replace it with two single ones.
- The mattress cover must be made of natural fabric with a dense interlacing of threads, for example, jacquard . It will protect the internal elements from dust and moisture. It is better if the cover is removable so that it can be washed at any time, and then put back without problems.
Springless mattresses
The inner filling of springless mattresses is a layered pie of fibers of different stiffness or a monoblock made from any one of them. Fillers in springless models can be artificial (polyurethane or polonon, memorial, artificial latex, holofayber) and natural (coconut shavings, latex, wool, sisal). All of them have high elasticity and are safe for health, but natural ones have an order of magnitude higher cost.
Deciding which mattress is best to choose is not superfluous, will take into account all the features of springless models:
- The absence of interconnected pores inside the filler prevents the accumulation of dust there - it does not go beyond the top layer and is easily removed during vacuuming.
- Mattresses with fillers made of natural materials are ideal for people with very delicate and sensitive skin, because they do not accumulate static electricity and allow the body to "breathe". Increased air permeability gives springless models unhindered to remove moisture, which the human body releases during sleep (from 200 to 500 ml).
- The lack of a rigid frame allows the full use of the entire useful area of the springless mattress - even on its edge nothing will press or dig into the body.
Spring mattress
The inside of these mattresses is filled with springs - independent in more expensive models and combined into a single canvas in the budget. On top of the spring unit is covered with a layer of filler, which provides the necessary rigidity. Let us consider in more detail how to choose the right mattress on springs.
- Budget option - mattresses with dependent spring blocks. All springs are connected to each other and form a single system. As a consequence, when you click on one of them, the neighboring ones react as well. Over time, the middle of such a mattress is forced and sagged, which makes it unsuitable for operation.
- Expensive option - mattresses with independent spring blocks. Each spring is enclosed in a special cover, which protects it from the influence of neighbors. As a result, when you click on one of them, the rest remain motionless. This option is ideal for spouse or joint sleep with a small child.
Disadvantages of spring models, which should be taken into account, before choosing a mattress:
- The effect of the vacuum cleaner. All spring mattresses have the ability to draw dust into the voids between the springs. Easily penetrating through a thin surface layer, it becomes a favorable environment for reproduction of ticks.
- Static electricity. Metal springs contribute to the accumulation of electric charge on the mattress surface, which does not influence human well-being in the best way.
- The presence of dead zones. Due to the design features (metal or polyurethane frame), approximately 5-10 cm on each side of the spring mattress are unsuitable for sleeping.
Fillers for mattresses - which one to choose?
When deciding how to choose a mattress, it is necessary to clearly determine which of the mattress fillers will better cope with the support of your body:
- high rigidity provides coconut fiber, horse hair, sisal, agave and artificial latex;
- medium stiffness has a memorial, natural latex;
- The softest mattresses are filled with foam rubber, batting, holofayber.
Monobloc mattresses from one of any filler are more rare than the rule. More often manufacturers combine several materials to achieve the necessary orthopedic effect. For example, the basis of the mattress is a polyurethane block, on top of which a thin layer of coconut fiber is laid to provide the desired rigidity.
Mattress from latex
Natural latex is made on the basis of the juice of the plant hevea and is an elastic material with a porous structure. It perfectly passes air and moisture, is noiseless and easily restores the original shape after removing the load. The share of natural raw materials in it is high, therefore mattresses made of natural latex are not a cheap pleasure. As a filler, its artificial counterpart is more often used, which for all the advantages of natural is cheaper and has a higher level of rigidity.
Coconut Mattress
Those who decide on which mattress better chose the model of high rigidity, it is worth paying attention to coconut fiber (coir) as a filler. It is a natural breathable and practically non-rotting material, the special strength of which is given by latex treatment. Coconut coir is very hard material, so it is suitable only for toddlers and adolescents with scoliosis. To reduce the rigidity, not at the expense of other properties, special treatment of the coir helps, in which the fibers are bent in the form of springs.
How to choose an orthopedic mattress?
For people with a problematic back, the question of how to choose a good orthopedic mattress is especially relevant. Optimum support of the spine can provide rigid and medium-rigid models with independent springs and springless mattresses made of coconut, artificial latex. Foam materials such as memorials are suitable only for people with a very strong sleep, which tend to sleep all night in one pose.
How to choose a mattress for a child?
A lot of controversy raises the question of which mattress to choose for the newborn in the crib. Only the newly emerged crumb needs a solid, flat surface, so the best filler for it will be a coconut coir. From the age of three, the baby can be moved to a medium-hard mattress of any type. Together with the mattress it makes sense to purchase a waterproof cover-mattress pad.
How to choose the size of a mattress?
To do this, we measure the inner perimeter of the bed frame at two points: width and length. Dimensions of the mattress may differ from the received measurements by a maximum of 1-2 cm, otherwise it will either not fit in the space reserved for it or will hang over it. In any case, this will be deplorable in the durability and appearance of the mattress skin and its service life in general. As a rule, most manufacturers adhere to the following standard sizes of mattresses
The height of the mattress to choose depends on the height of the sides of the bed - it should rise about 10 cm above them. The minimum height of the springless models is 18 cm, and the spring ones - 24 cm. The second parameter of choice is the sleeping complex - if a person has a normal physique, cm in height, then a heavier one will require at least 24 cm.
Rigidity of a mattress - how to choose?
Choosing what stiffness of the mattress should better be based on age, body weight and spine condition:
- a high level of rigidity suitable for children up to 3 years and adolescents, as well as people suffering from osteochondrosis;
- medium-rigid models are universal and can be used at any age and at any parameters;
- soft mattresses are recommended for the elderly and people with a small body weight.
Which mattresses should I choose?
In conclusion, a few words, which mattresses are considered the best:
- Among the Ukrainian manufacturers, the companies Ekaterinoslav Furniture Workshops (EMM), Come-for, Matrolux, Neolux and Sonline are confidently leading.
- The Russian market is dominated by the companies "Toris", "Ormatek", "Ascona".
- Among the mattresses "foreigners" the production of Primavera (Italy) and Dormeo (Slovenia) is famous for.