Tempurpedic Mattress Topper - The Best Visco Foam Mattress Topper?

Just about everybody's heard about memory foam mattresses but, unfortunately, not everyone can afford one. That's why buying a visco elastic foam topper (the correct term for memory foam) can be a great option. Tempurpedic was the original memory foam mattress but now it has many competitors - and usually at lower prices. So, should you spend the extra and buy a Tempurpedic mattress topper? The answer is, yes.

Any quality memory foam mattress is essentially composed of an inner core of high-density polymer foam (traditional foam) with upper layers of memory foam. Depending on which memory foam mattress you buy, the upper layers can consist on one, two or more layers of visco-foam of varying densities.

The density of memory foam is important, for two reasons. First, the lower the density, the softer the foam feels but the less it supports the sleeper. Secondly, the lower the density, the cheaper it is to make as the mattress contains more air and less foam than those made with a higher density.

Most orthopedic practitioners agree that the most optimal density is between 5 and 5.3lbs - cheap versions are often of a density of only around 4lbs. Tempurpedic mattresses are made with memory foam of this density - as do other reputable brands like Restonic, Sealy and Serta. However, not all memory foam is the same. The memory foam made by Tempurpedic is proprietary whereas as most other brands are patented - when the patent expires then everyone else can copy the formula; this will never happen with Tempurpedic.

Also, the tiny air bubbles found in the Tempurpedic mattress are of uniform size. When pressure and heat is applied the air passes from one cell to the next - this is what makes visco foam unique (traditional foams merely compress the cells when pressure is applied). This special property means that the mattress will conform to the exact shape of the sleeper, therefore providing the best support possible.

The Tempurpedic mattress topper is made from exactly the same memory foam as the company's mattresses.

Taking care of the topper is easy too. Like its mattresses, the cover can be removed and cleaned. The company recommends a cold temperature setting for machine washing and a cool setting for machine drying. Air-drying is best. You should never use chlorine products and NEVER wash the Tempur material itself.

Before you buy a topper you should also ensure that your existing mattress is suitable. It should be firm to hard and not have deep depressions or sagging. Fitting any memory foam topper to such a mattress is pointless; consider replacing it altogether.

Finally, I would like to make one more point about why the Tempurpedic mattress topper is the best. Just about all other brands currently on the market compare their product to that of Tempurpedic. They do this because they know that Tempur sets the standard. You'll never find any other brand comparing its product with any other brand except Tempurpedic. If that isn't the best recommendation for Tempurpedic I don't know what else is.

Choosing the Right Mattress Pad

So, you’ve decided to buy a new mattress. You even know what kind you’re going to buy. Then you see the price. Yikes! Don’t worry, you don’t have break the bank. And you don’t have to continue to suffer with your old mattress -- there is another alternative. You can buy a mattress pad.

Mattress pads are available in a variety of different types. This mattress pad goes on top of your existing mattress, giving you the benefits of the more expensive memory foam, but at a much lower price.

Memory foam is also available in a mattress pad. This gives you the body-contouring support of memory foam, but at a fraction of the cost. Memory foam mattress pads are available in a variety of thicknesses. Naturally, you will get more support from the thicker pads, but these do cost more.

In addition to memory foam mattress pads, there are other options. Pillowtop mattress pads are also popular. Pillowtop mattress pads are soft and comfortable, but also give added support to joints.

For those with allergies, the Allergy Buyers Club offers many choices. For example, the Euphoria Organic Wool and Latex mattress pad uses natural lambswool. It is completely chemical and dye-free, so even the most sensitive allergy sufferers can use it. In addition, latex is anti-microbial, dust-mite resistant, and mildew proof, so the mattress pad has added health advantages. Allergy Buyers Club also offers mattress pads made of cotton, alpaca wool, goose down, and fleece wool. Some of these mattress pads are quite a bit more expensive than their non-hypoallergenic counterparts, but they are still much cheaper than hypoallergenic mattresses.

Whether you need a pillow-top, memory foam, or hypoallergenic mattress pad, you should be able to find one to suit your needs.

How to Use Memory Foam Mattress Pads

Memory foam, the gel-like polyurethane material that holds impressions on its surface, is mostly associated with mattress pads. The memory foam mattress pad was first put to use in hospitals in the 1980s, where the material proved itself invaluable in reducing pressure sores for bedridden patients. In the 1990s, the memory foam mattress pad was introduced to the general public, at pretty exorbitant prices. Realizing its potential for popularity, private companies worldwide began marketing their own versions. Now, more and more people are investing in good sleep thanks to memory foam, as prices continue to decline and accommodate the growing market.

The terms “memory foam mattress topper”, “memory foam topper”, “memory foam mattress pad”, and “memory foam pad” are all interchangeable. A memory foam mattress pad provides much of the comfort and support of a memory foam mattress, at a fraction of the cost. You place the mattress pad on an existing bed, preferably one with plenty of firm support.

The pad must be broken in over a period of days or weeks. Try sleeping directly on top of the foam, rather than on a sheet covering it, to speed the process of breaking it in.

Memory foam, despite the breathability of its open-celled composition, can sometimes heat up, making it somewhat uncomfortable to sleep on. Many retailers and manufacturers recognize this, and recommend trying the mattress pad with and without a top sheet. You might find a great difference in temperature. You can also try lowering your room temperature.

On the other hand, memory foam is temperature-sensitive, so the mattress might be too hard for you if your room temperature is below 65. If this is a problem, try warming your memory foam mattress with an electric blanket before going to bed.

If you want to protect your memory foam mattress pad from spills and accidents, you can buy covers made from a blend of soft cotton and water-resistant polymers. You can often obtain a memory foam mattress cover from the same place you bought your mattress.

Foam Mattress Pad- A Budget Solution For The Mattress Blues

Maybe your present mattress is so uncomfortable that you find yourself lying awake in the wee hours, watching that infomercial about the amazing memory foam mattress. And maybe you fall asleep at last, dreaming of having enough money to be able to afford the amazing memory foam mattress.

But you awake once again with the same stiff back, trying to recall the last time you were able to leap out of bed and embrace the new day. Your memory is, so it seems, much less effective then the memory of the amazing memory foam mattress.

But you still have a shot at involving foam in your equation for a restful night. While the memory foam mattress may out of your financial reach, a memory foam mattress pad may be well within it.

Characteristics Of Foam Mattress Pads

Foam mattress pads are usually between two and three inches thick and designed to slide right over your mattress. Their pliability allows them to conform to the contours of your body, saving you from a night of searching for the position in which you can finally relax enough to fall asleep.

Even better, foam mattress pads are available in the same memory foam as that found in the amazing memory foam mattress. Memory foam has its origins in the NASA space program, and was invented as padding to spare astronauts the trauma of liftoff as much as possible.

Memory foam reacts with a person’s body heat and weight, which cause it to soften and mold itself to the sleeper’s shape. The first time you actually touched memory foam, you may find it rather rigid, and the colder its surroundings, the more rigid it will be. You really can’t judge the comfort factor of memory foam until you lie down on a memory foam mattress and give it a chance to do its stuff.

Foam mattress pads of natural latex are hypo-allergenic, and provide relief from dust mires. Foam mattresses pads of Talalay latex are available in varying degrees of firmness; all latex is biodegradable. The higher the density of a foam mattress pad, the longer it will take to return to its regular shape.

A quality foam mattress pad will set you back from between $150 and $300, which, while is not as much as a foam mattress, can be a substantial investment. So unless your existing mattress still has some years of use ahead of it, you would be better off replacing it entirely.

You can do some Internet research to get an idea of what foam mattress pads are available in which price ranges; but as with all things, you will get what you pay for.

Heated Mattress Pads

Heated mattress pads are a great advantage in winter months. These serve the function of heating the beds and providing warmth to individuals in a cold environment. The pads are found comfortable if placed at painful areas, especially the lower back.

Heated mattress pads are operated by electricity and make use of wires to provide warmth to the mattress surfaces. These pads fit over the mattress and under your fitted sheet. These can be switched on to heat or preheat the beds and switched off when not necessary. The pads take a minimum of 15 minutes to warm up, in most cases. Once the pads are warmed up, the heat gradually spreads on the bed top. Therefore, it is necessary to turn on the pad at least 30 minutes before one decides to sleep or take rest on the bed. One can even change the desired level of heat with the help of remote controls.

Heated mattress pads are available in different sizes for twin, full, king, and queen sized beds. These are available in cotton and polyester blends or polyester alone. The brands, models, and colors vary too. Pillow top heated mattress pads are popular in the market. This model is usually obtained in 100 percent polyester with cotton inside and it has a thickness of about half inch. This model comes with digital controls which help the system to sense the body and room temperatures and adjust the pads accordingly.

One can buy heated pads from all stores that sell electric blankets. However, special care should be taken when using these for children. This is because of the fact that the pads may sometimes overheat and harm the user with electric shocks and burns.

Foam Mattress Pads For A Better Night's Sleep

Foam mattress pads are perfect for providing a temporary solution to a problem. You know you need a new mattress, but it's just not in the family budget right now. Yet you just can't sleep with springs poking you in the back or a big sway in the middle of the bed. Of course without proper sleep you are certainly not at your best and at times, are almost non-functional. Your co-workers notice you yawning and maybe even nodding during the day. Yes a lack of sleep is a serious problem, and a foam mattress pad could be the answer to that problem.

The good news is that these pads are available just about anywhere beds are sold and certainly there is a huge selection online. Just pick one out that matches the size of your bed and you're good to go. They're simple to use. If you can make your bed (and assuming you don't still live with your mother you probably can) then you can use a pad. It just sits on top of your current mattress and is held firmly in place by your fitted sheet. What could be easier?

More difficult perhaps is choosing the right foam mattress pad. There are many types available. The egg crate pad has been popular for a long time and is your least expensive option. You would think that with those ridges it would be uncomfortable but it is not. And it's certainly more comfortable than sleeping on your old mattress that needs to be replaced anyway. These are also some of the least expensive if your budget is really tight.

More expensive (but not nearly as costly as a new mattress) is the memory foam pad. By now you've probably heard about how memory foam works. These pads will conform to your body shape and add extra support where you need it. When the budget permits, we recommend going with a memory foam mattress, but for now, the pad will do. As a side note, you should also look into memory foam pillows to go with your new pad.

There are however some drawbacks to foam mattress pads. For starters, they are almost impossible to wash. Water will damage the pads and make them almost unusable. If the pad gets too dirty, your best bet is to simply replace it. But chances are that won't happen until you're ready to get that new mattress we've been talking about.

Just to be safe you can fit a plastic sheet over the mattress, but you'll just have to try this for yourself. For some the plastic will make it hard to sleep since it can make noise whenever you roll over. If it keeps you from sleeping then you're defeating the purpose of getting a foam mattress pad.

One final thought, why not get a pad for every bed in the house. It just might help your kids sleep better too, and I think most parents would agree it's a lot easier to sleep when the kids are sleeping soundly as well.

Foam Mattress Pad- A Budget Solution For The Mattress Blues

Maybe your present mattress is so uncomfortable that you find yourself lying awake in the wee hours, watching that infomercial about the amazing memory foam mattress. And maybe you fall asleep at last, dreaming of having enough money to be able to afford the amazing memory foam mattress.

But you awake once again with the same stiff back, trying to recall the last time you were able to leap out of bed and embrace the new day. Your memory is, so it seems, much less effective then the memory of the amazing memory foam mattress.

But you still have a shot at involving foam in your equation for a restful night. While the memory foam mattress may out of your financial reach, a memory foam mattress pad may be well within it.

Characteristics Of Foam Mattress Pads

Foam mattress pads are usually between two and three inches thick and designed to slide right over your mattress. Their pliability allows them to conform to the contours of your body, saving you from a night of searching for the position in which you can finally relax enough to fall asleep.

Even better, foam mattress pads are available in the same memory foam as that found in the amazing memory foam mattress. Memory foam has its origins in the NASA space program, and was invented as padding to spare astronauts the trauma of liftoff as much as possible.

Memory foam reacts with a person’s body heat and weight, which cause it to soften and mold itself to the sleeper’s shape. The first time you actually touched memory foam, you may find it rather rigid, and the colder its surroundings, the more rigid it will be. You really can’t judge the comfort factor of memory foam until you lie down on a memory foam mattress and give it a chance to do its stuff.

Foam mattress pads of natural latex are hypo-allergenic, and provide relief from dust mires. Foam mattresses pads of Talalay latex are available in varying degrees of firmness; all latex is biodegradable. The higher the density of a foam mattress pad, the longer it will take to return to its regular shape.

A quality foam mattress pad will set you back from between $150 and $300, which, while is not as much as a foam mattress, can be a substantial investment. So unless your existing mattress still has some years of use ahead of it, you would be better off replacing it entirely.

You can do some Internet research to get an idea of what foam mattress pads are available in which price ranges; but as with all things, you will get what you pay for.