All about foam mattresses

Astronauts not only landed on the moon - they are also (indirectly) responsible for changing the way people sleep around the world. In the 1960s, NASA commissioned scientists to develop foam rubber that would make test pilots feel better while flying. Now this material is widely used in the manufacture of mattresses.

When choosing a product, you should ask the seller how the mattress was made. Block options have the best characteristics, but molding foam rubber quickly becomes crusty. Its disadvantage is that it does not allow air to pass through well, hence the unwanted dampness and smell.

It is believed that a foam mattress is harmful to health, since the material is the result of a chemical reaction. If it is a material of poor quality, it can give off an unpleasant odor that is difficult to erode even over time.

Like any human invention, a foam mattress has both pros and cons. Of the advantages, the following points should be highlighted.

• They relieve joint pain. People with this problem will appreciate the ability of a foam mattress to relieve pressure while a person is lying down.
• Hygroscopicity such a product plays an important role. The material breathes well, so it does not accumulate moisture and foreign odors.
• Foam rubber possesses good moisture resistance. Even if it gets wet, you can simply take it outside or put it in a heated room where it dries quickly.
• Several stiffness options are offered today by a number of manufacturers. These are not only super soft models, but also just soft and even firm mattresses.
• Such products are worth inexpensive, therefore they are very popular.
• It is good spine support.
• There is no transmission of motionwhich means when one person gets out of bed the other doesn't feel it.
• it ideal solution for allergy sufferers, since mites, bugs and other insects do not live in the material.
• High product strength. The service life of such a mattress is from 10 to 15 years.

But, as there are pluses, so there are minuses.

• Foam rubber reacts to the temperature of the human body, softens as it heats up and takes the shape of the body. Although this ability is also an advantage of such mattresses, the material at the same time retains heat, so it is not very comfortable to sleep on it in the heat.
• With a significant increase in temperature, foam rubber can release toxic substances into the atmosphere.
• This option is not suitable for people with a lot of weight, because then the product sags heavily and does not provide the necessary support for the spine. The reason for this is the low density.

It is necessary to understand that the denser the material, the longer the mattress will last. Density varies from 30 to 45 kg / m * 3. When determining the parameters of foam rubber, it is necessary to pay attention to the marking. After the name there are two letters that indicate the density. The numbers that follow are stiffness.

The decoding of the letters is as follows:

• ST - density 25 kg / m * 3, used for children's mattresses;
• EL - the rigidity is increased, but the service life is not more than 5 years;
• EL2842 - durable product with good density;

Foam mattress is also called polyurethane, in fact, it is the same thing, the difference is only in some chemical components and properties. They return to their original position in different ways, since they also have different densities.

Foam rubber differs from polyurethane foam in that it contains special additives. It is stronger, but softer and more flexible. If you press on it, then it returns to its original shape faster. Thus, polyurethane foam is simply more dense, but they have the same basic chemical formula. If you want the mattress to keep its shape well for a long period, a spring option is better.

There are several types of foam rubber on the market. There are dense, furniture and even orthopedic ones. Depending on the brand, the properties of such a product may differ slightly. Recently, the folding option has been very popular, since it takes up less space.

Hard mattresses are made specifically for people weighing more than 130 kilograms. Finding such a product is not easy, but nothing is impossible. It is worth remembering that the cost of hard foam is more than any other type.

The soft type is suitable for people whose weight is no more than 90 kilograms. They are based on inexpensive, thin foam rubber, which should not be expected to be orthopedic. Such a product does not support the body in a position that is comfortable for a person. It also does not provide an even load distribution. After sleeping on such a mattress, despite the fact that it attracts with its cost, you feel bad.

Such products can be compared to a feather bed. As soon as a person lies down on the bed, he literally drowns. For rest, this is undoubted comfort, but for the spine - an extra load.

A medium firm mattress is recommended for people weighing about 100 kg. The product does an excellent job of supporting the body, it can take the shape of a lying person, but at the same time it does not squeeze. The only drawback is that the original form does not return as quickly as we would like. Such models serve for a long time and are suitable for most people.

The size of foam mattresses is understood not only as their length and width, but also their height. The most popular options in terms of dimensions in centimeters:

• 140x200;
• 1600x2000;
• 90x200;
• 80x200.

The thickness of the mattresses is also different. This figure can vary from 5 to 15 cm.The most commonly used option is 10 cm.

The average consumer should pay attention to the markings before purchasing the product described. From it you can learn about the density, rigidity of the product. It is worth talking about these characteristics in more detail.

When talking about density, they mean the amount of material contained in 1 cubic meter. It is on the density that not only wear resistance depends, but also rigidity, as well as how quickly the mattress is able to return to its previous shape. Stiffness indicates how much force is needed to compress the mattress.

An equally important parameter when buying a product is permanent deformation. This is precisely the ability to regain shape after a person gets off the mattress. The higher the density, the lower this coefficient.

To choose the right mattress for your bed, you should pay attention to some points.

• Density matters... A good mattress should be 22 kg / m3.
• In terms of the degree of rigidity, modern options also differ. These are soft, medium and hard models. The third option is the most difficult to find, since additional spring blocks and connections are built into it.
• There are many size options, the product is selected based on the size of the bed.
• When buying, you should pay attention to additional characteristics. This is not only the degree of elasticity, structure, but also additional processing against decay, resistance to temperature increases.

A good foam mattress is more expensive, but it also differs in quality. Such a product is absolutely safe for humans. A reliable, proven manufacturer guarantees the high quality of the products. A cheap foam mattress should be suspicious of the buyer.

Cleaning or washing at home a foam mattress is not so difficult if you know how to do it right. If a child has moistened it with water, then you can simply dry it out on the street or near a battery.

Such products require regular vacuum cleaning. Any stain will be perfectly removed with regular bleach that is used during washing. But ironing the foam rubber is categorically not recommended, however, as well as jumping on it.

The best assistant for a housewife is a mattress topper. It provides the necessary protection against moisture, dirt and dust. It is much easier to remove it and put it in the washing machine.

Due to its hygroscopicity, the foam rubber is perfectly ventilated, it is enough to install it next to an open window or even put it on the balcony... However, avoid direct sunlight.

If there is a need to clean the product, then you should decide is there a cover on it. Today, most manufacturers make them removable for the convenience of the consumer. As recommended, you can simply remove and wash the cover.

But when it is impossible to remove the fabric, then you should manually clean it. To do this, it is enough to make a light soapy solution. After cleaning, the mattress is dried in the sun or in a well-heated room.

In no case, if coconut fiber was used as an additional filler and a spring block was installed, bend the mattress... The result of such actions is the deformation of the mechanisms and the destruction of the filler.

What's more, orthopedic models do not dry vertically, only horizontally. Neglect of this rule has a detrimental effect on the product as a whole. It is impossible to knock out such products, just vacuum using a soft nozzle.

You can make a foam mattress with your own hands. The process does not take much time, the material can be bought in a specialized store.

The main thing here is to buy the right filler.... If the ST brand is purchased, then the density must be at least 35 (ST 3542). When it is decided to put a brand of increased rigidity EL into the mattress, then it is better to choose EL 3245. For people with a large body weight, HL 4065 is suitable. And for those who bet on a long operational period, we recommend using HR 5535.

The following tools, materials and consumables are useful for manufacturing.

• Foam rubber from 5 cm in thickness of the HL brand.
• The filler can be of the following brands: EL, HR, VE.
• Optionally add a layer of coconut coir.
• Roulette for taking measurements.
• For marking a marker.
• Reiki and ruler.
• Knife.
• Plywood.
• Adhesive that can adhere to foam rubber.
• Cover material.
• Two lightning bolts.
• Scissors.
• Sewing machine.

The procedure is as follows.

• First of all, the necessary measurements are made.
• At the second stage, they work with patterns for the mattress. A rectangle is assembled from stripes, which corresponds in size to the size of the bed.
• The strips are glued together on a flat surface.
• A material of lower density is laid in the made frame, and the ends are glued.

It is very important to know how to cut the foam rubber correctly.... At the first stage, the necessary markings are applied to the material, then plywood is placed, a cut is made with a knife. The instrument is held vertically, the movements are strong and sharp. It is better to have replaceable blades on the knife, as it will quickly become dull and "burrs" may appear.

When the layered filling for the cover is ready, it's time to sew the outer upholstery from the material. The pattern is made with a margin of several centimeters, based on the parameters of the workpiece. Two rectangles are cut, on both wide planes and the side. All this is sewn together, but there is room for the zipper. It is sewn in at the end. A prerequisite is that the cover is sewn back to back, that is, it must be very tight, otherwise it will not keep the shape of the mattress.

Foam rubber products cause a mixed opinion among buyers. Some people like this mattress very much, others feel discomfort after sleeping. The majority noticed that after opening the sealed package, the product has a pungent, unpleasant odor. Hence the negative feedback, as people think that this is the first sign of unsafe product.

In fact, there is nothing surprising and scary in this. To get rid of the smell, you just need to expose the mattress to fresh air. Soon there will be no trace of the smell.

With regard to convenience. If initially the user decided to save money and took a thin mattress or too soft, then you should expect problems with the spine. You should always pay attention to the marking, in which the manufacturer immediately informs the user what characteristics the product has. If it is not clear, you need to contact the seller, he is obliged to provide comprehensive information.

The bad reviews that regularly appear on the Internet are, in most cases, due to the fact that the consumer himself initially made the wrong choice, and therefore did not receive the expected result.