Mattress Pads and Toppers

Get comfort and mattress protection from pads or toppers

Mattress Pads And Mattress Toppers Explained
Authors: Mercia Tapping and David Barnaby

Mattress pads have become increasingly popular in recent years and for good reason. They can increase our sleep quality as well as comfort level. However the terms, mattress topper, mattress pad and mattress protector are often used interchangeably and can cause confusion to the prospective buyer.

1. What is the difference between a mattress topper and mattress pad?
The terms mattress pad and mattress topper are often used interchangeably. A mattress topper solely refers to something that is supposed to enhance the comfort level of the mattress by placing an extra softer layer or pad on top of existing, and probably all too hard mattresses. A mattress pad however can refer both to a mattress topper but also to a thinner kind of pad, most often made out of cotton, which is there to protect your mattress for hygienic reasons. These mattress pads for hygienic protection are also often termed as mattress protectors, which further confuses the consumer!

2. What kinds of mattress toppers exist?
The most popular mattress toppers seem to be made out of either memory foam, synthetic or natural latex. We recommend natural latex, which while being more expensive than the other two materials, has the benefit of being dust mite and mold spore unfriendly, as well as being superbly comfortable. We love the feel of memory foam but dislike its odor. It also tends to harden at temperatures below 65º and takes a time to spring back into shape.

3. What are the benefits of a good mattress topper?
A good mattress topper (a.k.a. mattress pad) can really enhance the quality of your sleep. Those of us at 50 plus years who bought extra firm mattresses not too long ago, appreciate that the extra layer of “squishiness”, does in fact alleviate aching joints in the morning, and feels delightfully luxurious. By adding a touch of luxury to an existing mattress, you can sometimes prolong its useful life by adding the topper or pad. Be clear that adding a mattress pad cannot save a mattress which has already served it useful life as the lack of underlying support still resides in the mattress and box-springs.

4. Explain the difference between the choices of various kinds of mattress pads or toppers.
a. Cotton mattress pads. Pure cotton mattress covers or pads are very thin, quilted and easily washable. These are most often known as mattress protectors and extend the life of a mattress, protecting it from bodily fluids. They will have an elastic edging, which neatly fits around your upper side of your mattress. Cotton is naturally hypoallergenic and allows you to “breathe”.

b. Lambswool mattress pads. Lambs wool mattress pads are like sleeping with a very soft sheepskin rug under your sheet. At first glance, that does not sound very appealing but rest assured, a lambs wool mattress pad is pure self indulgent luxury, adding softness to your mattress. As a wool product it has all the advantages of wool. These kinds of mattress pads do not offer support to the back, and tend to matt down over time. Cheaper ones are thinner, and coarser and will matt down more quickly than a thicker and plusher. Lambswool pads will spring back to life quickly with a vapor steam cleaner and can also be washed, but will tend to shed in the process, so we prefer the steam cleaning method.

c. Natural Latex mattress pads. Latex comes from the rubber tree and is a very durable and cushion like material which also has the advantage of providing a cushion for aching joints and back. Latex can either be synthetic or natural. The blended synthetic kind can last longer, but the natural kind is very long lasting [up to 20 years]. Latex is naturally hypoallergenic and does not harbor dust mites and mold. Mattress pads made out of latex are extraordinarily comfortable providing both comfort and support. The only disadvantage to a latex mattress pad of any quality is that it will cost as much as some cheaper mattresses, which might make you question their value. A night on a latex mattress pad would change your mind in a heartbeat. A great latex mattress pad is the Euphoria.

d. Wool/Alpaca mattress pads. Alpaca is a kind of very soft wool from the coat of the llama. It is softer and lighter even than cashmere, so a mattress pad made out Alpaca is very soft. In fact, a 100% alpaca mattress pad would be too soft, as the pad would compress too fast under the weight of the human body. So Alpaca mattress pads are mixed with wool for durability. Wool mattress pads have an advantage, since they are naturally dust mite and mold resistant. This is because wool absorbs moisture from the body, making it comfortable for you. However wool dries out quickly, so that it is inhospitable to allergens, which prefer a moist environment. Wool is also a perfect insulator, as the air pockets in wool fibers act as an insulating vacuum. So strangely enough, a wool mattress pad will keep you cooler in summer and warmer in winter. The only disadvantage is that wool mattress pads, which are quilted and covered in cotton, can feel on the hard side compared with some of the other materials reviewed. The plus is their durability. See our mattress pad comparison chart for excellent alpaca or wool mattress pads.

e. Latex Core mattress pads with Wool and Cotton covering. Just simply the best of all worlds but these tend to be on the expensive side and like a “mini- mattress.” The Royal-Pedic Mattress pads weigh about 70lbs and are either 3.5 or 5 inches thick but are the perfect blend of both support and comfort.

f. Memory Foam mattress pads. Mattress toppers constructed out of foam tend to be lightweight but are not breathable so some people complain that they sweat at night. Not good for those people who run “hot.” Nowadays they are very inexpensive and run from the open foam “egg-crate” type to those encased in other fabrics to try and disguise the out-gassing of the odor from the memory foam. The odor from even an expensive memory foam mattress pads in the $500-$700 range overpowered a number of our staff who complained it smelled like “skunk cabbage.” The other disadvantage of memory foam is after a while it does not spring back into place and has permanent indentations from the body. Therefore we do not recommend this kind of mattress pad.

g. Down or Feather mattress pads. Feathers are actually a better filling than down for mattress toppers because they are more resilient but they have a habit of clumping and needing a good regular shake out. There are also many of us who are allergic to feathers. A down mattress topper sounds very luxurious, but if your down pillow tends to break down and flatten from the weight of your head, just think about how long it would take for your body weight to crush the fragile down plumes. For that reason, we do not recommend down as the filler for a mattress pad or topper. For a cheap mattress pad, simply recycle your old comforter and put it below your sheet.

h. Synthetic Down mattress pads. The same reservations we have about down filled mattress pads, we have about its synthetic cousin. It mattes down very quickly so the useful life of this kind of mattress pad is very limited. For that reason we do not recommend them since most people will be very disappointed

See the entire selection of mattress pads and toppers at AllergyBuyersClub.com.

For more info, go to our comparison chart for mattress pads.

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