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.
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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.
First Published: September 2003
Updated: April 2007
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