How to choose a mattress

Very often, when choosing a bed, little attention is paid to the choise of the mattress, even if it's on it that we sleep. We are influenced by the aesthetics and color of the bed and we don't remember that it's on the mattress that we spend about a third of our life. The mattress has a very important value because it influences the quality of the "good sleeping", so it influences our wellbeing and the way we face a new day.

First of all, let's say that there is no "universal" mattress that works well for everyone because each one is different and everyone takes different positions when he sleep. In addition, there are no "standard" measures: the size of the mattress must be the size of the bed you have or you will go to buy. It's the mattress that adapts to the size of the bed and not vice versa.

The mattress must not be too soft or too rigid, but must ensure the correct support to the spinal column, with proper adaptation to the body. From an ergonomic point of view, the mattress must support the spinal column in its natural shape.

Type of mattresses

Among the different types of mattresses, maybe the most well-known is the spring mattress. It's made from a set of steel springs tied together (about 100/150 per square meter), from a perimetral box anti-fogging and several layers of felt and polyurethane that can increase stiffness. All this is then completed by a cotton layer on one side and a wool layer on the other. The same procedure is used to construct the "orthopaedic" mattress, increasing only the rigidity through the different intermediate layers. This type of mattresses, with a more affordable price, have a good comfort but doesn't fulfill the function of adapting to the shape of the body.

An evolution of the spring mattress is the pocket spring one. In this case, the number of springs per square meter is clearly higher (about 200/300), but what makes the difference is that they are no longer tied together, but individually "bagged". The greater amount of springs, and the fact of being "free", allows the mattress to adapt to the shape of the body following the natural curve of the spinal column and giving the right support only where it's needed. With this type of mattress there is a total indipendence of the spinging and even two people of different weight can find the right comfort on the same mattress. Also in these mattresses the springing is then completed with layers of felt and polyurethane. It's also possible to find mattresses with the surface part consisting of a layer of viscoelastic material. This is self-shaped with body heat, reducing pressures in the areas of greatest contact and leaving the blood circulation free in its natural pathways. When you get up, the viscoelastic material returns to its original position.

Another type of mattress is the one in latex. Consisting of a latex sheet with open and intercomunicating cell structure with a constant or variable diameter, this mattress adapts very well to the shape of the body ensuring an optimal anatomic comfort. The diameter of the cell and their position influence the greater or lesser stiffness for calibrated anatomical support. The latex sheet is then covered with layers of wool and cotton or hypoallergenic fibres.

Still on this typology, we find mattresses in viscoelastic material (memory foam). These are made of different type of viscoelastic slabs that ensure both the adaptability to the shape of the body and the right anatomical support. The various slabs, with different characteristics, meet the different requirements of softness or rigidity.

Maintenance

The spring mattress requires little maintenance and only occasionally has to be rotated head-feet to allow the spring system to work evenly.

The pocket spring mattress, due to the fact that it adapts to the shape of the body, needs to be rotated head-feet more frequently (approx. every two months). This always guarantees excellent comfort and durability.

The latex mattress, on the other hand, requires careful maintenance: in addition to being rotated frequently head-feet, it must be lifted from the support surface to evaporate moisture.

As with the pocket spring mattresses, viscoelastic mattresses also need to be rotated head-to-foot every two months.

When the mattresses cover is not removable, the surface must be cleaned by simply vacuuming it.

How often it has to be changed

The mattress must be replaced approximately every 7 years. In fact, if mechanically a mattress of good quality has a longer life, from the hygenic point of view absolutely not. Suffice it's to say that the mattress absorbs about a third of the water that we expel with sweat every nigth and that every year about 5 kg of dead epithelial cells are deposited there.

Advice

Always pay attention to the choise of the mattress: remember that it's on the mattress that you sleep and that a good support helps you to rest.