Modern Mattress Lingo
If the last time you purchased a mattress was 15-years ago, not only is it time that you replace your bed, but you might also need to catch up on new terminologies in the mattress world. One of the first things you should know is that the technology behind mattress manufacturing has developed dramatically in recent years. Today the process of creating new mattress technology is called advanced sleep technology. And if you’re looking for a new mattress, the days of sleeping on lumpy foam mattresses and coil beds with springs poking in your back are over.
Before heading out to a local or online bed sale, it is important to research the mattresses options available, because there are many. The science of sleep technology is geared to help customers with chronic ailments like back pain, insomnia, and other sleep disorders. Over and above that, the aim is for a sleeper to have a restful sleep and to wake up feeling well-rested and energized. However, for the average person, this does mean that the terminology associated with the mattress industry has become more complex, in fact, it really is quite simple.
In this post, we will look at how ordinary mattresses have evolved through technological advances in modern mattress manufacturing and the terminology that goes with it. To start, we need to tell you that the contemporary mattress comprises two vital layers, a core layer and the upholstery layer.
The core layer: Some of the most significant advances in mattress technology design have revolved around the coil system in recent years. You might be interested to know that the coil system is still very much part of the main design of the core layer, although it has been upgraded drastically. For example, coil-on-coil is a type of luxury innerspring used to construct a mattress.
The upholstered layer: You may already know that foam mattresses were historically designed to increase blood circulation and relieve pressure points. Today, you get three leading foam mattresses, polyurethane, memory, and latex foam.
Mattress manufacturers have a new vocabulary when it comes to describing the support and comfort offered by their designs. You get convoluted support foam, which is processed through a machine of rotating metal teeth to create a column-type system within the foam. It’s designed to improve cooling, breathability, and deep compression support.
Then you will see that you get indentation deflection force (IDF) and Indentation load deflection (ILD). Both are a scoring system that rates the firmness of the foam. A high score means the foam is very hard. The lower the score, the softer the mattress.
A hybrid mattress uses various foam mentioned above to maximize support and comfort and minimize problems that mattresses from the old days caused – such as collapsing or sinking, which causes back pain and restless sleep.
A pillow top is a term used for the padded layer that is fixed to the top cover of a mattress. It provides added support and comfort you need from a good bed.