A topper is a thin, springless mattress that rarely performs an independent function. It is usually used as an additional coating for an already equipped bed or sofa, folding armchair. The mattress topper changes the condition and function of the surface, making the base more suitable for comfortable sleep. With its help, the rigidity and softness of the base are also adjusted. Toppers for children’s and adult beds are used – now dozens of models are sold with the ability to choose characteristics for any task.
Functions Of Mattress Toppers
Products perform several functions at once, especially if they are selected without errors. Let’s consider the main tasks of toppers:
Remove defects of the old mattress worn out on the surface: If the structure is damaged from the inside (the spring block is broken, the slabs have sagged a lot), the mattress topper will not cope. But with relatively light surface wear, it performs well. The coating that removes irregularities makes the bed functional for several more years.
Adjust the stiffness: If the characteristics of the mattress are not suitable for a particular person (it is very soft or too hard), a thin coating on top will just help. And the investment in the purchase of the product is much less than during the purchase of a full-fledged mattress.
Neutralize creases on folding furniture: On the sofa base or on the unfolded armchair-bed, there are always joints that are well felt by the body. But if you lay a mattress topper, the surface will be flat and comfortable. For people with sensitive sleep, this is the only way out and opportunity to align the base of a sofa, folding bed or other furniture.
Extend the life of the mattress: An additional layer covering the sleeping place for constant sleep excludes direct contact of the body with the mattress. For this reason, the main product experiences less load, wears out more slowly, and lasts longer. This combination is often used with expensive structures. But make sure that the product that is laid on top does not change the surface parameters for the worse. Protecting the mattress is important, but the main function of the bed is to create good conditions for sleep and rest. They cannot be sacrificed.
Protect the mattress from unnecessary dirt and moisture: An additional function of the mattress topper is to protect the sleeping place from negative factors – dust, sweat absorption. Cleaning it is easier than doing the same with thick mattresses. Dry cleaning of products is easier and cheaper. And if you protect both products with moisture-proof covers, then they are definitely not in danger.
Add additional features to the bed: The same memory foams, which guarantee an enveloping effect, will appeal to older people and those who have difficulties with relaxation during sleep and rest. And the surface with coir will appeal to those who temporarily suffer from an exacerbation of back pain, so they want to sleep on a hard bed for several weeks, and then return to their usual sleeping place.
Buying a topper is a necessity, not a must: If the mattress copes with its functions, fits the characteristics and is made of high-quality materials, additional coating is not required. For folding furniture for sleeping (without a mattress), additional products are already needed. It is better to take a thin additional coating than to risk your health and well-being.
Popular Materials For Toppers
There are no spring blocks in the products. But they have other supporting materials of small thickness. Usually these are the following fillers:
Coconut coir: Coir leaves are created from coconut fibers that envelop the nut. They are collected, soaked for a long time, dried and then pressed or glued by latex. Pure pressed fillers are more commonly used in baby toppers for newborns. They are dense but relatively fragile and prone to drying out within a few years. For older children and adults, latex coir is used instead of pressed coir. The composition, fastened with rubber mass, is slightly more elastic, acquires small anatomical properties. And it is also more resistant to negative factors – for example, it tolerates mechanical stress better.
Latex: The natural material is made from the juice of the Brazilian hevea. Collecting raw materials for latex boards is a long, labor-intensive process involving mainly manual labor. For this reason, the filler is expensive, as are mattresses made of it. But ready-made products with an orthopedic effect support the body well, create comfortable conditions for it. Natural latex is also recommended for back pain. It is of medium density or very dense (in combination with coir), is not afraid of water, easily tolerates twisting and can last up to 25 years. The only drawback is that natural latex weighs a lot.
PU foam (polyurethane foam): The group of polyurethane foam materials includes ordinary polyurethane foam boards (usually they are of medium density), soft foams (including those with memory foam) and artificial latex. All of them have their own characteristics. Memory foams are soft, enveloping – the body is literally immersed in them. They are used to soften a rigid base. The orthopedic effect of such fillers is minimal, because not in all positions the spine takes a healthy position. Artificial latex is similar in its characteristics to natural latex. But it is tougher, denser and afraid of water. Such a filler serves for about 10 years.
There are much more fillers for mattress toppers, but these are the main ones. And the number and combinations of layers are different from the model. There are unilateral and bilateral solutions, which means that they have different rigidity, it depends on the side. But let’s consider this indicator in more detail.
Rigidity And Orthopedics
Like ordinary mattresses, thin coverings for a bed, sofa or folding armchair differ in firmness parameters. There are soft, medium-hard and hard solutions. A hard surface is usually provided by coconut coir or dense artificial latex. Medium-rigid solutions contain natural latex or polyurethane foam with suitable characteristics. For soft products, foams of different types are used – including options with a memory effect.
The orthopedic nature of mattress toppers is always in question. Their height is in the range of 2-10 centimeters. This means that the surface is not initially designed for full support. Let’s take, for example, a sleeping place organized on an ordinary folding sofa. The sofa itself does not differ in anatomical or orthopedic properties. A thin mattress topper, even with natural latex, will not radically improve the situation in these respects. It will level the surface, make it comfortable for sleeping. For a healthy person, this is enough. But if you have pain in the back, lower back, cervical spine or if you need to hold a lot of weight, a thin pad will no longer help.
The capabilities of the products are limited – this is taken into account before buying products. If the additional functions of the structures do not remove the problem, the problem is solved, starting with the purchase of a mattress.
How The Topper Is Fixed On The Mattress
The quality of fastening is an important condition for products. If the mattress is laid on the bed and is well fixed, then the topper requires additional solutions. Elastic bands or Velcro tapes are usually used. Elastic bands are placed in the sides of the structure or on the sides – both options work well. Velcro is also no worse. Just make sure that the elements fix the mattress topper on all sides and cover a large area of the mattress – this way the additional coating holds better.