|
Mattress Topper Care & Maintenance
Comparison Tool
|
|
Care & Maintenance |
Memory Foam |
Latex |
Organic |
|
Cleaning |
Difficult
- Cannot be vacuumed
- Cannot remove stains,
odors easily
- Needs airing
|
Difficult
- Cannot be vacuumed
- Cannot remove
stains, odors easily
- Needs airing
|
Somewhat Difficult
- Cotton or wool can
be machine-washed
- Latex needs dry
cleaning
- Needs airing
|
|
Care |
Required
- Cleaning is difficult
- Waterproof sheets
recommended
|
Some Required |
Some Required |
|
Do Not Use |
- Heated mattress pads
- Electric blankets
- Other direct heat
sources
|
- Heated mattress
pads
- Electric blankets
- Other direct heat
sources
|
- Heated pads,
electric blankets or direct heat sources for
- Cotton and natural
latex
- Wool is naturally
fire-resistant
|
|
Flipping |
No Need |
No Need |
No Need |
|
Malfunctions |
No |
No |
No |
|
Foundation (for mattresses only) |
-
Use completely flat, firm, wood, non-spring
foundations
-
Avoid slate, grid and waterbed frames
|
-
Use completely flat, firm, wood, non-spring
foundations
-
Avoid slate, grid and waterbed frames
|
Optional |
|
Sheets, Covers |
|
- Waterproof sheets
recommended
- Anti-allergic
encasings recommended for sufferers
|
Optional
- Wool encasing
recommended
|
|
Moving |
- Difficult for
mattresses
- Easy for pillows and
toppers
|
- Difficult for
mattresses
- Easy for pillows
and toppers
|
|
|
Weight |
- Mattresses are very
heavy
- Pillows and toppers
are lighter
|
- Mattresses are very
heavy
- Pillows and toppers
are lighter
|
|
|
Preparation |
Yes
- May need softening by
letting body heat warm it
- May need breaking in
by walking on it when new
|
No |
No |
|
Travel-friendly |
No
- Memory foam is dense
and heavy
- Special travel
toppers and pillows are available
|
No
- Latex foam is dense
and heavy
- Special travel
toppers and pillows are available
|
No
- Latex is dense and
heavy
- Special travel
toppers and pillows are available
|
|
Accidents |
No |
No |
No |
|
Flammable |
Variable
-
Flammable types can still be found, though they
shouldn't
-
Untreated polyurethane foams are highly
flammable
|
Variable
- Natural latex is
flammable
- Treated latex isn't
flammable
|
Variable
- Natural latex is
flammable, wool isn't
- You may need
doctor's prescription for all-natural, untreated
|
