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« on: January 18, 2009, 09:19:39 pm » |
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Martha Stewart: Oh, man, if this mattress had a memory
Dear Martha: How do memory-foam mattresses differ from innerspring mattresses?
Martha:
A: Inner-spring mattresses account for more than 90 percent of wholesale mattress sales in the United States, according to the International Sleep Products Association. They contain a network of coils or springs, clad in layers of padding.
Foam mattresses have no coils, although there are several types of foam, each with a different density.
Memory foam, or viscoelastic polyurethane foam, is a heat-sensitive, man-made material that eases pressure points. It was developed for use in space, to protect astronauts from g-forces. Foam naturally molds to your shape because of your body's weight and heat.
With earlier memory-foam mattresses, this made for an uncomfortable, overheated night. More recently, manufacturers have introduced wicking fabrics and other temperature-regulating technologies to try to eliminate such issues. Some also offer hybrid mattresses, which combine spring cores with synthetic- or natural-foam pillow tops. The only way to determine whether you'll like a mattress is to try several types, lying on each for at least 10 minutes before buying.
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