Memory Foam Topper

Choosing a memory foam topper

Choosing a memory foam mattress is not difficult if you have an unlimited budget. The best is still Tempurpedic, with Serta nipping at their heels. But what if you only have a modest budget and cannot afford a whole new bed? Rather than settling for a cheap memory foam mattress which might be of inferior quality (or a fake), you might be better off getting a good quality memory foam topper. Memory foam toppers are something like thin mattresses, but made of visco elastic polyurethane foam (memory foam). They are best used on top of a regular firm mattress.

What size? My preference is a queen memory foam mattress pad placed on top of a cheap but firm mattress on the floor. This is the best combination I can come up with. It combines the economy of a cheap firm mattress with the comfort of a memory foam pad. For a single person, the queen-size with its 80"x60" size is sheer luxury while the king-size is over-indulgent; for a couple the king-size would be a better choice. (Disclaimer: I am single and it has been over a decade since I stopped sleeping on a regular bed.)

What brand? My preference is still for the Tempurpedic memory foam topper with a Tempurpedic memory foam pillow. If I cannot have that, then the Serta memory foam mattress pad or something else from the Serta Ultimate memory foam line would be my preference. At least we know that these two brands use real visco elastic memory foam in their products. However, don't just look at their brand names. There are very good deals on thin low-density memory foam toppers from these two companies for under $100, but I prefer to spend (considerably) more on their thicker and higher-density memory foam toppers even though the price is disproportionately more expensive.

When should you change your memory foam topper?

In theory, a memory foam mattress pad and a memory foam mattress should both last 20 years. However, there are three important caveats. The first is - how hard do you use it? For example, if you weigh 200 pounds and thrash around in your sleep I wouldn't bet on it lasting even 10 years.

Just because the manufacturer says it can last 20 years does not mean the memory foam topper can maintain its comfort level that long. Once all those old niggling aches and pains that used to plague your body returns, that is when I would change my memory foam pad if I were you.

Keep in mind that memory foam toppers (in fact any kind of polyurethane product) will start emitting organic chemical fumes as they start to age. These fumes could be irritating to some people. When do these fumes start coming out? That depends on the particular formula of memory foam as well as the temperature to which it is subjected. For instance, if your mattress is subjected to 100F heat 24 by 7, it is going to degrade faster than a mattress that spends all its time in a sub-80F environment.

Before you use your memory foam topper

All bedding products in the USA are required by law to have anti-flame treatment. This is doubly the case with memory foam bedding products, which are even more highly-inflammable than usual. That means any reputable manufacturer or seller of memory foam mattresses and toppers is going to put their product through many times the usual dose of flame-retardant chemicals. So before you use your memory foam topper, it is a good idea for you to air it outside your home for a few days ... maybe even a week or two if you are sensitive to the fumes from those flame-retardants.

Tips for getting the most out of your memory foam topper

Memory foam is very dense, so mattresses and toppers made from this material tend to feel warm when you sleep on them because there is no internal airflow. This may be good in winter but could be rather uncomfortable in summer. If your memory foam topper feels too warm, you may want to try sleeping with a thinner blanket at night.

Older formulations of memory foam are temperature sensitive and could be rather hard when the temperature is cool. Since this would defeat the purpose of buying a memory foam mattress topper, you can try warming your mattress pad with a hot water bottle (wrapped in a thick towel) or an electric blanket (set low). Remember that many memory foam product manufacturers issue warnings against subjecting their products to high heat. However, as long as you can still hold the hot water bottle or electric blanket comfortably with your bare hands, it should be fine.

Unlike other types of mattress filling, memory foam cannot be washed or cleaned if you spill something on top of it. Your memory foam topper is not cheap, so to protect your investment you should buy a memory foam mattress cover for it. However, this is mainly to help protect it from your sweat. It would not offer enough protection if you were to accidentally spill your mug of warm cocoa on it - so keep away from your bed when drinking or eating anything.

My preferred memory foam bedding are the Tempur memory foam mattress topper and Tempur memory foam pillow. I prefer the thicker and higher-density products - they are a great deal more comfortable. Unfortunately, they are also a lot more expensive. It doesn't help that I also prefer the queen-size. So being patient and looking for memory foam clearance sales where I can get a better deal is a necessity. If you have a bigger budget, then there is no reason to wait. Your back will appreciate the change and you will sleep better.