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Choosing A Bed
There are many different types of beds to choose from. Beds are still generally kept up on box springs, or some kind of foundation to keep the bed higher up off the ground. Mattresses have transformed through time from straw stuffed bags to memory foam mattresses, the cr�me de la cr�me. There are a few very popular mattress types today, with memory foam being the new up and comer.
Spring coil mattresses are a very common and used mattress today, as they have been for a while now. The bed's shape is maintained by the strong steel coils within the mattress. The type of steel used and the strength of the coil vary with each mattress, resulting in different mattress support strengths. There are also different kinds of foam used to cover the coils and support the outside of the mattress, with varying foam qualities. Air mattresses are comprised of chambers (different number of chambers depending on the mattress). |
The quality of air mattresses has a very high range, including cheap camping mattresses to high-end adjustable multi-chambered air mattresses. The adjustable air mattresses can be controlled, sometimes with the bed split in two sections, by remote control. This is ideal for couples who prefer different strengths for back support. Memory foam mattresses are able to contour due to temperature. The viscosity of the mattress (composed of visco-elastic polyurethane foam) changes with temperature, which in turn changes the density of the mattress. The hotter the foam gets, the more it will mold and become softer and form fit a specific shape (like the human body). There are pressure sensitive mattresses as well which is composed of lower density visco-elastic polyurethane foam. Memory foam mattresses were originally invented to be used by astronauts. Although it never made it that far, it's used for not only comfort, but medical reasons as well. The contouring of the memory foam allows for blood to evenly circulate the body, which dramatically decreases the risk of bed sores, poor circulation, and blood clots in patients on bed rest. Although memory foam mattresses are generally more expensive than traditional mattresses, they also tend to have a longer life. The popularity of foam mattresses continues to increase as the price of the mattress decreases. With the ability to discover newer ways of producing the micro-elastic polyurethane foam, the price continues to drop lower and lower.
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Most mattress manufacturers now carry at least one kind of memory foam mattress
Foam matteress versus spring matteress
A foam mattress can last for up to 20 years and never need flipped or any real maintenance whatsoever. However with either kind of mattress the life of the mattress depends on the quality of which it was made and the care given to it by the owner. A mattress that is abused, jumped upon and gotten wet will not last nearly as long. While overall opinions are good for foam mattresses, there have been some issues brought up in consumer testing. The foam mattresses adjust to your body temperature becoming softer when you are warm, and firmer when you are cool. Some testers complained that the mattress becomes too hard when it is cold. Other testers complained that when it is too hot, the mattress feels like it is swallowing them and it is often difficult to change positions. Another common concern is an odor left over from the manufacturing process can last several days to several weeks and can often make users nauseous. However the smell goes away on it's own. |
