When it comes to customizing a bed to one perfectly suited to you and your needs, sometimes a mattress accessory can be a perfect choice.
There are two accessories that you could choose from and that is the mattress pad and the mattress topper.
Mattress topper vs mattress pad – which to use?
Many people confuse these two and sometimes to make matters worse the two are used interchangeably.
Don’t you worry this article is for you! In this article you will find the differences between the two and the benefits of both.
Why customize your mattress?
We all know how getting enough good quality sleep is important and a good mattress is a key factor in getting that.
Preventing issues like back pain while at it is even a plus.
But let’s be honest, purchasing a new mattress is an expensive endeavor and it’s even worse when you’ve rented accommodation and it’s not possible to switch out the mattress.
Buying a mattress accessory can be a great way to change the feel, firmness and support of the mattress without interfering with the mattress itself.
Mattress accessories can help tweak the feel of a newly purchased mattress, either for yourself or for a guest or partner.
But they can also rescue a mattress you’ve fallen out of love with, whether your tastes have changed or the mattress is simply past its best.
Attributes of a mattress pad
A mattress pad is generally a fairly thin layer of quilting or padding within the top of a fitted sheet, or with elastic straps to anchor it to the mattress. It attaches much like a fitted sheet over a mattress, and won’t shift throughout the night.
While a mattress pad offers some fairly small change in feel or comfort, it has other more prevalent uses, too for example protecting a mattress from stains and general wear and tear.
Mattress pads are typically made of quilted cotton and fibrous padding as opposed to foam.
Types of Mattress Pads
According to material:-
- Cotton: great for easy washing ability (usually machine washable), and provides a nice soft hand-feel. Cotton is also a very durable material, which means it will last much longer than other fabrics. Even after several washes, a cotton mattress pad will still be soft and durable.
- Polyester: synthetic fiber that is very durable. Naturally hypoallergenic, it is great for those who have allergies. Polyester is also a very comfortable material that can be very affordable.
- Memory foam: a foam material that is ultra soft in reaction to body heat, which allows it to mold to a warm body in a few seconds. Memory foam tends to be of higher quality and more desirable compared to other materials.
According to functionality:-
- Mattress pads for support: helps improve the quality of your sleep by adding a cushioned mattress pad on top of your mattress. These come in variety of thicknesses to provide different levels of cushion. Mattress pads for support tend to be thicker so that you have the comfort you desire and furthermore help prolong the life of your mattress.
- Mattress pads for protection: come in different thickness and construction to help protect your mattress by adding a layer between the mattress and the fitted sheet. Different constructions include quilted with cotton fill to give it a nice padding.
Benefits of Mattress Pads
- Mattress pads are very easy to transport, move, and attach to a mattress.
- They are also generally inexpensive.
- Once attached, a mattress pad is stable and unlikely to move around, because of the way it clings to the mattress.
- Mattress pads are a great way to protect a mattress from moisture and stains – in fact, this is thought of as their primary function.
- They can be removed and laundered.
- Mattress pads can help reduce unwanted noise of a mattress or mattress protector.
- For the price and relative ease, mattress pads offer a small but possibly significant amount of added comfort and support to a mattress.
A look at mattress toppers
While mattress pads are fit to the size of your bed, a mattress topper is a layer of soft padding (often memory foam) that lays on top of the mattress, but under the fitted sheet, to enhance the support and comfort of a mattress.
Simply laid on top of your mattress, the mattress topper will be held in place by the fitted sheet.
Through high-tech padding materials, a topper will typically form to the contours of your body, providing customized, evenly distributed support while eliminating hot spots that can cause pain.
As a secondary benefit, many mattress toppers will feature special fabrics that wick away moisture and manage heat to keep your cool and comfortable.
By the simple act of placing additional inches of materials between you and your mattress, a topper will provide an extra layer of protection from stains and perhaps some spills.
However, a topper isn’t designed to provide any real protection.
Types of Mattress Topper
Foam mattress toppers can be made of foam latex or memory foam.
Foam latex offers great firmness and slow bounce, but can be pricier, while memory foam offers great durability and body contouring, but can be stuffy and have a strong scent upon unboxing.
Mattress toppers can also be made from wool, feather or other fibers.
Benefits of a mattress topper
- Mattress toppers offer customizable comfort without having to switch out a whole mattress.
- They can offer additional support, which is particularly beneficial to those with neck or back pain issues.
- Mattress toppers can also extend the life of a mattress by protecting it from both sagging and staining. Considering the longevity of your mattress, it is essential to tackle this uncomfortable matter of sleeping directly on the mattress, which implies there is nothing there to battle the following enemies to your mattress:
- Bacteria and Dead Skin: These will inescapably end up on your body, and by using a mattress topper, you can keep these away from the mattress. Latex, hybrid foam and memory foams must also have removable covers, so that you can wash them along with your bedding.
- Body Sweat: Did you know your body sweats about 2 pints of moisture every night? Yes, this is through breathing, sweat and other fluids. And the only place for it to go is into the duvet, cover, and your mattress. That is when a topper comes into play and stops perspiration and sweat from reaching your mattress. Even though your mattress topper will absorb all the perspiration, it is way cheaper to remove and wash it, or even replace it instead of your mattress.
So, what is right for you?
Mattress pads offer more protection to the mattress, while the change in feel and comfort is minimal.
They’re a great choice if you want to combine mattress protection with a slight benefit to your comfort, especially if you’re on a very tight budget.
Mattress pads are also primarily very easy to attach, to clean and to move.
Mattress toppers are better for those who want or need a significant change in the feel or support of their mattress, but can’t or don’t wish to purchase a whole new mattress.
They’re ideal to add customizable support, whether for comfort and preference or for medical needs such as pain and acid reflux.
Toppers can also be useful to extend the life of a mattress or to spruce up a mattress that’s past its best.
However, they can be expensive, cumbersome and slide around in the bed too easily.
