Mattress pads add additional comfort to a mattress.
Some mattresses, though in good condition, require additional padding to be comfortable. A mattress pad provides that additional layer of padding without the need to replace the entire mattress. Two common types of mattress pads are feather beds and foam pads. Each type has advantages and disadvantages when it comes to comfort, care and cost.
Feather Bed Basics
A feather bed mattress pad is filled with feathers or a down-alternative material made from polyester fill. This type of mattress pad rests on top of a mattress and cradles the body with additional support. Feather bed mattress pads are not fitted, which means they do not attach directly to the mattress to prevent slipping. These types of pads are available in a variety of sizes and thicknesses.
Foam Pad Basics
Foam pads come in two varieties: memory foam and egg crate. The egg crate foam looks similar to an egg crate and is made from high-density dimpled foam. A memory foam pad is made from dense polyurethane or polyfoam. Both types of pads come in a variety of sizes and thicknesses, depending on your desired comfort level.
Mattress Pad Benefits
A memory foam pad also conforms directly to the person's body by becoming soft in warmer areas and firm in cooler areas of the body, which provides more support. Egg crate pads help distribute your body weight, which provides comfort and better circulation while sleeping. Feather beds are plush; therefore, they provide additional padding and comfort for a person as well as cradling the body. A feather bed, however, does not conform to a person's body like foam pads.
Care
Don't wash either feather beds or foam mattress pads in a regular washing machine. Feather beds, which are stuffed with a down alternative or feathers, must be dry cleaned. If your feather bed mattress pad has a protective duvet or covering, however, you can wash the cover Washing these types of mattress pads yourself can permanently damage the pad. Foam pads, on the other hand, cannot be washed at all. Instead, you must replace a foam mattress pad once it becomes heavily soiled or stained.
Cost
Though all three types come with an additional cost, some mattress pads are more expensive than others are. Feather beds are the most expensive type of mattress pad, because they contain down material. Memory foam pads are also costly due to the material, but they are less expensive than a down mattress pad. Egg crate pads are the least expensive type of mattress pad available; therefore, they are cheaper to replace once soiled or stained.
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