UNDERSTANDING BODY IMPRESSONS

One of the biggest misunderstandings about mattresses is body impressions. What is normal and what is a defect?

Let me start with a paragraph taken from the Better Sleep Council Web Site:

Many of today's top-quality mattresses use technologically advanced foams and fibers that are designed to be softer and more comfortable while ensuring your body has the support you need for good health. By cradling your body, these materials relieve pressure and are so comfortable that you'll probably toss and turn less in the night. For that reason, in the first few weeks you sleep on a new mattress that offers these extra comfort layers, you will likely notice some body impressions (comfort dimples) on the mattress surface. These impressions are normal and shouldn't be considered a sign that something is wrong with your new mattress. Unless your mattress care instructions indicate otherwise, you may want to rotate your mattress from end-to-end and from top-to-bottom. After a few weeks, the impressions will begin to smooth out and, over time, disappear.

A solid core latex mattress is least likely to show body impressions of any type of mattress. While poly foams can lose up to 30% of their height over time, Latex only loses 1% to 3 % of their height. A defect in latex is usually caused by a defect in the core during the poring process. Basically, there would be a big bubble of air in the core.  If a latex mattress is defective, you will know within the first year. If it doesn’t present a defect within one year, chances are there isn’t a defect in it.  A defect would appear as a substantial depression, not just a few inches. The quilting on top of the latex is most likely to show body impressioning. The thicker the quilting on top of the latex, the more apt you are to see an impression. 

Although a latex core does not have to be rotated top to bottom, Adjustable Bed Mart makes all of their latex mattresses as double sided mattresses. This is to not only to help reduce the appearance of impressions in the quilting layers on top of the latex but also to reduce the stress on the top layer of quilting from being bent in the same direction all of the time.

It is also important to remember that mattress warranties cover defects in the mattress. They are not comfort warranties! Body impressions less than 1.5 inches are not defects.  An inner spring mattress generally will only last 7 to 10 years before the comfort is completely gone. A latex mattress will last 20 to 30 years and feel comfortable the whole time!

SUMMARY

It is important that a mattress salesperson educates the customer that all mattresses will show body impressions, latex less than others. If the customer doesn’t want to see body impressions then their options are:

     1. Buy a latex mattress for the least impressions.

     2. Buy a two sided mattresses and be prepared to turn it often.

     3. If you are unable to turn a mattress, then try to stay away from thick pillow tops.  The more padding on

         top of a mattress the more you will see impressions. You can get plush comfort without buying a real

         thick mattress and it will be easier to turn. 

So remember, you are going to see some body impressionson all mattresses when new. Turn them frequently for the first six months will reduce the appearance of body impressions.