Memory Foam Mattress Myths
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As memory foam has captured consumers’ attention and revolutionized the bedding industry several prominent myths have persisted.
One myth purports that memory foam makes it difficult to turn during sleep. While memory foam contours to the body and encourages motionless posture it in no way hinders movement.
Another myth maintains that memory foam mattresses “sleep hot.” This claim is rooted in the early days of memory foam technology and resulted from the denseness of the foam itself. However, as memory foam technology continues to rapidly develop many manufacturers have corrected the issue.
Memory foam mattresses smell is yet another myth. Memory foam mattresses are made of polyurethane based materials known to give off what has been described as an off-gassing odor. But the smell is limited and will dissipate within a couple of days of installation.
Perhaps one of the most challenging myths is the belief that memory foam is too expensive. In the bedding industry, quality comes at a cost and memory foam is no exception. However, prices have dropped in recent years as the market has expanded with new manufacturers increasing competition.
It has also been claimed that memory foam mattresses are flammable because they are polyurethane based. This is true; however, the same goes for all other mattress types. Government required flame retardant measures keep all types of mattresses resistant to open flames.
Yet another myth contends that the Tempur-pedic brand manufactures the only true memory foam mattress. While the company would probably like that to be the case, the truth is the memory foam technology was created by NASA and is now produced by a number of companies.
A final myth states that there is no difference between memory foam and latex mattresses. While these foam-type mattresses share some of the same qualities, they are different to their core. Memory foam mattresses are made from a visco-elastic polyurethane substance while latex is synthetic or naturally derived from rubber.
