Mattresses Simply Aren't Made The Same Way Anymore

You might remember your mattress lasting a lot longer when you were growing up than your current mattress. You're probably not just viewing the past through rose-colored glasses; there's a good chance your mattress was made better 50 years ago than the one you sleep on today. While if you compare a quality mattress today to a cheap mattress from the mid-20th century, there's no contest — the modern mattress would be superior. But there were several design features that made the average old mattress superior to those that you see today. That's why old mattresses would often last longer and sleep more comfortably.

Old mattresses used to be stuffed with natural materials cotton,wool, and sometimes horsehair. The latter is actually still used in some of the most expensive mattresses. Flippable mattresses will last well over 10 years, sometimes even up to 20, which is very uncommon for memory foam. Your more affordable memory foam mattresses can start breaking down within 3 to 5 years. They also often have steel springs in the middle for structure.

You can flip a double-sided mattress every 6 months, which prevents body impressions from forming while allowing air to circulate through the entire mattress, preventing odors. The trick will even save your mattress from sagging. Once you flip it, you will find that the other side of the firm mattress is softer. These mattresses were standard until about 20 years ago, when memory foam began to take over the market.

You can still purchase a flippable mattress, even though they aren't as common as they used to be, but you should also weigh the alternative. While flippable mattresses do have obvious benefits over standard memory foam mattresses, a quality memory foam mattress is worth the purchase for many people. For instance, if you have mobility issues, you might not want a mattress that you have to flip periodically. Flippable mattresses also don't tend to have the cooling technology of memory foam. You can keep your flippable mattress cool during summer nights with a mattress topper.

The modern memory foam mattress is designed to provide support while molding to the contours of the body. In comparison to traditional innerspring mattresses, which have a layer of wool or cotton, memory foam more evenly distributes weight. This can help people who suffer from chronic pain or simply want to feel like they are floating. Typically there is a sturdy base layer that provides structure and then a comfort layer that hugs the sleeper.

Memory foam mattresses often come in a hybrid form as well, which means they have a base layer made of springs to prevent sagging. You can opt for different levels of density depending on your needs. Denser foam tends to be harder and more rigid, but if you want to sink into a mattress, lower density is best. High-density mattresses typically last longer and better for people who have back pain because they provide stronger support. If you have back problems, this dense foam will help you wake up more refreshed and reduce your pain throughout the day.