Mattress shopping lingo you need to know

Many of us dread shopping for a new mattress. It’s a major purchase and intimate to our health and well-being. Once inside a mattress store, we quickly find ourselves tangled in a sales discussion we aren’t sure we understand.

Time to brush up your mattress-lingo so you and your sales associate are speaking the same language – and work together to find the best bed for you.

Mattress Component Keywords

Memory Foam, Tempur-pedic style foam, Visco elastic foam

• Synthetic foam created from polyurethane and other chemicals
• Responds to body heat to conform around the sleeper

Plant-based memory foam

• An alternative to petroleum-based memory foam with the same physical properties
• Created with eco-friendly, plant-based elements

Latex, latex foam

• A buoyant natural fiber popular as both a mattress core and a comfort component
• Derived from the milk tapped from the Hevea Brasilinesis, or “rubber” tree

Standard or Dunlop Latex

• Natural liquid latex that has been frothed, poured into a mold and baked
• Popular as both a mattress core and comfort component

Talalay Latex

• Natura liquid latex frothed, moulded, sealed, vacuumed and flash frozen maintain a consistent density of cell structure throughout the solid piece of latex

Synthetic latex

• Man made latex created from a petrochemical blend of styrene and butadiene

Coconut Coir

• A naturally hypoallergenic component created from the husk of a coconut shell
• Commonly used as a stable base for a mattress core or in infant crib mattresses

Virgin Wool

• Wool that has not been recycled or previously used in manufacturing
• No fillers added
• Natural temperature regulator and pressure point bufferer

Sustainable

• Naturally re-occurring resource or practice
• Supports the development of a healthy natural environment

Certified Organic

• A component derived from living organisms
• Produced or grown with fertilizers or pesticides of animal or vegetable origin, without the use of chemicals, and confirmed to be so by a certifying agency

Natural

• Existing in or formed by nature as opposed to created by man

Synthetic

• Not made from natural (animal, plant) material

Mattress Construction Keywords

Comfort Layers; Upholstery layers

• The layers of material in a mattress that provide the comfortable surface feel and cushioning

Support Layers, mattress core

• The firmer, inner layer of a mattress
• Usually the bottom layer, that manages body weight and pressure

Body Impression

• The normal compression of a mattress as it loses resilience over a period of time

Coil Count

• The number of coils in a mattress

Coil Gage

• The thickness of the mattress coil, another factor which determines firmness and support

Foam Encased Coil Unit

• A coil unit that sits inside a foam frame, which creates edge comfort and stability

Pocket Coils, Individually Wrapped Coils,

• Coils that have a fabric sheath surrounding them

Mattress ticking

• The fabric and fill that covers the core and comfort layers of a mattress

Filling, stuffing, batting

• The plush material beneath the cover of a mattress, generally synthetic, cotton or wool
• Contributes to temperature regulation and mattress comfort

Sleep Health Keywords

Healthy spinal alignment

• The correct, comfortable position of your spine
• Neck, hips and shoulders should have the same vertical positioning laying down as when standing comfortably upright

Pressure Points

• Areas where body weight and mattress meet, often creating discomfort
• Typically hips, shoulders, and knees
• Also a contributing factor to back pain

Allergens, dust-mites

• Microscopic parasites that live in the core of your mattress, pillow and bedding
• Major cause and contributing factor to asthma, and night-time allergy attacks

Temperature regulation

• The ability of a mattress to deal with body heat, moisture and temperature
• Dependant on the core and comfort components

How to have a productive mattress sales discussion

Knowing what you’re looking for and being willing to test mattresses (that’s right, climb on, lay down and try them out!) for comfort and support goes a long way to ensure a successful mattress purchase. Finding the right mattress plays a part in your future health and vitality and taking time to educate yourself is paramount.

Talking to an informed sales associate is important too. A smart one (who wants your repeat and referral business) will answer questions about the components and construction of a mattress. And s/he’ll suggest many alternatives so you end up with better sleep – every night. Which is the point, right?

Do you have a mattress shopping trip on your horizon? Have questions you need answered before you head out the door?  Let us know!  Visit www.naturaworld.com for to prepare for this important purchase!

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