Introduction
Memory foam has been around since the mid-1960s. At that time NASA's Ames Research Center developed a material that was similar to memory foam. It was called temper foam and was used for airplane seats because it was able to absorb shock, thus giving passengers a smoother ride. Today, a memory foam topper is quite popular. In fact, memory foam is one of the most distinctive materials being used in commercial bedding because of its slow spring back quality that relieves pressure points and lets you sleep better. However, not every memory foam topper is the same. With this in mind, you should know how to pick out the best one for you.
Step 1
Make sure that your current mattress is in good condition. Your memory foam topper will fit flush against your mattress. In order to get the best benefits from it, you don’t want your mattress to be lumpy or sagging.
Step 2
Look at how dense the memory foam topper is. You want one that has at least a 4lb density because it will be more durable. Usually these will be firmer too. So, anything under a 4lb density isn’t really worth it. You should save your money until you can afford something better.
Step 3
Look at the ILD (indentation load deflection) rating in comparison to the density of the memory foam topper. The ILD is the number of pounds that are required in order to compress the memory foam to just one-quarter of its original thickness. You want an ILD rating of at least 15. Anything lower will generally make your memory foam topper uncomfortable.
Step 4
Decide upon the thickness of your memory foam topper. This thickness will range from between 1 inch to 6 inches. The thickness you find will greatly depend upon where you shop. Nevertheless, it is important for you to find a thickness of at least 3 inches. Only then will you be able to start noticing the difference in your bed’s texture that a memory foam topper will actually make. If you opt for anything less (i.e. 1 inch, 2 inch), you will simply be adding a small amount of padding to your bed and you probably won’t even be able to really tell that there is any difference between your bed now as compared to before you put the topper on it. Therefore, if you are going to opt for anything under 3 inches, you should save your money because these toppers are simply going to be a waste of it.
Step 5
Make sure to purchase a protective cotton cover to put over your memory foam topper. Since you are going to spend some money investing in a good topper (i.e. one with at least 4lb density and at least 3 inch thickness), you will not want to stain or spill anything on it. Of course, accidents do happen. This is where a good cotton protective covering will come in handy. Since these are usually quite inexpensive, you won’t mind so much if something happens to it since you can easily replace it if necessary.
Tips
Try lying or sitting on the memory foam topper before you purchase it so you can make sure it is what you need.
