Latex Mattress Guide

What kind of mattress do you sleep on? If you're like most people, your mattress is a traditional inner spring, or coil spring model. Since their introduction to the market decades ago, inner spring mattresses have been the market leader in the U.S. But other kinds of mattresses are available including memory foam, latex rubber, and air mattresses. Of these three, the latex rubber mattress usually gets the least attention.

In discussing the latex mattress, the first thing that needs to be made clear is that latex foam is not the same thing as memory foam. Latex foam used in bedding is almost always a natural product made from rubber trees. There are synthetic latex foams but they are seldom used in bedding. Memory foam on the other hand, is a completely synthetic product developed by NASA in the 1960s. It differs from latex mainly in how it reacts to heat and temperature change.

How Latex Mattresses Are Made

Latex mattresses begin as raw, liquid latex harvested from rubber trees or other plants that produce it. The raw latex is whipped into a foamy froth while additives are introduced to make it stable and help it cure. The next step of molding the latex can be done in one of two ways.

The first method is to fill the mattress mold all the way to the top and then let it rest until it completely cures. This method produces a firm and dense foam which is generally used to construct mattress cores. This method usually is not used to create an entire mattress because it produces a product that is not as consistent across its entire mass.

The second method involves filling a mold with the latex foam, then removing all of the air with a vacuum. Removing the air causes the latex to expand and fill the mold completely. Once this process is complete the latex is frozen in order to prevent it from settling inside the mold as it cures. With both methods, the latex is vulcanized with sulfur in order to make it rigid.

Advantages of Latex Mattress

A latex mattress has several advantages over an inner spring mattress. First is the issue of support and firmness. Latex foam is dense enough to support the human body while at the same time conforming to the shape of the individual user. It provides firm support without the pressure points that inner spring mattresses are known for. People with back issues tend to enjoy more comfortable and restful sleep with a latex mattress than they do with an inner spring model.

Another benefit is that latex rubber is an all-natural product with no toxic chemicals or harmful materials. It is hypoallergenic and tends to not attract dust mites. People with allergies often find using a latex mattress helps reduce their symptoms and makes them more comfortable during sleep.

You can purchase a latex mattress in any one of the standard mattress sizes, but custom sizes can also be ordered for RVs, boats, or custom-built beds. The reason behind this is the fact that latex foam is produced in large sheets that are then cut down to size. Your custom-sized mattress can be cut from one of the sheets without any difficulty. You can also get custom-sized latex pillows as well.

Latex vs. Memory Foam Mattresses

Latex and memory foam mattresses are very similar in overall comfort and firmness. The biggest difference you'll notice between the two is how well the foam conforms to the body. Memory foam is a unique product in that the NASA scientists who developed it were looking for foam that was sensitive to body heat. They needed a foam for use in space capsule seats that would be rigid enough to stand up to the rigors of space travel, yet respond to the heat of the astronaut's body in order to conform the cushion as perfectly as possible.

By contrast, a latex mattress does not respond to body heat as well as memory foam. Therefore, its conforming nature is not as sensitive. With a memory foam mattress you get that "it fits like a glove" feel while with latex you don't. Latex foam still conforms to the body, just not as closely. One of the disadvantages of memory foam is that it tends to retain a lot of heat. In warmer clients, and during hot summers, a memory foam mattress can be somewhat uncomfortable. Latex foam on the other hand, will experience no significant change in warmer temperatures.

When you're looking for a new mattress be sure to examine all of your options, including the latex foam. Latex mattresses are a good option for people with back pain, allergies, and a host of other conditions. Be sure to ask questions and understand what you're purchasing before you put your money down; a latex mattress wisely purchased can be a great benefit to your sleep.